2022 Awardees
Arizona Burn Foundation believes no one should face a burn injury alone. That's why they created Crisis Care Services: an integrated system of care providing emotional support and financial relief to burn survivors and their families at crisis. Their services begin the moment a burn patient is admitted to the Arizona Burn Center and the Burn Unit at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson and continue until the burn survivor, and their family, is independently thriving again. During the initial crisis, their experienced Social Worker is present to immediately ensure that anyone who suffers a burn injury receives the highest standard of care and assistance.
Arouet is a modern, innovative, fair-chance movement for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. Arouet’s mission is to restore individuals, rebuild families, and positively impact communities. This is achieved through a unique blend of programs and services that begins with a partnership with the Second Chance Center at Perryville Prison while the participants are still incarcerated and continue throughout every facet of their reentry. The programs include rides and transportation support, release clothes and other necessities, employment preparation training, resume building, job placement, financial workshops, credit builder loans, and engagement events to foster a sense of connection and belonging.
Banner – University Family Care Community Reinvestment Program funding supports their peer mentor support model, training curriculum and mentor criteria. Mentorship pairs women who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system with one another. The program addresses the unique barriers that are faced by women post-incarceration in accessing healthcare and addressing their specific mental health challenges. It fosters a sense of community amongst an often stigmatized and disparate population preventing the participants from feeling marginalized and isolated. The immediate goal of the program is to ensure every woman released into their programming can access and maximize their eligibility for health services to ensure a softer transition.
Aunt Rita’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has been philanthropically providing funding for HIV services and programs since 1988. As the connector of the HIV community in Arizona, they also create and manage programs that “fill in the gaps” when it comes to HIV-related support. This includes free at-home test kit distribution, advocacy, HIV & Aging programs, a Positive Empowerment Youth Retreat, and a Diversity and Cultural Council to assist minority populations who are newly diagnosed and to advise on best practices to lower incidence rates in our highest-risk communities.
The Autism Society of Southern Arizona [ASSA] provides support services to children, youth, adults, and families affected by autism in Southern Arizona. Banner – University Health Plans is supporting the Autism Friendly Communities in Southern Arizona, where individuals with autism and their families feel understood, accepted, free of misperceptions and judgment about differences related to their diagnosis and condition. Establishing and promoting a welcoming community environment will help maximize the self-sufficiency, independence, and quality of life for all living with autism in southern Arizona. ASSA will collaborate and train organizations and human and health professionals, educators, advocates, and those interested in neurodiversity to be partners of the Autism Friendly Communities in Southern Arizona. The training will be offered virtually and at onsite facilities.
Church of Safe Injection - Tucson (CoSIT) is a grassroots harm-reduction organization that’s focus is to meet people who use drugs (PWUD) where they are and provide ways to be as safe as possible as they navigate their substance use. PWUD face unnecessary judgement and stigma from society for their drug use. CoSIT is there as volunteer peer outreach workers to treat everyone with the respect, compassion, and humanity they deserve, as well as educate and provide supplies to be as safe as possible while using drugs. Their focus is primarily on meeting people who face barriers to access the stationary needle exchanges during their designated times of operation.
In addition to syringes, CoSIT provides alcohol wipes, sterile cottons, cookers, tourniquets, and water for PWID, sterile crack and meth pipes for smoking substances, and sterile straws for snorting substances. They also offer toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, pads, tampons, soap, sunscreen, and basic wound care items to folks who might otherwise not have access to such items. They also keep a compiled resource list of available services for people in Tucson and provide that information anytime asked.
CTF provides a spectrum of employment-focused services for adults recovering from mental illness in downtown Tucson, from formal work adjustment training and job placement at Café 54, to self-directed, voluntary work activities and job development in the peer-run community of Our Place Clubhouse. CTF also teaches its own peer support class, and operates a thrift store, ReThreads, through Our Place Clubhouse. With funding from Banner, CTF has created a new outreach specialist position. This position will focus efforts on community outreach for individuals not currently connected to mental health services as well as individuals who have disengaged in services as direct or indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current pandemic has created layers of isolation in the community that have a drastic negative impact on individuals with mental illness and substance use. This new outreach effort will work to break down barriers to quality services and supports in the community. The position will expand our ability to reach overlooked populations and greatly increase the positive impact of CTF programs on those they serve.
