GRIC 2022 COMBINED APPLICATIONS REVISED.PDF

Maricopa County — Formal (2022-03-23)

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Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022
For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $
 Denial
Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/3/2022
(NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Supervisor Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 West Jefferson Street #10
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom/Maricopa County Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Copa Health Inc.
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit
 If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Dr. Nelly Clotter-Woods Title: Senior Grants Coordinator
10. Phone Number: 623-606-4375
11. Mailing Address: 924 N Country Club Drive
12. City: Mesa
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85201
13. Email Address: grants@copahealth.org
Website Address: www.copahealth.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Copa Care Day Community
15. Purpose of Grant: Equine therapy, Art Therapy, Miracle League Service, Music Therapy, and Wellness & Fitness
activities (nutritionist, Zumba dances, and sensory equipment)
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$104,949.00, annually
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$209,898.00 ($104,949.00 x 2years)
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
Yes, 2017 for $45,000.00
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Since 1957, Copa and its affiliates have provided services and programs for individuals with developmental
disabilities and mental health challenges. Copa is the largest integrated clinic operator for persons with Serious
Mental Illness (SMI, or SMI status) in Maricopa County, Arizona. The mission of Copa Health is to inspire health,
hope and happiness by delivering world-class solutions to individuals, families and communities.

Copa offers the promise of opportunity through our four pillars of service: (1) Employment Related Services; (2)
Community Day Programs; (3) Residential Services and (4) Integrated Health Solutions. Program service areas
include supported housing, peer housing support services, evidence-based and trauma-informed counseling
services, family support services, integrated outpatient services, developmental/intellectual disabilities
community day services, mental/behavioral health counseling, case management, to name a few. With a focus
on member and staff experience design of ‘The Copa Care Framework’, our overall goal will directly impact:

•
Quality of life gap closure
•
Increased involvement and adherence to treatment plans
•
Avoided hospitalizations and readmissions
•
Increased engagement level, self-esteem, and service satisfaction
•
Improved recovery and quality of life
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Copa and its affiliates have a long history of cooperation with support from Maricopa County. Below are
highlights of notable relationships and collaborative efforts with the supporting municipality through the years:

•
1975 -The County Board of Supervisors, led by Tom Freestone, leased a building to Marc in East Mesa
for $1 a year and provided CDBG funding to make building improvements. This space became Marc’s second
‘day program’ for individuals with developmental disabilities in Mesa, Arizona.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

•
2007 -The County deeded a 5-acre park to Marc in order to build a new day program and 28 units of
low-income housing for individuals with special needs. The County regularly provides Marc with tickets to
sporting events for the benefit of the individuals we serve in our day programs and group homes.

•
2011 -At phase I of the award, the Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), managed
by the County Board of Supervisors, approved two separate low-interest-rate, tax-exempt bonds allowing Marc
to refinance debt and complete capital projects totaling about $9 million. In 2015, at completion of funding for
phase II, the IDA has also approved grants totaling $100,000.

•
2016 -The Mesa Chamber of Commerce named Marc Community Resources and Partners in the
Nonprofit of the Year. We were recognized as a significant community partner in the City of Mesa for the
extensive support and assistance for people with disabilities in the community.

•
2020 -Copa won a federal grant to pilot a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) permanent supportive housing program, called Hope. This program continues to run successfully
after the grant’s expiration and continues to be supported by the RBHA due to cost savings.

•
2020 -The Arizona State University (ASU) Morrison Institute featured Copa’s Lighthouse Model
supported housing program was featured in the “Housing is Healthcare” study which demonstrated significantly
reduced hospitalizations, improved overall health, and increased stability in housing.

•
Present, ongoing -Copa provided housing support in 89 separately owned apartments/homes with 251
beds, serving persons with SMI or SMI status and I/DD. Copa holds contracts with the Regional Behavioral Health
Authority (RBHA) Mercy Care and the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) for residential services.

•
Present, Ongoing -Copa’s Population Health Department used Arizona State’s centralized database
system to evaluate population risk and improve member outcomes. Population Health manages a High-Risk List
consisting of clients who are frequent users of hospitals and emergency rooms and operates a system of
additional services and coordination to influence a reduction of hospital/emergency room usage. The services
and coordination focus on social determinants of health, including the social determinant of stable and
supportive housing.

•
Present, Ongoing -Copa administers, through the state-funded program, several evidence-based
programs, including five Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams, one of which is a Medical Assertive
Community Treatment Team (one of the few in the country), and an upcoming Intensive Case Management
Program.

•
Present, Ongoing -As part of Arizona’s state-funded program, Copa was selected and participated in the
Arizona supportive housing Institute. Opportunity for Copa Health to expand its supportive housing expertise to
further expand its housing footprints.

3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
The Copa Community Day Service (CCDS) provides an organized program in a community group setting to
promote social, physical, and emotional well-being. Individuals served are encouraged to establish one or more

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

health-related goals. Likewise, the CCDS program provides similar behavioral health services for individuals with
serious mental illness (SMI), general mental health issues, and substance abuse problems.

CCDS emphasizes increasing skills and maintaining self-help skills and advocacy. We teach and bring awareness
to the individuals on age-related health and emotional issues in both community and classroom settings.
Essential nutrition is taught as part of our cooking classes and matters pertaining to good health are taught
along with our exercise classes. Gaining new strength and maintaining current body conditions is crucial to our
participants’ well-being and longevity.

Applied to vulnerable adults, the CCDS also place high importance on safety and cleanliness to avoid illness that
may decrease overall health. Health and wellness continue to be emphasized at the day program sites. These
sites are equipped with exercise bicycles, elliptical machines, therapy balls, range of motion equipment and yoga
mats. CCDS includes exercise equipment and activities that promote flexibility, strength, balance, conditioning,
nutrition, and oral hygiene, to name a few. Many of our members have lost weight and gained a healthier
lifestyle because of their participation in daily exercise such as Zumba classes, community outings, and dances.
We are also seeing a significant increase in attendance by seniors with disabilities due to medical assistive
technology. For example, individuals reaching age 50 used to be a major milestone for the people we serve.
Today, we serve 35 individuals over the age of 56. For this senior group, stretching and basic exercises like
walking are critical. Additionally, Copa provides Wellness Centers for individuals to utilize as desired.

Copa seeks support from the Gila River Community grant program. Our CCDS program has a strong focus on
safety skills, community participation, and independent living skills training. The funds will defray the costs of
serving our vulnerable and underserved population, and of community members participating in our evidence-
based, trauma informed program which serves people with intellectual and development disabilities (adults over
18 years or older).

Planned Project Goals:

Goal 1: Increase members’ engagement level, self-esteem, and customer service satisfaction.

Objective: By the end of the grant period, Copa members will have access to therapeutic activities to
help promote positive physical health, mental health, and personal safety.

Goal 2: Expand recreational opportunities for members and others in the community.

Objective: By the end of the grant period, Copa staff will provide members with supportive services that
will sustain their social and emotional well-being and permanent connections to their community.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
The Community Day Services program satisfies several of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community. This funding request has elements of the education, healthcare, and economic development
priority funding areas.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Education:
In terms of education, the life skills program provides services to adults that have challenges ranging from mild
behavioral health conditions to profound developmental disabilities but who also have an adequate motor and
adaptive skills to train for life skills in a closely supervised, structured setting. The program is designed to meet
the diverse needs of all individuals and to promote personal growth in maximizing functional ability,
independence, and exposure to work activities.

The primary focus of the program is to participate in and build on meaningful activities and community
integration. Individual goals are developed to enhance each participant’s potential to train for maximum
development. Every six months, a review of the participant’s programs is provided. A staffing review is held with
all concerned parties annually, or if a major change has occurred.

Educational opportunities include: community resources training, nutrition and health training stranger danger
awareness, living safely in a community, community sign recognition, money management, volunteers services,
social skills training/education, learning cooking skills, exercising for increased mobility and strength, and
recreational activities’ education such as watching movies, going to baseball games or the local library, and
shopping. Individuals served in the day programs did not fully reach their potential while they were still
attending public school. Thus, our program goal is to continue their education throughout their adult life in
order to maximize their learning possibilities, thereby increasing their independence, and improving their
confidence to enter back into the community. The average age of an individual who moved on to employment
from the day program this past year was 26.5 years of age.

Healthcare:
Although the deinstitutionalization movement in the 1970s supported individuals with disabilities to live in
community settings with rights and opportunities for education, recreation, employment, and housing, the
social and environmental support needed for healthy lifestyles were not often considered. Consequently, people
with Intellectual Disabilities/Development Disabilities (ID/DD) continue to have widening inequities in health
care services compared with their peers without disabilities, as well as poorer health outcomes. Despite the
documented benefit of health promotion and education to maintain health and control risk factors, people with
ID/DD and behavioral health conditions continue to be excluded from many community-based health promotion
programs.

Economic Development:
A key service Copa offers its members is the opportunity to find meaningful employment through gaining job
skills, job coaching, resume building, interviewing techniques, and job searching. Copa has the largest
employment training program in the county. We served approximately 1,200 individuals in behavioral health
and ID/DD programs in FY21. The executive managing the employment training program has been with Copa for
over 30 years. Supported employment is a nationally recognized, evidence-based practice shown to deliver
superior outcomes for individuals with severe disabilities. Based on what is known as annual ‘fidelity audits’, -
our organization earns the highest state audit score among agencies providing supported employment in
Maricopa County. Copa provides job skills training for individuals with the goal of obtaining work that meets the
needs of the individual.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Since 2000, the number of individuals with ID/DD receiving services through the Division of Developmental
Disabilities (DDD) has doubled to more than 30,000. Adults with disabilities are in need of planned special
activities and outings to make life more exciting and to reduce further health disparities widely monitored by the
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. According to population health researchers,
“adults with intellectual disabilities experience poorer health outcomes than people without ID” (Horwitz,
Kerker, Owens & Zigler, 2000). Copa’s day programs have experienced a growth of 144% since 2010, again,
showing the high demand for this service. To highlight another need, only 9% of the 30,000 adults in the ID/DD
system obtain any kind of employment (20% is the national average). Together, with the help of the Gila River
Indian Community, we can improve this situation.

Families are a major beneficiary of services provided by Copa. We like to say that day programs keep the family
unit intact. Additionally, we have found the same holds true for individuals with behavioral health conditions.
Parents or legal guardians can continue to work while their son or daughter actively participates in a day or
village program with a curriculum focused on self-sufficiency, socialization and community integration. Day
programs also help reduce caregiver burnout. CCDS programs give families a healthy break from the emotional
and physical demands of caregiving.

Finally, taxpayers benefit from day programs. Without proper support, the individuals Copa serves will require
further and increasingly expensive levels of institutional care such as skilled nursing at the taxpayer’s expense.
The average cost per individual served for Copa’s day programs in the prior year was $10,454, compared to a
nursing home at $90,520, or the Arizona State Institution in Coolidge at about $200,000. To punctuate this point,
Copa engaged an outside firm to measure the social return on investment of its programs for the year ended
September 30, 2015, using international standards for calculating this unique outcome for nonprofits. For every
dollar ($1) invested in Copa’s programs, taxpayers (the community) receive $2.83 of value in return (283%
return on investment). This is not surprising. Individuals that receive effective health services and achieve life
goals often reduce maladaptive behaviors, medical costs, medications, service needs, utilization of entitlements,
engagement with local law enforcement and get jobs, pay taxes and maximize independence.

The Population:
Currently, Copa serves approximately 400 ID/DD members within the state of Arizona. To be in the Arizona
ID/DD and/or the behavioral health Medicaid system, individuals must meet poverty eligibility requirements and
be medically determined to be at risk of homelessness and institutionalization, including nursing care,
hospitalization, and jail. This vulnerable population requires significant and specialized support to participate in
activities of daily living, learn, achieve life goals, remain healthy, experience meaningful lives, and to reach their
full potential. Additionally, about a third of this population also experiences behavioral health challenges that
make it difficult to participate in community activities, maintain social/family relationships, and obtain/maintain
jobs. Copa has existed for 64 years and is unique in that it provides a wide array of programs and services that
are customized for both, ID/DD and behavioral health populations. Through our many years of experience, we
have learned to ensure it is the individual needs that drive the services we provide to enrich and enable their
lives. We are proud of our track record and will continue to strive toward providing a suite of services that serve
our member population with the best available services.

