OPENING KICKOFF The old saying is that we’re supposed to see May flowers. Taking that in a figurative way, we’re starting to see positive movements amid the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m also a big fan of Jon Gordon. His messages especially resonate in times like these, and can be captured in four P’s – Positivity, Plan, Process and Purpose. That is the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s philosophy as we serve our numerous stakeholders. We are keeping a positive mindset, knowing that when we come out of quarantine, we can continue making an impact within our community. In fact, we have done that during these COVID-19 times, as you will read more in the newsletter.
FIESTA BOWL ORGANIZATION NEWSLETTER
Our planning has come in several forms, and we continue to look at multiple scenarios that affect how we operate. For college football, we go through the process to evaluate the daily information from medical experts, governments and our industry, while remaining optimistic that we’ll have a season as intended. When we keep our purpose as our north star, we know the way and will find a way, writes Gordon in The Carpenter. It will inspire us to love those who are hard to love, serve when we don’t feel like it and care more when we’re not feeling caring. Thank you for your support of the Fiesta Bowl, as we carry through on our purpose to enhance the lives of Arizonans. Now is the time to live your ‘Why’ and plan for the positive times we know are ahead.
Mike Nealy Executive Director
NEWS & NOTES here’s the skinny The Fiesta Bowl Football Focus Podcast kicked off a new episode recently, as the Fiesta Bowl’s second Executive Director, Bruce Skinner, joined us to share stories about the early days of the Bowl. He includes how the famed 1987 National Championship came to be, how title sponsorship of the Fiesta Bowl was a first-of-its-kind and how team selections were done before the College Football Playoff. Previous conversations included 2019 Arizona Bank & Trust Kickoff Luncheon speaker Urban Meyer, College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock, two-time Cactus Bowl coach Mike Leach and Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. Go to iTunes, Google Play or Spotify on your phone and search for FIESTA BOWL FOOTBALL FOCUS or click below to subscribe and listen to the conversations with some of college football’s finest. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
we’re all in this together The Fiesta Bowl Organization is proud to be a founding partner of the new AZSportsTogether™ initiative, where 17 leading sports properties in Arizona have formed a collective effort to provide COVID-19 relief funding for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund. Each organization offered a unique, elite-level, “money can’t buy” experience for Arizona residents to purchase raffle tickets for an opportunity to win. Visit AZSportsTogether.com to buy your tickets and help fellow Arizonans. Other participating organizations include the Arizona Bowl, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Coyotes, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona State Athletics, University of Arizona Athletics, Cactus League, Grand Canyon University Athletics, Northern Arizona University Athletics, Phoenix Mercury, Phoenix Raceway, Phoenix Rising, Phoenix Suns, Scottsdale Charros and Waste Management Phoenix Open.
AZSPORTSTOGETHER.COM PG 2
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MILLION DOLLAR DONATION
recipients Food Services With the severe demands in Arizona due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiesta Bowl Charities is helping communities across the state meet their incredible needs. The Fiesta Bowl provided $1 million to fill gaps for food services and youth programming that are nonprofits’ biggest shortfalls. These organizations serve throughout the state – in the Phoenix metro, plus Tucson, Nogales, southern Arizona, Casa Grande, Prescott, Flagstaff, Navajo Nation. The $1 million was donated to those on the front lines in food services and youth programming.