El Rio Health serves their community by providing comprehensive, accessible, affordable, quality, and compassionate care to 1 in 10 people in Tucson, many of whom live below federal poverty. They are committed to helping all people to have access to integrated primary care, especially vulnerable populations who have limited resources.
El Rio’s Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP) believes young people, ages 14-20, are experts on their own health. The RHAP Program strives to amplify youth voices both inside and outside of the clinics, while partnering with other youth serving organizations. Through outreach, education, and accessible reproductive health services, RHAP leaders help other young people get care and advocate for a healthier, more equitable future.
Founded in 1970, Esperança is a women-led grassroots organization and Arizona’s premier provider of culturally appropriate, bilingual health literacy education for under-resourced Latinos of all ages who suffer from disproportionate rates of obesity, diabetes, poor oral health, and their short- and long-term consequences. Esperança offers several age-appropriate, evidence-based programs that empower children, adults, and seniors across Arizona to make better decisions about their diets and to embrace behavior modifications that will improve their health outcomes. Globally, they support under-resourced communities in six different countries to combat various health disparities through health education, community development projects and medical intervention.
This funding from the Banner Community Reinvestment Program will support Esperança’s efforts to address food insecurity by partially funding the meal delivery program, Stove to Table. Each week, Stove to Table volunteers prepare and deliver 200 culturally appropriate hot meals for 100 aging adults (two meals per person) with a variety of health conditions.
Foundation for Senior Living (FSL) was created as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1974 to address an unmet need for housing and in-home and community-based services for elderly adults, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable individuals, such as adults with serious mental illnesses. Valuing “home,” FSL’s programs and services promote and support aging in place for adults with physical and mental health conditions that might otherwise require admission to nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities.
FSL’s Nutrition Program for Low-Income Seniors provides aging adults and adults with disabilities with home-delivered meals (HDM) and congregate meals at the Peoria Community Center, Wickenburg Senior Center, and ReCreación, FSL’s licensed adult day health services program with locations in Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale. Through a collaboration with St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, food pantries at the Peoria Community Center and Wickenburg Senior Center distribute food items to food-insecure seniors and families.
FSL has operated the Nutrition Program since 1974 without disruption. The pandemic forced the temporary closure of both the Peoria Community Center and Wickenburg Senior Center to patrons in March 2020. However, FSL staff continued to prepare meals without disruption and ramped up services to meet the increase in demand. FSL feeds 1,166 people in need each day.
Good Neighbor Alliance has big plans for their Day Program to be innovative and useful for their guests. They are hoping to create a place for guests to stay throughout the day and plan on offering a variety of programs, in-services, crafts and such.
Joseph's Pantry has been in operation at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal church in the Blenman-Elm neighborhood for over 20 years. Through the support of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, grants, and generous donations from our parishioners and community, the pantry is able to serve thousands of our community's most vulnerable members every year. Joseph's Pantry offers showers, food, and a comfortable place to sit while enjoying coffee, snacks, and a movie, three days per week. Social services are also available to help problem-solve situations and offer assistance in obtaining ID's, birth certificates, and more. All of these programs run because of the time, talents, and big hearts of their amazing volunteers. Their guests are welcomed and accepted and offered the dignity and respect that all people deserve.
Established in 1985, Interfaith Community Services (ICS) provides food, job assistance, and emergency financial assistance to Pima County residents in need. ICS mobilizes volunteers to assist senior and disabled individuals with Mobile Meals, transportation, home repairs, calls and visits, and health and safety referrals. ICS offers compassionate support by leveraging the help of over 1,000 volunteers, over 120 diverse faith community partners, and generous funders to assist our area’s most vulnerable residents. ICS assists over 52,000 people a year. ICS has received Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars every year since 2010.