People Served:
Copa, through the continuing programs (equine therapy, art therapy, music therapy, miracle league, wellness
and fitness activities) highlighted in this grant request, serves thousands of people who have developmentally
disabled and behavioral health challenges throughout Maricopa County.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
No. GRIC has not previously funded this project. All five funding needs are part of an expansion of the
continuing program, CCDS, at Copa that have found and proven to provide tremendous therapeutic benefits of
the developmental and intellectual disabled members Copa serves:
1)
Equine Therapy: For the CCDS program, equine therapy provides an opportunity for individuals with IDD
to interact with horses and create a special bond that encourages trust, communication, confidence, and self-
esteem. While not a cure, equine therapy has dramatically increased independence, communication, and self-
confidence in autistic individuals (Lamba, Van Tonder, Shrivastava, & Raghavan, 2022; Almasloukh, 2022).
Individuals engage with the horses by exercising, grooming, and learning about how to take care of a horse. This
experience requires individuals to be focused, flexible, and team orientated. Carefully monitored by Copa staff,
person-centered planning teams meet periodically throughout the year to discuss an individual’s choices,
assessment, goals, and future plans along with what services are needed to further monitor progress in physical
and mental health improvements.
2)
Art Therapy: Copa offers a unique approach to engaging individuals with intellectual/developmental
disabilities in the fundamental elements of individualized exploration through art. Art Therapy provides an
outlet for individuals with IDD to express themselves that they may not be able to do with words. Making art
can be a deeply personal, therapeutic, and healing experience. Through art, individuals may encounter feelings
of accomplishment, and pride, they are provided with an environment that is safe and encourages them to be
social and develop friendships that they may not have the opportunity to do so. Not only might someone think
of themselves as a person with a disability, but now they are an artist.
3)
Miracle League: The Miracle League is a non-profit organization, dedicated to providing a safe,
successful, and enjoyable baseball experience for adults with disabilities. They offer adaptive baseball, at an
accessible stadium, removing the barriers that would normally keep individuals off the baseball field. It’s all
about inclusion, Individuals that may never be able to play baseball due to barriers such a as wheelchair are
welcomed to participate, they are an athlete with the support to play.
4)
Music Therapy: Copa provides individuals with IDD a unique variety of experiences in a developmentally
appropriate and success-oriented manner. Music therapy can be used to address goals such as the learning of
functional academics, stimulating attention and motivation, increasing cooperation and appropriate social
behavior, improving daily living skills, providing avenues for communication, increasing self-esteem and
independence, improving motor responses and agility, and encouraging exploration of issues that impact the life
of the individual. Interventions apply the inherent order of music to set expectations, provide reassurance and
reinforcement, and maintain structure.
5)
Wellness & Fitness Activities –Zumba, nutritionist, sensory equipment:
- Zumba Dance is a fun way for individuals with IDD to get a great workout that is adapted to their
needs so they can stay active and healthy.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

- Nutritionist provides individuals with education and learning experiences to understand the principles
of healthy eating for a healthy mind and body. Individuals will learn how to apply healthy eating principles to
real-life situations that will increase their independence and lifestyles.
- Sensory equipment helps Copa members with a sensory processing disorder and autism, engage their
touch, smell, sight, taste, hearing, movement and balance. They enhance the brain's development while helping
the person relax, remain calm and overcome fears in a warm and natural environment at home or school.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The timeline is flexible. Next steps and timelines for each funding need are as follows:
1) Equine Therapy
a. Will begin after funding award
2) Art Therapy
a. Will begin after funding award
3) Miracle League
a. Will begin after funding award
4) Music Therapy
a. Will begin after funding award
5) Wellness Program (Nutiontionist, Zumba dances, and sensory equipment)
a. Will begin after funding award
6)Sensory Equpment

a. Use of sensory equipment will begin immediately upon order and installation estimated to be

approximately 3 months after funding award
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
For the purposes of the funding needs identified in this request, Copa partners with other community
organizations as needed to provide the services highlighted in this grant request. We serve the Native American
community. Additionally, with the support of The Miracle League of Arizona, for example, CCDS members will
enjoy the baseball experience in a stadium equipped with adaptive baseball in an accessible stadium -for all
removing barriers that would normally keep individuals with disabilities or special needs off the baseball field.
Another example, we anticipate working with Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) to provide homelessness
services to those in need. Within the Employment Training and Placement programs, Copa with local employers,
non-profits organizations (A New Leaf, Save the Family, and Paz de Cristo), and governmental agencies (City of
Mesa and Maricopa County) to provide additional real work training opportunities supported by a job coach,
peer support, housing specialists, to name a few.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes. However, portions of the needs highlighted in this grant proposal would be delayed and/or not
implemented. The implementation of the funding needs would be scaled back to the funding received.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Our organization practices sustainability throughout the organization, in service, and for our community. Copa
has recently instituted a resource development team that engages in identifying organizations, partners, and
funders to support the sustainability of Copa’s programs and services. In addition to the funding provided by
the Gila River Indian Community, Copa plans to utilize its existing contract funding from the Regional Behavioral
Health Authority, (currently Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care), and the Division of Developmental Disabilities to
provide financial sustainability during and beyond the grant period. The above stated funding typically covers
approximately 80% of the costs for services Copa provides, the remaining amount (20%) is covered by grants
and other fundraising activities. Regular meetings of the aforementioned administrators will help strengthen
coordination and with this, our vision of optimum and enthusiasm will be attained. The funds from potential
funders will aid the expansion of our membership reach (with a keen focus on the low-income, underserved
population) and also employ more skilled staff that will offer community outreach efforts throughout Maricopa
County.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Copa regularly engages in monitoring and evaluation of all programs to ensure fidelity on program quality and
on conditions for better performance of our organization. For each funding awarded, Copa will track progress
and provide detailed information of all expenditures, as required. Also, Copa uses two electronic health record
systems to track individuals’ progress through the employment programs.

Data pertaining to project implementation will be collected from multiple sources including, but not limited to,
client demographics (limited to reported gender, income status interest of care, and program goal and
outcome), HMIS entry, stakeholder survey, Self Sufficiency Index, and client satisfaction surveys.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
In 2017, the Gila River Indian Community grant awarded $45,000.00 to help Copa install smartboards, IT
equipment, and bathroom renovations at the Copa East Valley, Employment Related Services location. This
grant award greatly enhanced the Copa DD member’s access to technology and the Internet.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: Click here to enter text.
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Equine Therapy
$15,600.00
$0
$0
$15,600.00
2. Art Therapy
$14,540.00
$0
$0
$14,540.00
3. Zumba dance
$10,140.00
$0
$0
$10,140.00
4. Nutritionist
$17,160.00
$0
$0
$17,160.00
5. Sensory Equipment
$16,909.00
$0
$0
$16,909.00
6. Miracle League
$7,200.00
$0
$0
$7,200.00
7. Music Therapy
$23,400.00
$0
$0
$23,400.00
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$104,949.00
$0
$0
$104,949.00

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Equine Therapy -$300 per session X 52 weeks Total $15,600
2. Art Therapy -$90 per session X 3 times a week X 52 weeks; $14,040 + $500 for art supplies Total $14,540
3. Zumba Dance -$65 per session X 3 times a week X 52 weeks Total $10,140
4. Nutritionist -$110 per session X 3 times a week X 52 weeks Total $17,160
5. Sensory Equipment (Flaghouse) -$12,799.00 Interactive Floor Mini System, $1785.00 Waterless Rainbow Tube
(Bubbler), $443.00 Rotating Rainfall Panel, $28.00 Tumble Trax Magnetic Marble Run, $25.00 Magnetic Letter & Number
Construction Activity Set, $45.00 Tactile Search and Match, $19.00 Magnetic Disk Designs, $85.50 Solar Effect Wheel-
Fireworks, $85.50 Solar Effect Wheel-Balloon Festival, $85.50 Solar Effect Wheel-Flowers, $85.50 Solar Effect Wheel-
Butterflies, $357.00 Learning Bundle Effect Wheel, $419.00 UV Mat, $647.00 Panel Porter
Total $16,909.00
6. Miracle League -$300 per visit X 2 times per month X 12 months

Total $7,200
7. Music Therapy -$90 per session X 5 times a week X 52 weeks Total -$23,400
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Arizona Autism United
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Paulina Tiffany Title: Development Director
10. Phone Number: 602-773-5780
11. Mailing Address: 5025 E. Washington St., Suite 212
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85034
13. Email Address: paulina@azaunited.org
Website Address: https://azaunited.org/
Project Information
14. Project Name: West Valley Center Capital Project
15. Purpose of Grant: Arizona Autism United (AZA United) respectfully requests a $300,000, two-year grant ($150,000
each year) to support renovations to our new property in Avondale – preparing it to become our West Valley Center
(WVC). Once open, the WVC will improve access to special needs care for local children, youth, and young adults with
developmental disabilities. Servicess will include speech/behavioral/occupational therapies and family services.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$150,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
2
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$300,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
2019: 2-year $130,000 grant ($65,000 each yr.) for Family Support
21. Geographic area served
The vast majority of families served by AZA United reside in
Maricopa County.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
HISTORY AND MISSION: Arizona Autism United (AZA United) was founded in 2006. Every person affected by
developmental disabilities (DDs), such as autism, Down syndrome, or ADHD, has their own definition of success. At
Arizona Autism United (AZA United), our job is to help them get there. With a mission to help as many families as
possible with individualized supports, AZA United offers children, youth, and young adults with DDs the customized
services they need, including diagnostic services, speech/language therapy, behavioral therapy, and in-home habilitation
and other supports. We also provide family services—such as respite care, family counseling, sibling support groups, and
high-quality respite—to give families the tools they need to flourish together. Since AZA United’s founding, our services
have made a life-changing difference for thousands of families, yet we know the demand for care far outweighs the
capacity of local providers.
GOALS: We are currently expanding to meet the growing needs and growing numbers of local families affected by DDs.
Our expansion goals are as follows:
1) Develop an interdisciplinary, comprehensive model of special needs care to simplify and streamline care for families.
To accomplish this, we are in the process of launching (or have plans to launch) additional services for youth and young
adults with developmental disabilities. These include life/social skills programming, occupational therapy (launching
within 18 months), and eventually ‒ integrated care including primary care and case management. We recently opened
our diagnostic clinic, the first of its kind in Maricopa County, providing evaluation and diagnostic services for individuals
at any age.
We also take a whole-family approach to DDs care, offering comprehensive family supports as well. Through our Family
Support Specialist services, we provide guidance/care coordination for parents and caregivers in English and Spanish to
alleviate the burden of managing all aspects of their child’s care, and we recently launched whole-family counseling. We
also offer support groups for parents in English and Spanish, and a sibling support group as well.
2) Increase access to this level of quality care for local families, particularly those who are historically underserved. To
accomplish this, we are opening community-based centers in areas with a lack of local special needs providers. In June
2020, we opened our East Valley Center in Mesa, and have already provided more than 15,000 hours of
speech/behavioral therapies at this location. We now have a successful, self-sustaining model for opening additional
centers.
Replicating and building on this success, we are embarking on our West Valley Center Capital Project (the subject of this
request), through which we will transform a large property in Avondale into a community-based center providing
comprehensive special needs care for local families affected by DDs.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
AZA United is headquartered in central Phoenix and has proudly served residents throughout Maricopa County since its
founding. In fact, over the past 16 years, we have served thousands of Maricopa County residents, including children
with autism and other developmental disabilities and their family members. Our services have been implemented
throughout Maricopa County, at our clinics in Phoenix and Mesa, in families’ homes, and at local schools and partnering
organizations county-wide.
Maricopa County recently awarded AZA United a “Non-Profit Assistance” Grant to help fund our Family Support
Specialist Services. This program was launched largely due to support from a two-year Gila River Indian Community
grant in 2019. As stated in our reports to Gila River Indian Community, our Family Support Services have greatly
streamlined our service delivery: our Family Support staff assess new clients’ needs and work alongside the family and
our interdisciplinary team at AZA United to make sure the family has the support, services, and resources they need to
thrive. They also act as a point of contact for ongoing support for existing clients. This program is currently projected to
serve 1,000 families per year.
This is the first time we have sought support as a pass-through entity from Maricopa County for a grant request to the
Gila River Indian Community. We welcome this potential partnership and appreciate the opportunity for support.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: With this proposal, AZA United respectfully requests funding to support our West Valley Center
(WVC) capital project – with the goal of improving access to special needs care for families living in the West Valley. We
recently purchased a large property in Avondale which will be transformed to become our West Valley Center, offering
the most commonly needed services for children, youth, and young adults with developmental disabilities (DDs) and
their family members. Upon completion of our capital project, families in the region will have more equity in access to
care – reducing the likelihood that they will have to coordinate with and travel to multiple providers for the many
services they need.
Once this project is complete, services offered at the WVC may include (but are not limited to):
- Services for children, youth, and young adults with DDs: Diagnostic service, Speech/Language Therapy, Applied
Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy, Occupational Therapy; Life skills/social skills programs; Support groups; Integrated
healthcare (including primary care and/or nurse practitioner support) and case management (social work).
- Family Services: Clinical Family Coaching, individual and family counseling, sibling supports and holistic family
supports, including bilingual (Spanish/English) care coordination.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Notably, with a physical presence in the West Valley, we will also have increased capacity to provide in-home services in
the region. (Please see our detailed description of the services that comprise the comprehensive model of care we
envision later in this proposal).
GOALS/OBJECTIVES/PLAN TO IMPLEMENT: Specifically, a two-year $300,000 gift ($150,000 each year) from Gila River
Indian Community would help us accomplish many goals and objectives of our capital project, which will occur in 2
Phases as described below. During each phase, services will be added to ensure our comprehensive model of DDs care is
available at the WVC by summer of 2025. (In addition to the information below, please see our detailed timeline later in
this proposal).
PHASE 1 (January 2022 – January 2023):
As can be seen in the attached property information and accompanying visuals, the site of our West Valley Center is very
large. The existing building itself had previously been used as a reception hall, with vast open space inside. During this
first phase of our capital project, we intend to transform this existing building into a therapeutic service center for
families in the region. Our primary goal and related objectives include:
- Goal: Prepare the West Valley Center to open by early 2023, providing Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational
Therapy, and Behavioral Therapy to children/youth with DDs.
- Objective 1: Complete renovations and repairs to the existing building on the property. These renovations will create:
at least 10 therapy rooms; large meeting spaces for parent meetings and trainings, group activities, etc.; and at least 5
staff offices.
- Objective 2: Fully equip the space with therapy supplies, equipment, and furniture.
- Objective 3: Implement updates/repairs to the outdoor space surrounding the main building. These may include:
landscaping; parking lot repairs/maintenance; lighting and security; installation of a playground/basketball court, etc.
PHASE 2 (2023 – 2025):
Starting in early 2023, our WVC will begin offering children/youth therapies as previously mentioned, replicating the
success of our East Valley Center program model. Our primary goal during the first year of WVC operations is to increase
access to the most commonly prescribed DDs therapies. Our objectives for this first year include: serve 100 children in-
clinic; serve up to 300 children in-home; and in total - provide at least 15,000 therapeutic service hours.
After we begin providing services in the main building, we will also launch Phase 2 of our capital project – which over the
course of about 2 years will entail additional updates to the existing structures on the property and eventually – much
needed new construction on the large property. Based on our assessment of the open space available on the property,
we envision building at least one large additional structure to house a number of additional services families need. Our
goal and related objectives of Phase 2 of the capital project include:
- Goal: Develop the property to offer our comprehensive model of care through the West Valley Center by July 2025.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