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A NEW LEAF AMANDA HOPE RAINBOW ANGELS CHILDREN’S CANCER NETWORK COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA DESERT MISSION FOOD BANK MAGGIE’S PLACE MATTHEW’S CROSSING HOMEWARD BOUND ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK ST. VINCENT DE PAUL UMOM
Youth Programming BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE VALLEY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CASA GRANDE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FLAGSTAFF BOYS & GIRLS CLUB PRESCOTT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB TUCSON CHILD CRISIS ARIZONA YMCA VALLEY OF THE SUN PG 3
NEWS & NOTES yellow jacket rising The dawn of April for the Fiesta Bowl is when the organization’s volunteer officers transition into new roles. Elevating from the Fiesta Bowl Yellow Jacket Committee to the Board of Directors are two longtime volunteer leaders in Salt River Project Senior Account Manager Brian Bednar and Merrill Lynch Senior Resident Director/SVP David Dorward. They have combined to earn the highest honors bestowed upon Yellow Jacket Committee members, including Lifetime Achievement Award, Sales Coach of the Year, Yellow Jacket Committee Chair and Committee Member of the Year. Nick Smith, a four-year football linebacker at Notre Dame and Executive Vice President at National PEO, takes over as Yellow Jacket Committee Chair for the 2020-21 season. The former Rookie of the Year will lead the fundraising and participation efforts of this year’s committee, which is comprised of 122 community leaders. Yellow Jacket Committee members volunteer their time to work with sponsors, volunteers, staff and the board of directors to support the Fiesta Bowl and its numerous events throughout the year. READ MORE HERE
APply now for grant funding Building on its foundation of charitable giving, including a record $4 million during the 2019-20 season, Fiesta Bowl Charities has opened the 2020-21 grant cycle application period through May 26. Arizona nonprofits can submit applications for services within the Fiesta Bowl’s core pillars of youth, sports and education. Fiesta Bowl Charities has donated more than $11 million in the last four years and $16.5 million in the last nine years. To help nonprofit recipients make the most impact possible, Fiesta Bowl Charities offers funding in three levels: Spirit of the Fiesta Bowl Grant at $100,000, Touchdown Grant at $50,000 and the Field Goal Grant at $25,000. Please share this opportunity with any Arizona 501©(3) organizations that qualify. APPLY HERE PG 4
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2019-20 COMMUNITY IMPACT $11 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS
NEARLY 1 MILLION
12,000+ PEOPLE IMPACTED BY 6 NEW PLAYGROUNDS/ PLAY SPACES
PEOPLE SERVED
600,000+ YOUTH SERVED
$4 MILLION
IN CHARITABLE GIVING IN THE 2019-20 GRANT CYCLE
283,480 MEALS SERVED
SEASON RECAP VIDEO
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
2019-20 award winner ambassador of the year
brittany wilson First Year as Volunteer: 2015 Favorite Fiesta Bowl Game: 2004 when on the first drive, Ohio State blocked a punt and returned it for the 7-yard touchdown! Most Memorable Moment: Being a Mascot Handler for the Running of the Bills Duck Race. We made a hilariously great team Why I Serve the Fiesta Bowl: “Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don’t live in the world all of your own.” -- Albert Schweitzer Favorite Job: Tough to pick just one but anything related to Playground Builds and being a coach for Spirit’s Birthday Interesting fact: I became an ordained, internet, minister and have officiated two weddings
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NEWSWORTHY Fiesta Bowl, Arizona sports team up for raffle to raise funds for coronavirus relief
arizona provides example of how donations from sports entities are helping working parents
AZ CENTRAL
Science on Wheels: Arizona Science Center program takes STEM on the road
USA TODAY
Oklahoma State Fiesta Bowl Watch Party Podcast
SCOTTSDALE INDEPENDENT
Most charitable bowl in nation focuses on youth programs during COVID-19 CHAMBER BUSINESS NEWS
SB NATION
Teacher Feature: Linda Sullivan FIESTABOWL.ORG
Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy joins Roc & Manuch to talk about the AZSportsTogether.com Raffle. LISTEN HERE
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CONTACT US
S C OTT LE IGHTMAN
S E N IO R DIRECTOR OF COMMUN ICATION S 4 8 0 - 5 1 7 - 6 2 9 1 | SL EIGH TMAN @ FIESTABOWL .ORG
ALE X NAS H
CO M M UN ICATION S COORD IN ATOR 4 8 0 - 3 5 0 - 0 9 2 5 | AN ASH @ FIESTABOWL .ORG
FOLLOW US
FI E STA BO W L .O R G
PG 8
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