SEPTEMBER 2017 28 | FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM PHOENIX SUNS CHARITIES Giving is the legacy of The Phoenix Suns. They were the first professional sports team in Phoenix and began their philanthropic efforts 30 years ago. “We’re the first sports team here, we know that this community has been here for us and supportive of us for 50 years and we understand the responsibility that we have to give back and invest in our community,” said Sarah Krahenbuhl, executive director of Phoenix Suns Charities. Over the last 30 years, the team has invested $19 million into the community, with a focus on improving the lives of children and providing family services. “We’ve been here contributing for 30 years so we’ve been strongly impacting the lives of our most precious assets, our children, for many, many years,” Krahenbul said. Right now, the organization is focused on Central High School, where the Suns’ investments are helping students succeed with higher graduation rates and more students moving on to college. “We invested in that school to help raise graduation rates about six years ago and that was a passion of our owner Robert Sarver,” Krahenbul said. “We’ve really been moving the needle there as far as improving the lives of those kids and giving them the opportunity to graduate from high school and go on to college.” At the Suns, the philanthropic passion of the staff — from players to ownership and everyone in between, makes all the difference, with initiatives like monthly volunteer opportunities. “Our organization is very centered around giving,” Krahenbul said. “We have monthly volunteer services and engage in different activities.” reach spans the entire state by using revenue from the Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl college football games to invest in the community. “By purchasing a ticket you’re able to make a difference whether that’s with teachers, with youth, with veterans, with any one of our pillars that we support out in the Arizona community,” Moreno said. One of their most impactful programs, Wishes for Teachers, has impacted 27,000 students by giving $5,000 grants to 100 teachers to invest back into their classrooms and students in whichever way they felt was best. “Our goal is to be able to honor and inspire teachers in any way we can,” Moreno said. special section {sports giving back}

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