- Objective 1: Update/renovate the small secondary structures surrounding the main property. These smaller buildings
will be turned into additional offices or therapy spaces.
- Objective 2: Implement additional updates to outdoor areas as needed – including the playground/basketball court;
landscaping; etc.
- Objective 3: Implement planning and development necessary to execute a new build on the property; including
fundraising.
- Objective 4: Build a new structure to house the remaining aspects of our comprehensive care model for families
affected by developmental disabilities including diagnostic/evaluation services and family supports, including support
groups and counseling. Because these services are already established at AZA United, we will simply replicate these
program models at the WVC. In addition, we also intend to develop and launch integrated healthcare, including the
support of primary care and/or nurse practitioners, care coordination (case manager and/or social workers), an
expansion of support groups and counseling services, as well as other resources. Other services may also include
physical therapy and older youth/adult programming.
- Objective 5: Implement additional updates and repairs to the outdoor space surrounding the new building, including
landscaping, additional parking, and additional outdoor spaces for children and families to receive services and
therapies.
(NOTE: See attached document for more information about the current property plan).
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
Our West Valley Center capital project directly aligns with the “Healthcare” funding area as described in Gia River Indian
Community’s funding guidelines by providing area families affected by developmental disabilities with increased access
to the vital services and therapies they need for improved health, wellness, and positive developmental outcomes.
Several facets of the WVC project illustrate this alignment:
INCREASED ACCESS TO EARLY AND CONSISTENT SERVICES: In recent years, AZA United hired a marketing research
consultant to analyze local gaps in special needs care. This research identified the West Valley as a region lacking local
special needs providers. In research cited by the CDC, experts agree that the earlier a child can receive needed therapies
for a developmental disability, the stronger their outcomes will be. This is because the younger a child is, the more
capable their brain is of changing and adapting. Therefore, early and consistent therapies and supportive services can
change the lifelong trajectory of a child’s development and well-being.
Practically speaking, having a provider located in the community where families live will promote equity in access to
these critical services – making it convenient for families to receive clinic services and sparing them from the cost and
inconvenience of driving to providers across town. In addition, the West Valley Center will operate as a local hub for
staff implementing in-home services in the region, increasing our ability to serve families in their homes as well.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

IMPACT OF SERVICES: The services we currently provide – and those we will add over time – have been proven to be
deeply impactful to the health and well-being of individuals with DDs.
Beginning in 2023, the WVC will offer the following impactful services:
- Speech/Language Therapy: DDs are often marked by delays or difficulties in speaking, communicating, and engaging
with others. Speech/Language Therapy strengthens communication, making a lifelong impact on development. AZA
United has offered this therapy for over 10 years, and will replicate this proven program model at the WVC.
- Occupational Therapy (OT): OT addresses sensory-processing, motor, and strength-related challenges so clients can
strengthen a wide range of skills to promote health/independence. Due to a generous grant from the Diane and Bruce
Halle Foundation, we will launch OT at AZA United within 12 months at our East Valley Center and will replicate this
model at the West Valley Center.
- Behavioral Therapy: Applied Behavior Analysis is an effective research-based treatment addressing
communication/language skills, motor skills, social skills, self-care, and academic skills. AZA United has offered this
therapy for over 10 years, and will replicate this proven therapeutic model at the WVC.
- Family Services: Our bilingual Family Support Specialist (FSS) team offers parents/caregivers support and care
coordination: from assessing needs and scheduling an evaluation to helping the family attain needed insurance. We also
believe mental health care is critical to the positive development of children and youth with developmental disabilities,
and the overall health and well-being of their entire family unit. Due to a generous grant from the Diane and Bruce Halle
Foundation, we were able to launch our “Resilient Hearts” whole-family counseling services at AZA United in March
2021. Our Resilient Hearts counseling department is staffed by two counselors with unique expertise working with
families affected by special needs. This program is now fully operational and is making a deep and lasting impact on
families who otherwise would not have access to this important service. We will replicate this program model at the
WVC.
- In-Home Support: As mentioned, we will increase access to in-home services in the region. These are services that AZA
United has provided for 10 + years and include (1) Habilitation: life skills/developmental support for children with DDs;
(2) Respite: in-home care to provide parents/caregivers with a much-needed break; and (3) Clinical Family Coaching:
intensive support for high-need families.
By 2025, we plan to launch the following at the center to offer a comprehensive care model:
- Diagnostic Services: Thanks to generous grant funding from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, we launched our
diagnostic and evaluation services in November 2021. These services are available to children from infancy to age 18
who have – or are suspected to have – any developmental disability. To expedite care, when parents reach out to us for
guidance and need an evaluation for their child, they are scheduled with our diagnostician. Our team then provides
guidance on next steps needed after a diagnosis, including coordinating and scheduling additional services as swiftly as
possible. This simplifies the process and reduces the wait time before children can receive their needed therapies. We
currently operate our Diagnostic services out of our Central Phoenix office, and this program model will be replicated at
the WVC.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

- Integrated Health Care: We intend to plan and launch an integrated healthcare model at the West Valley Center, where
families can also have their child visit with a primary care doctor and/or nurse practitioner at the center. This will further
streamline care and improve outcomes for the children, youth, and young adults we serve. We also see incredible value
in adding behavioral health specialists as part of our comprehensive care model.
- Social Work: To help families with the many social supports and resources they may need and to aid with ongoing case
management, we also intend to bring a social worker onto our team. A social worker would also help families facing
complex life challenges (poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, etc.) to connect with other community resources.
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CARE: Research supports the development of a comprehensive model of special needs
care, including an interdisciplinary, team-based approach to care. According to a literature review in the Journal of
Interprofessional Education and Practice, children with autism and other DDs “should have multidisciplinary teams that
address all of the child's issues and to impact the child's behavioral, educational, mental and health care outcomes in a
positive manner.” This article cites components of effective collaborative models of care, including: a common
goal/shared sense of purpose among team members; valuing all team members and embracing their unique
perspectives; and trust/shared responsibility among team members. In addition, experts in the field emphasize the
inclusion of primary care/healthcare as part of an interdisciplinary team for those with DDs. This affirms our program
model for the West Valley Center: providing a comprehensive array of services including primary care and social
services, implemented by an interdisciplinary team who work together – and alongside the family.
Gila River Indian Community’s previous support has been the catalyst for new initiatives that have improved the lives of
countless families affected by developmental disabilities in our community. We hope to continue this partnership to
multiply our reach exponentially through our West Valley Center expansion.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
NEEDS/PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: The CDC reports that an alarming 1 in 44 children nationwide –and 1 in 40 children in
Arizona – are diagnosed with autism. The Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) reports there are more
than 40,000 individuals with developmental disabilities (the majority of whom are children) enrolled in DDD benefits
each year. This means tens of thousands of children and their families are eligible to receive disability services in
Arizona; yet, many services are delayed due to the overwhelming demand on local providers, and sadly – some services
are not received at all.
The practical implications of this are devastating: families in Maricopa County often wait 6 to 12 months to meet with a
clinical psychologist so their child can first be evaluated and diagnosed, especially if they cannot afford to pay out of
pocket. If a diagnosis is received, parents and caregivers are often left on their own to navigate complex systems of care
and to schedule their child(ren) for the therapies they need. This is often where children fall through the cracks of the
system, and therapies are either severely delayed or are never received at all, resulting in lifelong developmental
consequences for these children.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

When families do find local providers for the services they need, they typically wait for many months—sometimes even
years—for openings. We see this overwhelming demand for services every day at Arizona Autism United (AZA United).
In fact, there are currently more than 1,000 children on AZA United’s “interest list,” whose parents or caregivers are
seeking services like speech/language therapy, behavioral therapy, or in-home supports for their children. Even as
children get placed with AZA United providers, more children are added to the list every day.
And some regions of Maricopa County – like the West Valley – are particularly underserved. Our own data illuminates
this need: There are more than 300 families in the West Valley who are on our interest list for services. Currently, these
families must wait for an opening, then travel to our central Phoenix office for appointments. Without a presence in the
West Valley, it is difficult to find and retain local staff to provide in-home services as well.
It is clear: Families in the area need local access to services and professional coordination of their child’s care to alleviate
the burden of managing care across several providers. Having a majority of services and supports through one provider
will simplify and improve care outcomes, and will reduce the stress of the entire family.
TARGET POPULATION/NUMBER SERVED: With the population growth and large number of families in the West Valley
region, we know there is great demand to expand capacity to serve more families in this region. According to the
Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC), 1.7 million people currently live in the West Valley, with a projected
population increase of twice the national growth rate over the next five years. The West Valley is home to a racially
diverse and socioeconomically varied population – with poverty rates ranging from below the national poverty rate of
9.2 percent (e.g.: 7 percent in Surprise) to above the national poverty rate (e.g.: 13 percent in Avondale, or 18 percent in
Glendale).
Located in Avondale, the WVC will serve young people (ages 2-18) with DDs and their families in the region. During the
first year that the center is open, we anticipate serving 100 children in-clinic; serve up to 300 children in-home; and in
total - provide at least 15,000 therapeutic service hours. These numbers will grow over time, particularly as we build out
the property to offer a comprehensive array of services/programs over the next few years.
In addition to building capacity to serve local families in-clinic and through home-based services, our West Valley Center
will also serve as a local hub for recruiting, training, and supporting staff who live in the region as well, further
strengthening our service delivery for local families. We also intend to use this location as a training center for staff and
as a model to replicate at future expansion sites in years to come.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
The West Valley Center capital project is new. We began soliciting funds to support this project last year, and this is the
first time we are seeking support from GRIC for this project.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
As mentioned, the WVC project will occur in two phases. The project timeline is flexible, and because this project is
large-scale and will occur over a few years in time, it is subject to change as the project develops. Phase 1 is currently

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

underway, and progress will be made continually with the goal of opening the center in early 2023 and expanding the
property to provide a comprehensive array of services by 2025.
PHASE 1 (January 2022 – January 2023):
- January 2022: We officially received the keys to our property in Avondale.
- January to June 2022: Implement property renovations on the existing building and surrounding grounds.
- July to September 2022: Continue renovations; Complete interior design and furnishings; Set up security and
technology systems; Develop center policies/procedures; Complete staffing plan; Complete inspections and obtain
Department of Health facility license; Establish enrollment & scheduling systems.
- October to December 2022: Continue renovations; Onboard and train staff; Begin client enrollment and scheduling;
Host Grand Opening for supporters; Promote new center to key audiences.
- January 2023: Projected opening of West Valley Center; Begin offering speech/language, behavioral and occupational
therapy to youth with DDs and family supports. (Conclusion of Phase 1.)
PHASE 2 (January 2023 – Summer 2025):
- January – Dec 2023: Continue renovations on property/secondary smaller buildings; Continue outdoor updates;
Develop plan and fundraise for new build on property
- January 2024 – June 2024: Develop architectural design
- July 2024 – June 2025: Implement new construction; Implement landscaping and develop outdoor areas; Complete
interior design and furnishings; Set up security and technology systems; Develop center policies/procedures; Complete
staffing plan; Complete inspections and obtain Department of Health facility license; Establish enrollment & scheduling
systems; Onboard and train staff; Begin client enrollment and scheduling; Promote comprehensive service model to
public
- July 2025: Projected opening of new building; begin offering comprehensive services to the public. (Conclusion of
Phase 2)
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Using the East Valley Center as a model, we are confident that we can undertake this capital project independently
without partnering organizations. However, we are proud to have gained the financial support through grant funding
from the following local funders:
- Phoenix Suns Charities (Devin Booker Starting Five): $100,000
- Abbett Family Foundation: $50,000
- BHHS Legacy Foundation: $100,000

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
We will gratefully accept any level of funding received from Gila River Indian Community for this project and will
continue to solicit additional grant funders – as the renovation budget for one year alone is estimated at $900,000.
However, understanding the urgent needs of those we serve, we are prepared to utilize a portion of our capital reserves
and/or take out bank loans to make this project a reality for families in Avondale and the surrounding West Valley
region. (See budget for details.)
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Our East Valley Center has proven to be a self-sustaining model with services largely covered by insurance/Medicaid to
support the direct care provided at the center and in families’ homes in the region. Because of the size and scope of the
project, we anticipate the West Valley Center will be self-sustained through revenue from insurance reimbursements by
end of 2026.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
We plan to document our progress on the capital project by tracking our accomplishment of the items listed on the
timeline/project plan. Once the center is open to the public, we will track the number of clients served through clinic-
based and in-home services. Our Family Support Specialists also collect data on families they serve within a week of
working with a family to determine their satisfaction with the help they are receiving at AZA United and to provide
additional support if needed. This will continue for existing and new clients who are connected with services in the West
Valley as part of this expansion.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
AZA United has not received any awards from a tribe aside from funds from GRIC as described in this proposal.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: November 2022 – October 2023 (Year 1)
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Renovations and Construction
$150,000
$750,000
$0
$900,000
2. Mortgage Insurance
$0
$84,000
$0
$84,000
3. Utilities
$0
$8,400
$0
$8,400
4. Equipment, Furniture, and Therapy
Materials
$0
$35,000
$15,000
$50,000
5. Miscellaneous
$0
$50,000
$0
$50,000
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$150,000
$927,400
$15,000
$1,092,400