Mission Statement: Strengthening the community by providing behavioral health, healthcare and social services to all ages, faiths and backgrounds.
Established in 1935, JFCS is one of the largest and most comprehensive non-profit, non-sectarian providers tied to integrated health, child and family welfare, Jewish community, and older adult service. In FY2021, JFCS touched the lives of more than 40,000 individuals, residing in Maricopa County, who faced serious behavioral, mental, physical, and social obstacles, family trauma, domestic violence, and challenging financial circumstances. JFCS has the unique ability to connect children, adults, and families to its own countywide system of comprehensive trauma-informed services in six core areas: Integrated Healthcare, Child & Family Solutions, Older Adults, Jewish Community Services, Telehealth/Virtual Services, and COVID-19 Emergency Financial Assistance.
JFCS’ Emergency Financial Assistance program serves clients enrolled in a variety of programs and services by covering short-term or one-time emergency costs that are critical to an individual or families’ immediate, basic needs and necessary for progression towards safety, stability, and independence. Daily, JFCS staff discovers in conversation with their clients that due to job loss or emergencies, families are unable to pay their rent, buy groceries, or cover utility bills. That’s when we step in to help alleviate the financial burden of everyday life so that families and individuals are able to focus on their child’s and/or family member’s mental and physical health issues, by bridging the gap with Emergency Financial Assistance.
Mariposa Community Health Center (MCHC), a Federally Qualified Community Health center, is the largest provider of medical, dental, public health and preventive services in Santa Cruz County. Approximately 42% of county residents receive their health care at MCHC. They are a community health center that provides patient centered Medication Assisted Treatment along with a care team program that helps improve the quality of life in patients with substance use disorder. The program not only focuses on addiction, but also connecting with Behavioral Health services and addressing other health disparities placing a special emphasis on the "Whole Person". The lack of transportation is a huge barrier for the community and through the Banner Community Reinvestment Program Award, Mariposa will improve many patients' access to care.
OPCS provides housing, counseling and support services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Pima County. They serve close to 2,000 homeless household a year including families, youth, veterans, individuals struggling with addiction and mental illness, and those returning to our community post-incarceration. They follow an evidence-based Housing First approach, which centers on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing, and then providing additional supports and services as needed. They operate 11 low barrier shelters/transitional housing facilities and have approximately 350 scattered site housing units throughout the community as part of our Permanent Supportive Housing Program.
Banner Health’s Community Reinvestment Grant will support OPCS’ Reentry Program. This program helps returning men and woman to reintegrate successfully into the community to prevent recidivism. They offer them housing, counseling, substance abuse treatment, and employment assistance. In addition, they connect them to health care and other community resources. Funding will help fill the gaps to provide housing and employment services for individuals not covered by government grants.
Terros Health is a health care company focused on the whole person, providing primary care and specializing in mental health and substance use treatment for over 50 years.
Touchstone Health Services provides physical and behavioral health services to children and families in Maricopa County, Tucson, and within 75+ schools. Their programs strive to be trauma informed, evidence based, and family centered. The vision for the Compassion Closet is to stand in the gap for families and children who find themselves in need of basic necessities like clothing, bedding, and school supplies. By housing the Compassion Closet on Touchstone’s campus, they create an accessible, compassionate donation center, that is free from cost, restrictions or expectations. Their philosophy is “if it’s available and you need it, it’s yours.” No questions asked, no strings attached. Just a desire to serve and remove barriers to progress and health.
Valley of the Sun United Way envisions a community where every child, family and individual is healthy, has a safe place to live, and has every opportunity to succeed in school, in life and in work. With the community’s support, they do what no single organization can do alone: create solutions that transform the lives of individuals and families and drive systemic change that impacts entire communities.
Project Connect is a community event that makes it easy for individuals experiencing homelessness to gain access to the tools and resources they need to resolve their housing crisis. At Project Connect, individuals experiencing homelessness can take advantage of a wide array of services, including shelter and food resources, obtaining vital records, medical care and mental health services, and employment counseling. Guests can also shower, get a haircut and select donated clothing.