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Renovation and Construction ($900,000): This includes all estimated costs associated with renovating the existing
building(s) on the property, as well as updating the surrounding outdoor areas. This will include (but is not limited to):
framing, drywall, build-out of several therapy rooms, bathrooms, office spaces, etc.; plumbing and electrical throughout;
paint, flooring, signage, landscaping, parking lot repairs and maintenance. Please see the attached visuals for details on
the scope of the project and the extent of renovations.
2. Mortgage Interest ($84,000): This includes mortgage interest payments during the grant period.
3. Utilities ($8,400): Cost of electric, water, etc. for the property.
4. Equipment, Furniture & Therapy Materials ($50,000): This includes estimated costs of purchasing needed office
furniture, equipment, and therapy supplies and materials to implement therapy and other services with local families.
5. Miscellaneous ($50,000): Other costs that are unanticipated, TBD.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Other explanation: Given the large budget for this project, grantseeking and fundraising are ongoing. Grant funds or
individual contributions received will help to reduce the amount of capital reserves we must put toward this project
and/or amount of loans we pursue.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: November 2023 – October 2024 (Year 2)
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Renovations and Construction
$150,000
$150,000
$0
$300,000
2. Mortgage Insurance
$0
$84,000
$0
$84,000
3. Utilities
$0
$8,400
$0
$8,400
4. Equipment, Furniture, and Therapy
Materials
$0
$35,000
$15,000
$50,000
5. Miscellaneous
$0
$12,500
$0
$12,500
6. Architectural and Engineering
Costs
$0
$25,000
$0
$25,000
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$150,000
$314,900
$15,000
$479,900

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Renovation and Construction ($300,000): This includes any remaining costs associated with renovating the small
additional buildings on the property that surround the main building (to create additional treatment rooms or offices,
TBD) as well as continued work on the outdoor areas, playground, etc. During this grant period, we also anticipate
beginning our new building construction.
2. Mortgage Interest ($84,000): This includes mortgage interest payments during the grant period.
3. Utilities ($8,400): Cost of electric, water, etc. for the property.
4. Equipment, Furniture & Therapy Materials ($50,000): This includes estimated costs of purchasing needed office
furniture, equipment, and therapy supplies and materials to implement therapy and other services with local families.
5. Miscellaneous ($12,500): Other costs that are unanticipated, TBD.
6. Architectural and Engineering Costs ($25,000): Estimated costs associated with planning from SPS+ Architects.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Other explanation: Given the large budget for this project (amd multi-year time frame), grantseeking and fundraising are
ongoing. Grant funds or individual contributions received will help to reduce the amount of capital reserves we must put
toward this project and/or amount of loans we pursue.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/7/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PedrcentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Lights Camera Discover
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Kema Charles Title: Founder and Executive Director
10. Phone Number: 855-523-7490
11. Mailing Address: 325 E. Southern Ave., Suite 115
12. City: Tempe
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85282
13. Email Address: kema@lightscameradiscover.org
Website Address: www.lightscameradiscover.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Lights Camera Discover After-school and Summer Program for Disadvantaged Youth
15. Purpose of Grant: Provide STEAM educational programming to disadvantaged youth.
16. Priority Funding Area
Education
17. Annual amount requested
$25,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
2
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$50000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
No
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Lights Camera Discover was founded by our Executive Director Kema Charles in 2011 with a simple
purpose: to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty by equipping youth with education and skills for
careers that are in demand. Our mission is to provide free, accessible, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art
and Math (STEAM) programming that leads to secondary education and then onto STEAM careers. Our
programs inspire students to graduate from high school and prepare them to succeed in college and the
workforce. We work to end the cycle of poverty and ethnic disparities in the workforce.

At Lights Camera Discover, we offer free programs that develop a child’s sense of pride, self-esteem,
strength, and appreciation through performance and digital arts. Our core programs include our after-school
and summer programs for school-aged youth and our entrepreneurial workforce readiness program for
youth ages 17-21. Our goal is to change the child’s perspective by giving them a positive outlook and the
ability to freely express themselves, instead of making poor decisions that lead them down a negative path.
Our core values focus on Integrity, Respect, Appreciation of Diversity, Fairness, Responsibility, Teamwork,
Empowerment, and Caring and Compassion.

Now in our 11th year, we serve more than 250 children annually and continue to grow. We have
received multiple awards in recognition of our programming including the Phoenix Suns Golden
Standard Award Winner (February 2020), City of Phoenix Mayor Awards Innovative Art Organization
Finalist, SXSW 2019 Community Service Organization Honoree, and the NBC Channel 12 non-profit
Spotlight. With more than 400 children graduating the Lights Camera Discover program since inception,
we are introducing children to new skills they would not otherwise have access to.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Lights Camera Discover programs are available to youth throughout Maricopa County. We are
requesting municipal support for this proposal from Maricopa County. As a growing organization we
currently serve youth throughout the county and we will continue to reach more children through grant with
Maricopa County’s support and partnership.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.

At Lights Camera Discover, our program serves underprivileged youth who reside in public housing or in
other low-income areas where the household income does not exceed 80% of the area median income. We
target youth who have developed or are at risk of developing destructive habits that lead them down a path
of hopelessness.

Our STEAM programming reinforces the concepts of anti-bullying and teaches children about positive
relationships. Through our focus areas and vision, we teach the following concepts:
COMMITMENT: We motiviate youth to have stronger social friendships and interpersonal skills to gain a
brighter future.
RESPONSIBILITY: We teach youth to make goals and achieve them with an unbreakable accountability.
POSSIBILITIES: We create awareness of prospects and opportunities.
SUPPORT: We provide an inclusive learning environment to help encourage and drive youth in a positive
direction.

We currently work with youth living in four Phoenix public housing sites: Luke Krohn, Sidney P. Osborn,
Aeroterra, and Mathew Henson. Each housing site has a case worker who refers children to our programs.
Ther average income in these communities is $16,518.

We also work with schools in the Osborn and Roosevelt School Districts providing after-school and
summer programming. These school districts help us get information out about our organization and assist us
by hosting the after-school program. Great Schools reports that schools in these districts typically perform
below average on state tests, make below average year-to-year academic improvement, and demonstrate
below average results with disadvantaged students. According to the Arizona Department of Education, 90%
of the children in the Osborn and Roosevelt school districts qualify for free or reduced lunch. Many of the
schools within the Roosevelt District are rated with Fs, Ds, and C letter grades according to the School Report
Card System. We make an active effort to ensure that the kids most in need are referred to our program. In
addition, we run programs out of our headquarters in Tempe.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

The Lights Camera Discover program presents the same curriculum to youth in the after-school and
summer programs with both programs meeting Monday-Friday. The after-school program consists of nine-
week sessions corresponding to each school’s grading schedule to match the dates of a school quarter. Using
this schedule, we run four programs a year in each school district giving 120 youth Lights Camera Discover
opportunity annually. The summer daytime program runs in six-week blocks. With more time flexibility, this
program runs all day from 9-5 reaching an additional 60 youth each year.

Our free program allows youth to participate without a financial burden, and notably, give them a voice
through the media arts. Our programs train youth in digital storytelling and animation productions. They
learn filmmaking and animation basics along with anti-bullying and social awareness while learning to use
digital cameras, digital technology, and filmmarking equipment (audio, lighting, etc.) During our sessions,
students create group projects and public service announcements to combat bullying. They work with
veterans in film, action, writing and production to build technical skills. During the course of the program
children work on projects focused in four key areas:

ANTI-BULLYING: The anti-bullying project is dedicated to changing the culture for all students. It works to
reduce and prevent bullying, cyberbullying and other digital abuse, educate against homophobia, LGBTQIA+
discrimination, racism and hatred, and deters violence in schools. This project helps promote civility,
diversity, inclusion, equity, and equality. It educates kids and teens on effective solutions to respond to all
forms of bullying. It provides help for those in need and at risk of suicide and raises awareness through
mentoring programs. We work with local anti-bullying organizations such as The Detour Program.

FINANCIAL LITERACY: A core life skill for participating in modern society, this program aspect recognizes that
children are growing up in an increasingly complex world and need to be ready to take charge of their own
financial future. Lights Camera Discover partners with AmTrust Bank to provide training for financial literacy.

NUTRITION: Nutrition education serves as an opportunity to teach children about food and its relation to
culture and family heritage. We discuss culinary variances across cultures and introduce children to different
foods and traditional practices to increase their understanding and appreciation of diversity. The children
write, produce, and shoot their own informational videos on nutrition.

JOURNALISM: In a world where media is a constant, we empower youth to make healthy choices about their
behavior while teaching them to create a positive digital footprint. We provide young people with

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

curriculum, training, and workshops to build media literacy knowledge and critical thinking skills to navigate
our media-rich world. We empower youth to reap the benefits of media while recognizing the influence it
can have on specific behaviors that set a course for their entire lives, including violence, bullying, substance
abuse, and nutrition.

As part of these projects, children showcase what they have learning by writing, producing, and shooting
their own training videos on antibullying and financial literacy.

The Lights Camera Discover program also gives children an outlet to express themselves. They build
positive relationships with their peers and program staff. These relationships help children develop
confidence, resilience, and communication. Children use these skills to learn how to work through problems
and to build healthy relationships (raisingchildren.net.au). Experiencing these positive interactions and
experiences are more important post-COVID as children crave positive outlets.

Lights Camera Discover has been working with children for more than 11 years, working to decrease the
long-term economic disparities of children living in poverty. In the short-term, we give them a sense of self
and an ability to learn what they have the power to achieve. They are engaged by education and in the long-
term continue their education achieving goals, increased incomes, and breaking the cycle of poverty.
Our Objectives include:
95% of children will receive mentoring services in a supportive environment.
85% of children will learn to establish goals and follow through on commitments.
90% of children will improve their knowledge of behavior towards bullying.
90% of children will learn STEAM skills giving them experience with technology.
95% of children will experience positive peer interaction.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.

Lights Camera Discover satisfies the priority funding area of Education. We provide STEAM education to
school age children designed to teach them about bullying, financial literacy, nutrition, and journalism. We
increase a child’s knowledge about positive and negative social interactions and life skills through hands-on
experiences in film production. In the end, children have a greater skill set to achieve goals, attain an
education, have positive experiences with peers, and work toward independence while breaking the cycle of
poverty.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Our program enriches and reinforces learning while also supporting children’s mental, behavioral, and
physical health. We work to continue children’s learning using their creativity, talents, enriching, and
reinforcing their day-to-day learning. Lights Camera Discover supports and enhances what they learn in
school by giving them hands-on experience. Children in the Lights Camera Discover program learn skills such
a screenwrtiting, acting, and filmmarking and are given opportunities to grow confidence, build self-esteem,
and learn teamwork. We help children get excited about learning while providing a positive environment that
support their social well-being.

Lights Camera Discover is respectfully requesting $50,000 over two years to provide our after-school and
summer program at our Phoenix and Tempe locations.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.

In 2019, 14.4% of kids in the United States were living in poverty, with Black and Hispanic children
having the highest rates of poverty, 26% and 21% compared to 8.3% among white children. This has lifelong
ramifications. Children who grow up in poverty have poorer physical and mental health and worse
performance in school. Given neighborhood segregation by income, they are more likely to attend lower
quality schools and live in neighborhoods with fewer employed adults. These factors make achieving higher
levels of income harder in adulthood (econofact.org, Feb. 2021). In Maricopa County 21% of children live in
poverty, higher than the national average (2020 Arizona Kids Count Data Book). The typical ethnic
breakdown of children in our programs is as follows: Hispanic/Latino: 54%; African American/Black: 23%;
White: 15%; Native American: 1%; Asian/Pacific Islander 1%; Other/Undetermined 6%.

The Department of Education’s report Education in a Pandemic: The Disparate Impacts of COVID-19 on
America’s Students states that students of color, specifically Black, Hispanic, and Native American families
tend to go to school in districts with 13% less funding per student than districts with less students of color.
Typically, these families also have fewer resources due to parents earning lower pay with difficult schedules.
These factors contribute to higher levels of poverty. The resulting disparities create the cycle of poverty and
economic inequality.

Youth living in public housing historically have higher rates of engagement in delinquent behavior and
disengagement from school than average youth (Urban Institute, 2013). The Arizona After 3PM report
(December 2020) states that in Arizona “for every child in an after-school program, there are three waiting to
get in, with 160,811 children alone and unsupervised after school.” The report also states that parents are

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

not able to enroll their children in after-school programs because they are too expensive (63%), they lack
safe transportation to and from the program (57%), and they don’t have programs available to them (49%).
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?

The Lights Camera Discover After-school and Summer Program for Disadvantaged Youth is a continuing
program. Funding from the Gila River Indian Community will help us expand our program to more children
throughout Maricopa County. Lights Camera Discover received a $30,000 grant from the Gila River Indian
Community in 2016.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.

The Lights Camera Discover after-school and summer programs are ongoing. The after-school program
runs four, nine-week sessions that run concurrently with the school calendar. The summer program is two,
six-week sessions.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.

To ensure sustainability of our program, we focus on partnerships, innovation, and engagement. We
have formed partnerships with the City of Phoenix Housing Department, Roosevelt School District, Osborn
School Distict, Maricopa County Regional School District, and other local community organizations. These
partnerhips are vital to ensuring we are reaching not only underprivileged youth, but also youth across
Phoenix and a chance to turn their imagination into opportunity.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?

Lights Camera Discover strives to maintain funding so we can continue to provide our programs to
disadvantaged youth. If we receive only partial funding from the Gila River Indian Community, we would
decrease the number of programs resulting in less youth being able to participate in the program.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Lights Camera Discover has a diverse funding stream with ongoing generous support from the
community, donors, and a variety of sources. Along with our board of directors we are continually striving to
increase revenue and expand programming. We have recently began working with a contract grant writer to
generate new funding to help ignite our program expansion. Three key areas we focus on to fuel
sustainability in our programs are partnerships with our schools, parents, youth, and volutneers, innovations
bringing new ideas and resources, and engagement with our community.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.

At the end of each program session, we survey parents and teachers on any behavioral changes since
the child started attending our program. Our staff also conducts exit interviews with each participant. We
check in once a month for 12 months to make sure they are making positive strides and are on a good path,
encouraging them to stay involved in community and school events. While not all stay in the positive
direction we teach, Lights Camera Discover staff has started social media pages that enable participants to
connect with us whenever they need to. We encourage open communication and dialogue to keep them
motivated. Our goal is to keep most of our students out of trouble, off the streets, and out of jail in order to
ensure that they have a bright future ahead of them.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Lights Camera Discover has not applied or received awards from any tribe in the last five years.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: January 2022 – December 2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries & Wages
$0
$227,320
$0
$227,320
2. Rent & Utilities
$0
$13,616
$0
$13,616
3. Insurance
$0
$1,440
$0
$1,440
4. Fingerprinting
$0
$712
$0
$712
5. Mileage
$0
$1,566
$0
$1,566
6. Program Supplies
$20,000
$25,700
$0
$45,700
7. Program Equipment
$5,000
$5,466
$0
$10,466
8. Printing
$0
$1,260
$0
$1,260
9. Postage
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Other – Marketing & Events
$0
$10,698
$0
$10,698
11. Professional Fees
$0
$3,500
$0
$3,500
12. Office Supplies
$0
$1,170
$0
$1,170
13. Training
$0
$6,800
$0
$6,800
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$25,000
$299,248
$0
$324,248

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries and Wages – Executive Director .35FTE- $26,880 Program Direct Service, Program Coordinator – .75FTE -
$41,400 Program Direct Service, Equipment Coordinator – .55FTE - $15,840, Program Director - .3FTE - $7,200, Site
Coordintor .5FTE - $21,000, Program Assistant .5FTE - $21,300, Acting Teacher .5FTE - $21,300, Screenwriting Teacher
.5FTE - $21,300, Animation Teacher .25FTE - $11,600, Filmmaking Teacher .5FTE - $21,300, Photography Instructor
.25FTE - $13,500
2. Rent & Utilities – Rent and utility costs are divided our through programs. Rent = $8,000 a year. Other utilities =
$5,516.
3. Insurance – Professionsl Business Insurance
4. Fingerprinting – Fingerprinting and background check costs
5. Mileage – Van mileage, insurance and repairs.
6. Program Supplies – Program Supplies include – Set Supplies - $1,900, Wardrobe - $2,800, Props - $4,900, T-Shirts -
$1,100, Dinner provided during after-school program - $10,400, Lunch provided during summer program - $18,000,
Snacks = $2,000, and Misc - $4,600 = Total $45,700.
7. Program Equipment – Program technology repairs and replacement. Equipment includes digital cameras, computers,
sound equipment, lighting, and software - $10,466
8. Printing - Printing costs – Toner - $1,260
9. Postage - $0
10. Other – Marketing and Events – Events include a summer student screening and Marketing includes swag items such
as pens, bag, and water bottles that help us teach youth about our program.
11. Professional Fees – Program Cleaning - $2,000 and Pest Control - $1,500
12. Office Supplies – Supplies include copy paper and Misc. office supplies
13. Training – Ongoing training for staff and youth workers.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022
For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial
Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/10/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W Jefferson 10th Floor
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom / Finance Dept
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Southwest Human Development
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non‐Profit  If Non‐profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Lisa Olivas‐Cook Title: Grants Manager
10. Phone Number: 602‐633‐8178
11. Mailing Address: 2850 N 24th St
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85008
13. Email Address: grants@swhd.org
Website Address: www.swhd.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Early Language and Literacy Education for Children
15. Purpose of Grant: To develop early literacy skills in infants, toddlers and preschoolers, through
partnerships with pediatric clinics, fathers, and early education centers, in order to help prepare young
children for success in school and beyond.
16. Priority Funding Area
Education
17. Annual amount requested
$78,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$78,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Yes 2015 $75,000 / 2012 $150,000 / 2010 $150,000
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Page 1 of 8

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

NARRATIVE SECTION

Early Language and Literacy Education for Children
Prepared by: Southwest Human Development

1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.

Founded in 1981, the mission of Southwest Human Development is to strengthen the foundation Arizona’s
children need for a great start in life. Our vision is a positive future for every child. The first five years of life
are the most critical in a child’s development. Our services improve lives and help families by supporting
young children and their caregivers during this important time. In partnership with families, we provide
children with the care, attention and support needed to set them on a path to success in school and life. Our
more than 40 comprehensive programs (many of which could arguably be stand alone nonprofits) focus on
young children – ages birth to 5 – and their families in the areas of child development and mental health,
Easterseals disabilities services, early literacy, Head Start, family support and child welfare, and professional
development and training. Each year, the agency serves about 140,000 children, and their families.

2. To determine eligibility for this grant, If the applying organization is a non-municipal or a non-profit 501c,
please describe your relationship with Arizona municipalities including past and present support, whether it
be through partnership, collaboration, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe
the supporting municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality governmental
sub-division please enter the text “Not applicable.”

Maricopa County has been our municipality partner for State Shared Revenue Grants we have received from
the Gila River Indian Community in the past, and will be serving in this capacity for our GRIC Grant Cycle 2022
application.

Southwest Human Development has a long history of collaboration with a wide range of community partners,
and has well-established working relationships with many organizations serving young children and families.
Here is a sampling of our engagement with Maricopa County in recent years:

Since 2013 our Nurse-Family Partnership program has had a contract with Maricopa County Dept. of Public
Health to provide nurse home visiting for women who are having their first baby, from pregnancy until the
baby is 2 years old. This program helps first-time mothers have a healthy pregnancy and baby, build a strong
network of support, make a safe home for their baby, find opportunities to continue their education, develop
job skills, and set goals for the family’s future.

From 2014 to 2021 we had a contract with Maricopa County Superior Court to present our New Beginnings
Program which provides support for separating and divorcing/divorced parents and helps them learn and
practice skills to increase positive interactions with their children post-divorce.

From 2011 to 2017 our Smart Support program had a contract with Maricopa County to provide mental health
consultation for Maricopa County Head Start to promote the social and emotional development of all children
in care, and to help providers respond to children with behavioral challenges.

Page 2 of 8

3. Describe the proposed project and your plan to implement.

Funding will support three of Southwest Human Development’s early literacy programs, which develop
language and literacy skills in children aged birth through 5. Through partnerships with pediatric clinics,
fathers, and early education/child care centers, these programs help prepare young children for success in
school and beyond. Following is a description of the three programs.

REACH OUT AND READ

Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national, evidence-based pediatric literacy program that gives young children a
foundation for success in school and in life, by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging
families to read aloud together. ROR partners with clinics that reach medically underserved populations and
uses the existing infrastructure of well-child visits to empower parents of children birth through 5, to be their
child’s first and most important teacher.

By incorporating a book into a well-child exam, it allows medical providers to observe progress on
developmental milestones (i.e. a child’s book-handling skills demonstrate both gross motor and fine motor
progress, visual tracking, etc.), share critical information, and model strategies with families for supporting
their child’s early communication, language and literacy development. It is through these family engagement
strategies, medical providers are able to lift up storytellers of all backgrounds and promote meaningful
connections between caregiver and child through book sharing and story-telling. The books are then provided
to the families to help them to create these meaningful moments with their infants, toddlers, and
preschoolers every day in their home environments, promoting long-term health and well-being.

As the program operator, Southwest Human Development pairs participating clinics with a Reach Out and Read
Coordinator to provide support in the form of initial onboarding, ongoing training, and onsite or virtual technical
assistance. It is through this ongoing support that ROR Coordinators guide clinics to reach and maintain best
practice standards, collect relevant data, and provide quarterly book distributions directly to the clinics that
meet the age, language and cultural needs of their families.

Below is the calendar of implementation activities and deadlines for the ROR Coordinators and their clinic
teams for 2022:

FIRST QUARTER: JAN 2022 - MAR 2022
 Clinics submit the Winter Progress Report, with technical assistance as needed by ROR Coordinators, due by
end of Feb 2022 (Contains data of family demographics, well-child visits by age and books distributed, etc.)
 Clinics meet with ROR Coordinators for technical assistance and/or training
 ROR Coordinators complete quarterly book distributions to clinics

SECOND QUARTER: APR 2022 - JUN 2022
 ROR Coordinators deliver annual provider/all staff refresher training to clinics
 Clinics meet with ROR Coordinators for technical assistance and/or training
 ROR Coordinators complete quarterly book distributions to clinics

Page 3 of 8

THIRD QUARTER: JUL 2022 - SEPT 2022
 Clinics submit the Summer Progress Report, with technical assistance as needed by ROR Coordinators, due
by end of Aug 2022 (Contains data of family demographics, well-child visits by age and books distributed,
etc.)
 Clinics meet with ROR Coordinators for technical assistance and/or training
 ROR Coordinators complete quarterly book distributions to clinics

FOURTH QUARTER: OCT 2022 - DEC 2022
 ROR Coordinators complete the Annual Site Quality Classification (SQC) process with clinics via the ROR
National Database (the SQC measures the extent to which clinics are engaging in program best practices as
prescribed in the National model. The SQC process is further described below in Question 11)
 Clinics meet with ROR Coordinators for technical assistance and/or training
 ROR Coordinators quarterly book distributions to clinics

3TS LET’S TALK DADS

3Ts Let’s Talk Dads is an evidence-based intervention designed specifically for fathers, to empower them with
knowledge and skills to optimize their children’s foundational brain development. Developed by the TMW
Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago, and implemented by Southwest Human
Development as the programmatic lead, 3Ts Let’s Talk Dads teaches fathers about the critical role their talk
and interaction play into their children’s early brain development—and translates emerging brain science into
strategies they can use in everyday settings.

At the core of the program is the “TMW 3Ts,” a teaching tool that reminds parents and caregivers to: Tune In
to what your child is focused on; Talk More to build your child’s vocabulary with descriptive language; and
Take Turns to engage your child in conversation and foster curiosity and knowledge.

3Ts Let’s Talk Dads’ strengths-based curriculum also highlights research that demonstrates the positive impact
a father’s involvement has in a child’s life such as, “High levels of father involvement are correlated with
higher levels of sociability, confidence, and self-control in children, and children who feel a closeness to their
father are twice as likely as those who do not to enter college or find stable employment after high school.”
This program is offered statewide and tailored for fathers with young children, aged birth to three, consisting
of six sessions designed to be implemented in virtual group settings. The curriculum aims to harness the social
capital that results from individuals learning alongside one another. Group sizes consist of 10-12 dads, and are
capped at 12 to ensure optimal engagement in group discussions.

Each 90-minute session includes 75 minutes of highly interactive parent-directed content review, followed by 15
minutes of goal setting. Program facilitators use group discussion, relevant research, video examples, and
specific strategies and practice activities to reinforce the fathers’ understanding of the vital importance of
talking and interaction for their child’s foundational brain development. Participants are then offered 1:1
coaching between sessions to support with questions, trouble-shoot challenges, and enhance skill-building.
Participants are provided with 12 high quality children’s books to build home libraries and a 3Ts Journal, which
include an outline of the program’s weekly topics, suggestions for practicing different 3Ts strategies, and
prompts to help participants plan their goals. Session topics include:

1. Orientation: Program overview and building a community of learners
2. Foundations: The science of brain development and the role parents play in this development.
3. Book Share: How to use the 3Ts to open a book and have a conversation.

Page 4 of 8

4. Behavior: How to use the 3Ts to explain to your child what good behavior looks like and how to praise
positive behavior when you see it.
5. Math Talk: How to use the 3Ts to build early math skills.
6. Graduation: Capturing final reflections and goals for moving forward

JOURNEY THROUGH BOOKS

Journey Through Books (JTB) is an essential curriculum that supports early education teachers and directors in
sustaining a strong language and literacy program for all children (aged birth through five) in classrooms and
at the center. The target population is early childhood education sites across Maricopa County, serving
children ages birth to 5. In an effort to responsibly and equitably distribute resources, we prioritize recruiting
sites serving a high number of children utilizing DCS/DES financial supports, dual language learners, and sites
serving under-resourced communities such as those within designated opportunity zones and child care
deserts.

Through coaching for teachers, director support, and participant learning communities, JTB is built upon
effective, research-informed practices that positively impact early communication, language, and literacy
development. Our approach includes:

 Building educator understanding of and ability to support critical early communication, language, and
literacy skills
 Highlighting the importance of relationships and engagement in tailoring teaching practices to each child,
responsive to who the child is, their background, and their needs
 Integrating reflection as a powerful lever in educator professional development
 Promoting family engagement and reflecting family culture within the early education environment and
teaching practices

JTB focuses on impacting the environments and educators serving young children. We strive for every child to
have access to high-quality and responsive early language and literacy. Being under-resourced and over-
burdened should not be a barrier to accessing high-quality support. Research clearly demonstrates that high
quality early childhood education experiences have profound, positive impacts on children’s overall
development and later outcomes and that teacher training and preparation matters greatly.

Too often, children are offered a curriculum that does not account for who they are, their individual interests,
family background, or changing needs. And too often, educators focus on teaching content without
understanding the importance of first engaging the child. JTB highlights the importance of this perspective-
taking (seeing the world through the eyes of the child and/or family) and self-reflection and offers concrete
strategies for operationalizing and practicing these skills. These strategies are directly applied to supporting a
child’s early communication, language, and literacy skills. Accessibility of books, use of visual, enhanced book
corners, selection of age appropriate books, and more are also impacts JTB has had on the classrooms serving
young children.

JTB understands that positive, responsive interactions between children and educators are foundational to the
child’s learning and helps educators learn how to build language and literacy practices upon this important
basis.

Page 5 of 8

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the
Gila River Indian Community. (Priority funding areas include: Economic Development, Education,
Healthcare, Public Safety, Transportation).

Early childhood is an exciting time of rapid physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. The
experiences young children have during these early years are critical for healthy brain development and set
the stage for lifelong learning and well-being. Research has confirmed that early literacy development is
interrelated with all other developmental domains and young children in environments rich in language and
books tend to read earlier and excel in school compared to children not exposed to rich language and literacy
environments.

The Early Language and Literacy Education for Children project satisfies the Gila River Indian Community
Education category by teaching medical providers, fathers, and child care providers how to promote early
communication, language and literacy skills in young children and families. The programs in this project work
to promote success in school and in life. Research has demonstrated that children who have had access to
quality early learning opportunities such as those presented in this project are more prepared for
kindergarten: they have increased vocabulary, better language, math and social skills, have more positive
relationships with classmates, and score higher on school-readiness assessments. Additionally, they are less
likely to need special education services or be held back a grade, and are more likely to graduate and go on to
college.

Arizona’s young children represent the state’s future. Continued investment in their well-being and the well-
being of their families is the most efficient strategy for strengthening the future workforce and supporting a
thriving community.

5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by
the project.

Just as there is an achievement gap in school performance, there is a school readiness gap that separates
disadvantaged children from their more affluent peers. As early as 18 months, low-income children begin to
fall behind in vocabulary development and other skills critical for school success. Children who enter school
below national norms in language and pre-reading skills struggle to catch up.

Many children are unprepared to enter school because they lack the early literacy skills needed to learn to
read. Barriers to school readiness include poverty and its effects (unreliable access to food, housing and
childcare), difficulty speaking or understanding English, being raised by single parents, teenage parents or
grandparents, and lack of books in the home. Low income families are also less likely to receive the supports
that can help mitigate the effects of poverty on their overall well-being.

Arizona’s lack of publicly funded preschool, combined with minimal teacher qualifications and licensing
standards has created barriers for families looking for care that is accessible, affordable, and high quality.
Research clearly demonstrates that high quality early childhood education experiences have profound positive
impacts on children’s overall development and later outcomes and that teacher training and preparation
matters greatly. Many early education/child care centers lack the resources to invest sufficiently in high-
quality professional development for their staff. And yet, the first five years are critical in development, with
early language and literacy being foundational, interrelated with all other developmental domains.

Page 6 of 8

Without sufficient investment and attention to early language and literacy development, we see avoidable
deficits in the data on young children. More than 1/3 of U.S. children enter kindergarten without the skills
they need to read. Dual language learners (over 40% of Arizona’s birth-8 population) often have less access to
high quality early childhood education and are more likely to live in poverty. These early disparities can result
in later achievement gaps, with Arizona 4th grade reading scores being 25% lower for English Language
Learners than the scores for children whose primary language is English.

Funding from Gila River Indian Community will impact approximately 4,178 individuals as follows:

 Reach Out and Read: 4,098 low-income children aged birth through 5 and their families
 3Ts Let’s Talk Dads: 20 dads and 20 children aged birth through 5 (total of 40)
 Journey Through Books: 40 early education/child care professionals who will impact hundreds of low-
income children aged birth through 5

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?

The programs described in this proposal are continuing programs of Southwest Human Development. The Gila
River Indian Community awarded grants for the Reach Out and Read program in 2010 and 2012.

7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.

There are no specific start and finish dates, and the timeline is flexible, as these are ongoing programs of
Southwest Human Development.

8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.

Southwest Human Development is committed to program collaboration, as detailed below.

REACH OUT AND READ

Southwest Human Development partners with the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the
statewide Affiliate of Reach Out and Read Arizona, as the designated provider of Reach Out and Read services in
Maricopa County. Southwest Human Development provides ongoing technical assistance and training to over 70
pediatric medical clinics, including many large, federally qualified health centers and multi-clinic systems that
provide primary care services in underserved areas.

Read On Arizona is a statewide, public/private partnership of agencies, philanthropic organizations, and
community stakeholders committed to creating an effective continuum of services to improve language and
literacy outcomes for children birth through 8. Reach Out and Read has been identified by Read On as a
program that can effectively develop and strengthen literacy and language acquisition in young children,
putting them on a pathway to school success.

Southwest Human Development’s book partners include First Book, Reading is Fundamental and Scholastic
who often provide volume discounts and in-kind donations that enable us to purchase and distribute more
books.

Page 7 of 8

3TS LET’S TALK DADS

3Ts Let’s Talk Dads is an ongoing collaboration between Southwest Human Development, The Steve Nash
Foundation, and Thirty Million Words (TMW) Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of
Chicago. Southwest Human Development, as an implementation partner, has been facilitating these learning
communities since 2019.

JOURNEY THROUGH BOOKS

Journey Through Books is part of The Professional Development Institute (PDI), created by Southwest Human
Development. The PDI is a collaborative effort that engaged a broad a coalition of stakeholders to assess the
professional development needs of the early childhood workforce in Arizona. The PDI will continue to work
with these entities to ensure workforce development trainings are needed, coordinated and meet quality
standards. In the Journey Through Books program, the PDI collaborates with Read On Arizona, First Things
First, Arizona Early Childhood Association, Department of Economic Security Child Care Administration,
Arizona Department of Education, Maricopa Community Colleges, and Arizona State University to ensure that
the content and delivery of the program meets the needs of early care and education providers.

9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this
project?

Yes. Southwest Human Development is committed to each of these programs and will be able to implement
them with partial funding, though we may need to reduce the number of individuals served.

Southwest Human Development has been doing the work described in this project for many years, and will
continue to do so in the future. Approximately 50% of the revenue for this project comes from private
philanthropy. We practice a robust and comprehensive fund development plan that includes individual giving,
direct mail, special event fundraising, corporate and foundation grant seeking, focused campaigns, and
sponsorships. We are confident in our ability to sustain the program past the funding year.

11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.

Southwest Human Development is committed to program documentation and evaluation. Each program
within the Early Language and Literacy Education for Children project has an evaluation plan.

REACH OUT AND READ utilizes the Reach Out and Read Site Quality Classification (SQC) process to measure
the extent to which clinics are engaging in program best practices. To maximize results for families it’s
important the program be implemented in pediatric clinics with fidelity to the national model. Projected
outcomes are as follows:

Outcome #1: The Southwest Human Development ROR Coordinators will provide support to pediatricians on
program practices and current research, including strategies for utilizing books for developmental surveillance
and providing developmental guidance to parents and families. Documentation of visits and technical
assistance will be logged via the myror.org database.

Page 8 of 8

Outcome #2: Books will be distributed during at least 85% of the well-child visits. Data will be reported via the
bi-annual progress reports in myror.org and tracked as a part of the Annual Site Quality Classification process.

Outcome #3: The Southwest Human Development ROR Coordinators will curate and deliver orders of high
quality, age-appropriate and culturally responsive books to ensure children can be provided with a book
during their well-child visit. All book distributions will be tracked via the SWHD inventory management system.

3TS LET’S TALK DADS - The TMW Center utilizes pre-and post-surveys via the University of Chicago IRB process
to measure program successes, along with ample in-session group reflective discussions, ongoing goal setting
via the learning platform, and out of session individualized coaching sessions. Outcomes include:

 Increase in father/caregiver knowledge of brain development
 Improvement in the quality and quantity of parent-child interactions
 Richer early language environments for children at home

JOURNEY THROUGH BOOKS utilizes a continuous quality improvement approach to collect and evaluate data
in order to improve the program. We regularly seek feedback from staff, program participants, funders and
community partners to inform what is currently working in the program and where improvements can be
made. Outcomes include:

 Improvement on pre-post language/literacy assessments
 Successful teacher utilization of fixed supports to enrich language/literacy experiences
 Successful teacher and director engagement in learning communities, trainings, and coaching sessions
 Increased quality and number of shared book reading experiences in the classroom
 Increased number of book corners in participating classrooms

Southwest Human Development submitted applications to the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation in 2011, 2014,
and 2015, which were declined. Applications were also submitted to the Tohono O’odham Nation in 2016,
2017 and 2018, which were also declined. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community has awarded
grants for our Birth to Five Helpline in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Aggregate Expenses for the Project
1. Salaries
62,400
$
462,817
$
525,217
$
2. Employee Related Expenses & Taxes
15,600
$
120,957
$
136,557
$
3. Dues, Subscriptions, Memberships
12,078
$
12,078
$
4. Equipment Rental & Maintenance
6,500
$
6,500
$
5. Evaluation Services
47,819
$
47,819
$
6. Occupancy (allocated)
58,000
$
58,000
$
7. Postage
500
$
500
$
8. Professional Development & Training
9,500
$
9,500
$
9. Program Materials & Supplies
260,423
$
260,423
$
10. Telephone & Internet
8,027
$
8,027
$
11. Travel/Mileage
20,830
$
20,830
$
12. Overhead (Agency Rate of 10%)
108,546
$
108,546
$
Total of Aggregate Expenses for the Project
78,000
$
1,115,997
$
1,193,997
$
Expense Summary by Program in the Project
Reach Out and Read
25,000
$
330,080
$
355,080
$
3Ts Let's Talk Dads
23,000
$
553,021
$
576,021
$
Journey Through Books
30,000
$
232,896
$
262,896
$
Total Expense Summary by Program
78,000
$
1,115,997
$
‐
$
1,193,997
$
Amount Requested
or Secured from
Other Funders*
Amount Requested
from GRIC
Proposed Budget Expense
In‐Kind
Contributions
Total Budget
GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATION
GRANT CYCLE 2022
Southwest Human Development
Early Language and Literacy Education for Children
07/01/22 to 06/30/23
Year 1 of 1

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

PROJECT BUDGET DETAIL

Early Language and Literacy Education for Children
Prepared by: Southwest Human Development

Reach Out and Read – Funding Request: $25,000
Funds will support the implementation of Reach Out and Read at 70 pediatric clinics across Maricopa
County, purchasing 4,098 children’s books that will be distributed across participating clinics to use in
the facilitation of well-child visits and provided to families to build home libraries. ROR Coordinators
provide support in the form of initial onboarding, ongoing training and onsite or virtual technical
assistance, collect relevant program data, and provide quarterly book distributions directly to the
clinics.

3Ts Let’s Talk Dads (LTD) - Funding Request: $23,000
Funds will support the presentation of two 6-week 3Ts Let’s Talk Dads series by two specialists
conducting 18 hours of facilitated presentation of the curriculum, group discussion and goal setting, as
well as 1:1 coaching for participants between sessions. Each participating father (up to a maximum of
12 per series, or 24 total) are provided with 12 high quality children’s books to build home libraries and
a 3Ts Journal.

Journey Through Books - Funding Request: $30,000
Funds will support implementation of Journey Through Books in early childhood education sites across
Maricopa County. Working with early education teachers and directors, JTB coaches convene quarterly
community of learners sessions with participants from across the sites for group based learning,
conduct quarterly director lunch and learns, provide hands-on, individualized coaching with learning
goals specific to each participant, and conduct individualized “mini-trainings.”

Aggregate Expenses for the Project
1. Salaries: $525,217
Program coordinators, facilitators, coaches, managers

2. Employee Related Expenses & Taxes: $136,557
Federal and state taxes, worker’s compensation, social security, medical, dental, vision insurance,
life and ADD insurance, and 401(k) retirement plan.

3. Dues, Subscriptions, Memberships: $12,078

4. Equipment Rental & Maintenance: $6,500

5. Evaluation Services: $47,819

6. Occupancy (allocated): $58,000

7. Postage: $500

8. Professional Development & Training: $9,500

9. Program Materials & Supplies: $260,423
Books, curriculum, videos, journals, etc.

10. Telephone & Internet: $8,027

11. Travel/Mileage: $20,830

12. Overhead @ Standard 10% agency rate: $108,546

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/10/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates 301 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 960
4. Mailing Address: 301 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 960
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom/Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@Maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ)
8. Select Organization Type: Non-Municipal Public Service Org  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination
Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Emily Denes
Title: Manager, Foundations and Grants
10. Phone Number: 602-343-1247
11. Mailing Address: 4309 E Belleview St, Building 14

12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85008
13. Email Address: Emily.denes@bgcaz.org
Website Address: bgcaz.org

Project Information
14. Project Name: Academic Success and Healthy Lifestyles for Maricopa County Youth
15. Purpose of Grant: To improve academic and health outcomes for disadvantaged Maricopa County Youth
16. Priority Funding Area
Education
17. Annual amount requested
$150,000

18. Number of years that funding is requested
2
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$300,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Yes, BGCAZ received $100,000 in 2021, $674,213 in 2020, and the
former BGCEV received $120,000 in 2019.
21. Geographic area served
The Greater Phoenix Metro Area

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

BGCAZ utilizes Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Formula For Impact to help youth achieve four Priority Outcomes:
Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyle, Good Character & Leadership, and Career Pathways & Workforce Readiness. Our
mission is to empower young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive,
caring, responsible members of the community. Our vision is to be the premier out-of-school-time provider and leading
voice for youth development in Arizona, ensuring youth and teens have the skills and resilience to successfully navigate
childhood, and prepare for adulthood.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
BGCAZ has many long-standing collaborative relationships with municipalities throughout Arizona, including State of
Arizona Department of Education, Maricopa County and Pinal County, the cities of Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, Chandler,
Avondale, Mesa, Peoria, Apache Junction, Town of Gilbert, and various agencies within. Each of these municipalities has
provided grant funding for our Clubs within their boundaries for programming and/or facilities needs. The City of
Phoenix Police Department PAL (Police Activities League) Program integrates police officers into the Clubs to establish a
foundation for understanding and respect between community youth and police officers, while teaching youth essential

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

life and safety skills. The City of Glendale’s Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation, and Juvenile Probation Departments
engage Club youth and teens in safety, fitness, and mentoring activities. BGCAZ staff often serve on local committees,
task forces, neighborhood associations, and other community groups in coordination with the municipalities. Multiple
Clubs are housed in city facilities or on their property, and we now have multiple school-site programs operating in
partnership with school districts. We chose Maricopa County as the supporting municipality for this application, as we
serve youth throughout the entire County.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
BGCAZ is seeking funding to support our Academic Success and Healthy Lifestyles for Maricopa County Youth program,
which constitutes more than half of the daily programming offered in our Clubs. The objectives associated with these
two Priority Outcomes are:
1) To ensure youth are on track to graduate from high school, and
2) To establish healthy habits that support physical, emotional, and mental health.

In a typical day at the Club, a member will participate in high-yield learning activities and targeted programs related to
these topics in multiple areas throughout the facility, including game rooms, gyms, learning centers, art rooms,
computer labs, other multipurpose rooms, and more. Youth members rotate through areas by age group, participating
in a wide variety of activities throughout the day. The same variety of equipment and activities are offered within teen
centers, in an environment more suitable to their age and development. All members receive a snack and dinner every
day after school, as well as breakfast, lunch, and snacks during summer and breaks.

Academic Success is a primary focus for our members every day. Upon arrival after school, all age groups start the
afternoon with Power Hour, the dedicated time for completing and receiving assistance with homework. Power Hour is
the most consistent activity in every Club, offered to every age group every day after school. The consistency of the
program serves the dual purpose of completing the day’s work and its immediate learning objectives, as well as building
and reinforcing a strong daily practice of ensuring their work is done before the fun begins. Over the summer, daily
Summer Learning Loss Prevention activities take its place, to ensure that our members don’t fall behind during the
extended break. Other Academic Success activities offered throughout the year may include:

Diplomas2Degrees - A college readiness program that guides Club members as they work toward high school graduation
and prepare for post-secondary education and career success.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Woz U Education Program – founded by Steve Wozniak, cofounded of Apple, in this program youth begin learning block-
based code in kindergarten, transition to text-based code in middle school, and progress through the immersive
software developer path in high school.
Lego Robotics – a hardware and software structure produced by Lego for the development of programmable robots.
Math Hoops - a fast-paced board game and mobile app that teaches students fundamental math skills through the
basketball statistics of their favorite NBA and WNBA players.
Arts Education – through BGCA’s National Fine Arts Competitions, youth learn photography, music making, digital arts,
and performance arts.
DIY STEM - hands-on, activity-based STEM curriculum which connects youth to science themes they encounter regularly.
Money Matters – financial literacy, responsibility, and independence curriculum for tweens and teens. Participants learn
how to manage a checking account, create a budget, save and invest, start small businesses and pay for college.
NetSmartz – internet safety education required for members to use technology in the Clubs that must be completed
annually.
MyFuture Digital Literacy Essentials – provides members of all ability levels with a foundation to explore digital safety,
digital privacy, digital presence, online communication and retro gaming.
Hour of Code - a global computer science initiative that creates a fun and creative environment for students to be
introduced to the concepts of computer programming.

Healthy Lifestyles activities are also a large part of the everyday focus in the Clubs. With our daily snack and meal
program, members consistently incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables, balanced meals, and right-sized portions into
their diets. BGCAZ is the largest food provider for youth in Arizona outside of schools, contributing significantly to
decreased food insecurity among our low-income members, which is associated with positive health and academic
outcomes. Pickup games and fitness activities are offered in our gyms and outside areas every day, to ensure youth are
getting regular exercise as well as learning to make it a regular part of their lives. Other Healthy Lifestyles activities
include:

Seasonal Sports Leagues – basketball, flag football, soccer, and other team sports, coached by volunteers.
Kids in the Kitchen – hands-on basic cooking skills instruction, as well as nutrition education focusing on consumption of
fresh fruits and vegetables, balanced meals, and healthy portions.
Triple Play: Mind Body Soul – a wellness curriculum emphasizing the importance of taking care of all aspects of your
physical, mental, and emotional health.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Mindfulness for Youth – a wellness and resilience building program that teaches youth how to direct their attention to
the present moment, their breathing, and their senses to gain greater control over their inner and outer experiences.

All BGCAZ activities are implemented with BGCA’s Five Key Elements for Positive Youth Development –
1) a Safe, Positive Environment,
2) Supportive Relationships (with staff and peers),
3) Opportunities and Expectations,
4) Recognition, and
5) Fun.
Together, this all happens in the context of a day of fun with friends, increasing the impact of the program and the
engagement of our members.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
This program aligns with the Education and Healthcare priority funding areas by helping to ensure that more Arizona
youth are on track to succeed academically and graduate from high school, as well as helping them practice healthy
behaviors that will support their health now and in the future.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
Evidence-based youth development programs are greatly needed throughout Arizona, which has consistently ranked
near the bottom of national reports on youth health and wellness in every category (Annie E. Casey KIDS COUNT Reports
2010-2020). This is largely because, as the Arizona Department of Health states, Arizona youth experience some of the
highest rates of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the country. Research shows that ACEs contribute to worse
outcomes for individuals throughout life in their health, education, employment, and other areas (Kaiser Permanente,
1998).

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, ACEs have increased, education has been massively disrupted, and youth’s
mental health has deteriorated. According to recent studies, pandemic-related learning loss has been highest among
low-income, less educated, and minority families (National Academy of Sciences, April, 2021). This places our youth at
greater risk of dropping out of high school, if they are not able to catch up academically. According to the Arizona Board

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

of Regents 2021 report, “Compounding the current low college-going and college completion rates is Arizona’s
corresponding low high school completion rate, which ranks in the bottom quartile of the United States. This means if
Arizona’s high school completion, college enrollment and completion trends stay on their current trajectory, only 16.8
percent of today’s ninth graders will graduate from a four-year college by 2029.” Extracurricular academic activities can
fill the gaps in these youth’s educations.

Additionally, multiple studies of the effects of COVID-19 on youth mental health are already showing that youth have
experienced increased anxiety, depression, attention issues, and sleep disturbances due to the pandemic (Child Mind
Institute, 2021). Across the US, there was a 31% increase in teen visits to emergency rooms for mental health related
incidents (Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, 2021). According to the landmark Kaiser Permanente study on ACEs,
the most influential factor in the resilience a young person is able to develop is whether they have positive supportive
relationships. Club staff are trained through BGCA’s Spillett Leadership University on how to intentionally create a sense
of belonging and influence for each member. By providing that key intangible resource to Arizona youth – supportive
relationships and community – BGCAZ will address the need to build resilience in our youth, who are facing many
challenges. The Clubs are a key community tool for supporting youth’s mental and emotional health, because we offer
youth a place to belong.

In these ways, the Academic Success and Healthy Lifestyles Program will address the pressing need for academic support
among Maricopa County youth who have experienced pandemic-related learning loss, as well as the growing need for
holistic support for youth’s physical, emotional, and mental health.

BGCAZ’s target population is low-moderate income youth, particularly in areas with concentrated poverty. More than
half of BGCAZ families live below the poverty line, 76% of members identify as racial/ethnic minorities, and 58% come
from single-parent households. Our members typically have multiple risk factors for disengagement (dropping out of
school and/or the workforce), and not enough positive role models in their lives. BGCAZ opened its Clubs full-time
during the 2020-2021 school year for distance learning for children of essential workers, to ensure that they continued
to learn while schools were closed but their parents still had to work. Membership decreased during this time due to
social distancing restrictions. As schools have returned to in-person learning, we are seeing increasing numbers of youth
returning to the Clubs as well. BGCAZ expects to serve at least 10,000 members in 2022-2023 and beyond.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

This is a continuing program. GRIC funded our Safe, Healthy and Successful Kids Club programming in 2021, which
encompasses this program, as well as other components.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
This program will be conducted on a year-round, daily basis throughout fiscal years 22-23 and 23-24. Club calendars
align with their local school districts, offering after-school programs during the school year, and all-day programming
during breaks and summer. The timeline for receiving funding is flexible, if necessary. We anticipate using the funding
within a one-year timeframe.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
This program is supported by numerous local government, corporate, and foundation funders, including municipalities,
the State of Arizona Department of Education, Governor’s Office, APS, SRP, Cox Charities, Phoenix Suns Charities,
Cardinals Charities, and others. Corporate volunteer groups from Dutch Bros., Insight, local realtor groups, and others
often support the program by helping youth with homework during Power Hour, coaching sports and fitness games, or
assisting with other daily activities. Other youth-serving organizations like Girl Scouts, USTA Youth Tennis, Big Brothers
Big Sisters, and many more, bring their specialized programming and volunteers to the Clubs to enhance the program
with their expertise.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes, BGCAZ will be able to implement the program if partial funding is awarded, but it would require additional
organization resources to seek other funding to complete the budget, and fewer children would be served, as a result.
Other sources of funding that would be sought are described below in answer #10.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
BGCAZ develops and executes a well-rounded annual fundraising plan each year, continuously growing our base of
support, and adapting to the rapidly changing economic and social circumstances in our communities. Our sources of
funding are intentionally diverse, to ensure that our services are not disrupted by the loss of any single award or funder.
Government funding makes up approximately 20% of our annual budget; private giving through corporations,

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

foundations, and individuals is about 45%; fundraising events are expected to raise approximately 10%; the remainder
comes from the BGCAZ Foundation, United Way, program fees, in-kind donations, and other miscellanceous earned
income. The annual fundraising plan for fiscal year 2020-2021 exceeded its original fundraising goals, ensuring that all
programs were able to be delivered as intended.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
BGCAZ records all membership and participation data in our electronic KidTrax database. Membership information is
collected and updated annually. BGCAZ has a proven track record of success. BGCAZ utilizes multiple evaluation tools to
measure the impact of our programs. For certain targeted programs, members complete pre- and post-program surveys
that demonstrate increases in knowledge or skills. Each Club completes an extensive annual Impact Assessment for
BGCA, which compiles information and data points across all Club operations. Club members complete annual surveys as
part of BGCA's National Youth Outcomes Initiative, which measures and analyzes members' experiences on local,
organizationwide, statewide, and national levels. Program feedback is collected from members, families, and staff
through anonymous surveys. BGCAZ uses this data to determine Club performance and inform each Club's annual
Continuous Quality Improvement plan. As an organization, we also measure the economic impact of our programs on
the community at large, knowing that the Clubs help whole families, not just kids.

Relating to this program, Academic Success and Healthy Lifestyles indicators from the 2023 National Youth Outcomes
Survey are expected to show:
95% of surveyed members are on track to graduate from high school;
80% of surveyed members express interest in science, computers, or technology;
90% of surveyed members demonstrate an understanding of how their feelings influence their actions;
80% of surveyed members participate in physical activity for at least 60 minutes 3 or more days per week;
85% of surveyed members avoid unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, alcohol and drug use, and fighting;
75% of surveyed members report consuming 3 or more fruits and vegetables every day.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
BGCAZ has not applied for funding from another tribe in the past 5 years.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: July 2022 – June 2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries, Benefits, ERE Taxes
$80,000
$7,722,271
$0
$7,802,271
2. Contracted Services
$0
$693,403
$0
$693,403
3. Supplies
$30,000
$0
$0
$929,144
4. Telephone/Internet
$0
$0
$0
$99,600
5. Occupancy
$10,000
$963,693
$0
$973,693
6. Equipment
$30,000
$365,101
$0
$395,101
7. Printing/Postage
$0
$0
$0
$222,080
8. Transportation
$0
$0
$0
$63,246
9. Conferences, Meetings, Trainings
$0
$0
$0
$136,150
10. National and Organization Dues
$0
$0
$0
$42,330
11. Youth Related Expenses
$0
$0
$0
$75,011
12. Insurance
$0
$0
$0
$306,083
13. Miscellaneous/Loan Interest
$0
$0
$0
$56,336
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$150,000
$1,164,447
$0
$11,794,447

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries, benefits, and ERE taxes will cover a portion of the personnel costs for direct service staff at each of the 25+
Maricopa County locations, proportional to the amount of time dedicated to this program. These positions include
Branch Directors, Program Directors, Teen Specialists, and Youth Development Specialists.
2. Consultant fees are for services rendered by outside accounting, fundraising, and other professional services agencies.
3. Supplies include program curriculum and materials for activities, like sports equipment, technology, science kits, etc.
4. Telephone and internet costs are the amount required for Club operations in proportion to the amount of total
programming time dedicated to this program.
5. Occupancy costs reflect utilities, rent, and related costs for the operation of the facilities.
6. Equipment expenses include computers, smart boards, tablets, and other items needed to deliver program content.
7. Printing, copying, postage, delivery costs are those related to the program, including printing program-related
instructions, experiments, and other items for the youth; printing flyers about the program; copying program materials;
and postage expenses.
8. Transportation costs cover the expenses for staff travel as well as the operation of Club vehicles when utilized for this
program.
9. Conferences, meetings, and trainings include registration fees and materials for local staff training events.
10. National and organization dues include Boys & Girls Clubs of America and other professional associations.
11. Youth related expenses cover expenses for items provided directly to youth to facilitate their participation in the
program, such as clothing for special events.
12. Insurance costs are non-payroll insurance premiums for Club operations.
13. Miscellaneous/loan interest accounts for fees and expenses arising from the program in proportion to the amount of
programming time dedicated to this program.
14. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: This budget reflects expected expenses for the 22-23 fiscal year, but is not yet finalized or approved
by the board of directors. The 23-24 fiscal year will be determined in the following year and is expected to increase
slightly across all categories.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson 10th Fl
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Hope’s Crossing
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Laura Bulluck Title: Executive Director
10. Phone Number: 602-795-8098
11. Mailing Address: 1632 W. Camelback Rd. #212
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85015
13. Email Address: laura@hopescrossing.org
Website Address: www.hopescrossing.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Fundamentals of Freedom
15. Purpose of Grant: Transform the lives of 50 women transitioning from prison, addictions, or homelessness.
16. Priority Funding Area
Public Safety
17. Annual amount requested
$5000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$5000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
No
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

With organizational leadership spanning 20 years, Laura C. Bulluck, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer leads the
organization by delivering programs and services to our clients. She has inspired management and community outreach
by Hope’s Crossing on a path to becoming a leader in the reentry community. The Board of Directors is formed with a
diverse group of community leaders that provide additional governance and support. Our support staff includes
volunteer facilitators and mentors, college and university interns, contract staff, and community partners who together
guide our clients on a journey of healing and restoration. Our programs and services are designed to inspire,
encourage, and create hope in women and their families that will enable them to build fulfilling lives and end the cycle
of recidivism.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Hope’s Crossing partnered with Technical Assistance Partnership of AZ to provide Fiscal Grant Sponsorship, grant
management and accounting support, which will put a greater number of grant opportunities with mission alignment at
our reach. A thorough analysis of the Fundamentals of Freedom service model has determined that securing a contract
with the State Medicaid Program would allow for reimbursement for the services provided to 70% of our current
population. We are working to secure a contract through this program.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
The Fundamentals of Freedom Program, a 20-week life skills training and education program that support women on a
journey to reclaim their life and lift themselves out of poverty. The unique and customized program assist women in
transitioning back to their community from a diverse set of circumstances and regardless of their incarceration
experience. Our program takes a holistic approach supporting women on this journey. Because no two experiences are
alike, a comprehensive assessment is conducted at the point of enrollment to determine the right level of support and
any additional services. The assessment considers untraditional barriers like transportation support, personal hygiene,
clothing support and intense emotional support with case management and mentors. Success is directly connected the
intensely support environment each woman receives when connecting to Hope's Crossing. Life skills training takes each
woman on journey to reshape their beliefs, develop skills to build healthy relationships, learn empowering techniques to
become confident in decision-making, and building self-awareness and self-advocacy. This grant opportunity would
provide capacity building to include additional program materials, needs assessment tools, job readiness training
and transportation support, and Smart $ workbooks and leadership training materials and workshop facilitator training.
Reducing recidivism breaks the cycle of crime, addiction, homelessness, abuse and lack of education for generations to
come. Supporting women in the community that feel stuck and experiencing setbacks from traumatic experience to
becoming better parents, wives, sisters and daughters.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
The Fundamentals of Freedom program aligns with the Public Safety priority funding area. The target population served
are women 18 years and older who were incarcerated and women at-risk of incarceration, substance abuse, domestic
violence and chronic unemployment and underemployment. The program ensures women return to the community
empowered for change, obtaining sustainable employment, establishing healthy relationships with family and children,
and becoming a contributing member of their community. Our clients experience a significant reduction in risk, or the
risk is completely eliminated. Those risks include, but are not limited to, recidivism, domestic violence or substance
abuse and are no longer victimizing communities.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

With an average of 3,900 women incarcerated in the AZ Department of Corrections facility over the past two years, 90%
of these women released are looking for a chance to get back on their feet. They need help from programs and services
to overcome socioeconomic issues like addiction, domestic and sexual abuse, emotional stability, education and
employment. Additionally, there are often terms and conditions of their release that impact their ability to navigate
them to completion, resulting in technical violations of those terms and conditions. These women have a strong desire
to reconnect with their children, find sustainable employment and affordable housing, and address physical and
emotional health needs. The combination of these terms and conditions coupled with the personal and economic needs
of all released inmates returning home, these challenges cannot be met without adequate and personalized support.
Hope's Crossing has a 92% success rate around recidivism and women becoming personally and economically
sustainable with this program model and know that it is a vital part of rebuilding our community and contributing to all
the other efforts of public safety. A grant will support 60 women in the program.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?

This is a continuing program with no prior GRIC funding.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The program operates on a 21 week cycle on a quarterly basis. A new course starts each January, March, June, and
August.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Hope's Crossing partners with Fresh Start Women's Resource Center since 2016 and their role as a community partner
provides meeting space, participant referrals to our program and share access counseling and legal aid service by their
organization for the participants in our program. Fresh Start is also a referral agency to Hope's Crossing, for participants
they serve that could benefit from Fundamentals of Freedom program. Hope's Crossing partners with Dress for Success
Phoenix since 2016 and their role as a community partner is to provide interview clothing and employment attire to
women participating in job seeking activities. Major funders include Larry Miller Charities, State Farm, Arizona Women’s
Partnership, Carmody Foundation, Sundt Foundation, and Microsoft Women’s Empowerment.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Yes, we would adjust the number of women served according to total funds secured if necessary.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Hope’s Crossing maintains a healthy distribution of rvenu streams. Our revenue streams include 52% from fundraising
campaigns, 31% individuals, 19% corporate and foundation grants. We are seeking a contract with the State to provide
services for women exiting a state facility through Medicaid.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
The program objective is to strengthen participants in four specific area's of life: 1) Obtain and sustain employment, 2)
Safe and adequate housing, 3) Emotional health, and 4) Family reunification. Clients are assessed in each area at
enrollment and documented in a Personal Transition Plan. The plan includes personal goals, suggested timeline,
perceived barriers, resources to overcome barriers and outcome and date. Each plan is signed and dated by both
participant and program team member. Participant receives a weekly check up call and transition plan updates occur
with a formal plan update at 7 weeks, 14 weeks and 21 weeks of program enrollment and each quarter after program
completion. The progress intervals allow for documenting and measuring short term and long term results. We track
demographic information, client status (veteran/non-veteran), goals, and program completion. The tracking system is
updated monthly compared to established goals. Program success is measured by progress in sustainable housing,
sustainable employment or financial resources, sobriety, increased or improved social engagement, emotional and
physical health, and decline in recidivism. The Fundamentals of Freedom program currently has a 92% success rate
among women enrolled in our program measuring these critical areas.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
We applied to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in 2021 and were not funded.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries
$0
$38,695
$0
$38,695
2. Professional & Outside Services
$0
$9,500
$0
$9,500
3. Program Expenses
$5,000
$11,320
$0
$16,320
4. Advertising and Marketing
$0
$3,000
$0
$3,000
5. Office Expense
$0
$1,086
$0
$1,086
6. Dues and Subscriptions
$0
$1,656
$0
$1,656
7. Postage
$0
$180
$0
$180
8. Technology
$0
$3,225
$0
$3,225
9. Utilities
$0
$3,500
$0
$3,500
10. Communications
$0
$1,852
$0
$1,852
11. Rent & Grounds
$0
$19,125
$0
$19,125
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$5,000
$93,139
$0
$98,139

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries: $38,695 includes salaries and employee related expenses for Executive Director and program coordinator.
2. Professional & Outside Services: $9,500 includes contracted specialists and facilitators.
3. Program Expense: $16,320 includes classroom materials, supplies, refreshments, textbooks.
4. Advertising & Marketing: $3,000 includes collateral materials, forms, signs, digital copies.
5. Dues & Subscriptions: $1,656 includes program and database related subscription fees.
6. Office Expense: $1,086 office supplies based on prior year expense.
7. Postage: $180 for required mailing.
8. Technology $3,225 for software and hardware needs.
9. Utilities: $3,500 site expense based on prior years.
10. Communications: $1,852 annual phone and internet expense.
11. Rent & Grounds: $19,125 facility lease.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W Jefferson, 9th Floor
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: HonorHealth
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Katy Gilbert
Title: Vice President, Grants
10. Phone Number: 480-587-5134
11. Mailing Address: 8125 N Hayden Rd
12. City: Scottsdale
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85258
13. Email Address: grants@honorhealth.com
Website Address: https://honorhealthfoundation.org/
Project Information
14. Project Name: Addressing Workforce Diversity through Peer Support and Education
15. Purpose of Grant: This proposal provides a unique opportunity to move from canned, impersonal diversity
training programs to an educational and professional development program that focuses on peer-support and
enhanced diversity awareness. This replicable program will ultimately impact employee well-being and patient
satisfaction.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$299,856
18. Number of years that funding is requested
3
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$129,717 in Year 1; $83,910 in Year 2 and $86,228 in Year 3
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
$20,070 (2018)
$27,200 (2020)
$24,518 (2021)
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

HonorHealth has a rich history of healthcare innovation. Starting with the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center’s
comprehensive model of treatment, research, and support services for cancer patients, then, bringing hope and healing
to neurological, neurosurgical, and spine patients through implementation of a multidisciplinary model at the
HonorHealth Bob Bové Neuroscience Institute. HonorHealth continues this tradition by addressing Social Determinants
of Health impacting our patients and care providers. With the support of the Gila River Indian Communities, we propose
this project to provide peer support training to underrepresented minority staff and to make diversity sensitization
education accessible to all HonorHealth employees.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
HonorHealth has numerous beneficial relationships with Arizona Municipalities. Currently, HonorHealth partners with
Maricopa County in coordination with the Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 Vaccination Plan and was
one five health system partners initially designated to operate a drive through vaccination site in Maricopa County.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office also contracts with the HonorHealth Forensic Nurse Examiners Program to
provide medical forensic examinations for sexual assault and domestic violence strangulation survivors county-wide.
These services are located in six Maricopa County Family Advocacy Centers in Glendale, Goodyear, Phoenix, Scottsdale,
Chandler and Mesa. These cities provide program space, including exam rooms, free of charge. HonorHealth was
awarded a Victims of Crime Assistance (VOCA) grant from the Arizona Department of Public Safety to support two full
time Victim Advocates for this program.
HonorHealth staff contribute and serve as chairpersons on committees such as the Phoenix Police Department Sexual
Assault Kit Workgroup, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Protocol, and Maricopa Associations of
Government’s Vulnerable Adult Protocol helping to write protocols, set standards of care, and improve overall outcomes
for victims of crime.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

HonorHealth Desert Mission receives Arizona State SNAP education funding as a sub-awardee of the Maricopa County
Department of Public Health. These funds support Desert Mission Food Bank’s efforts to implement a community-based
approach to improved nutrition, nutrition education, and access to healthy foods for low-income food insecure
individuals and families. HonorHealth Desert Mission Lincoln Learning Center receives Arizona Department of Economic
Security funding to provide tuition support for children of frontline workers and general operating support to maintain
children’s services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Today’s healthcare delivery system is plagued by numerous stressors which negatively impact the wellbeing of all those
who work within it. Among these stressors are health inequities and shortcomings related to diversity and inclusiveness
in the workplace, disengagement and high workforce turnover, a shrinking trainee pipeline to adequately meet critical
healthcare needs, a lack of priority in the overall strategic and budgetary planning in healthcare organizations, and
inadequate public services to provide for the Mental and Behavioral health needs of those working in healthcare.
At HonorHealth, our workforce is at the center of everything we do. That’s why as a community healthcare organization,
HonorHealth has long been intentional about the wellbeing of our workforce. Over the past 18 months, system leaders
have begun to lay a strong evidence-based foundation upon which to scale and spread our data-driven and
compassionate efforts to improve resiliency of the workforce by addressing the stressors that have the greatest negative
impact on our team members and our patients. This proposal provides a unique opportunity to move from canned,
impersonal diversity training programs to an educational and professional development program that focuses on peer-
support and enhanced diversity awareness. This replicable will ultimately impact employee well-being and patient
satisfaction.

Objectives:
1. Develop learning modules focused on increasing awareness and understanding of the concerns and needs of
underrepresented minority team members and patients.
2. Deploy learning modules to the workforce as a voluntary program for professional and personal development.
3. Empower underrepresented minority group peer support by training their champions in evidence based peer
facilitation.

Implementation Plan:
We will heighten awareness of and improve access to support resources, thereby increasing the utilization of existing
programs. We will expand the peer support model to underrepresented minority groups; thereby fostering a culture of
psychological safety and social cohesion.
1. Expand in-person and add virtual peer support training modules to ensure sustainability. Baseline will be
measured in year 1 with an increase in accessibility and utilization by 50% in years 2 and 3.
2. Partner with HH Organizational Development to create and promote this educational opportunity as personal
and professional improvement by the end of year 2.
3. Explore feasibility of offering this an Honor Nurse project choice by the end of year 2.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
The proposed project satisfies the interest of Gila River Indian Community in the healthcare priority funding area. Grant
funds will be used to provide education and support opportunities to the employees of HonorHealth, which will then
offer downstream benefits to the patients we serve.

5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
A survey released on January 25, 2022, by the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing also found racism to
be a substantial problem within nursing, with more than half of nurses reporting they have personally experienced a
racist act in the workplace. Racism can exist in various forms, according to the National Commission to Address Racism
in Nursing. The commission's new definition of racism: "assaults on the human spirit in the form of actions, biases,
prejudices and an ideology of superiority based on race that persistently cause moral suffering and physical harm of
individuals and perpetuate systemic injustices and inequities." This proposal will focus on addressing racism and cultural
insensitivity in the workplace.
There are currently approximately 12,000 people employed by HonorHealth. The target population will be the
underrepresented minority groups within our system including African Americans, Hispanic and Native Americans.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This request is for is a new program. Gila River Indian Community has not previously funded this project.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
We anticipate initiating the project in June 2022. The first year will be spent developing the program and in years 2 and
3 we will shift our focus towards implementation and growth. While there is a certain degree of flexibility, there is also a
strong sense of urgency driving our attention towards implementing this initiative.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
The Project Manager for this initiative will be reaching out to community partners and organizations supporting
underrepresented minority groups in order to incorporate their insights, advice and suggestions in regard to ways our
system can better support our minority staff.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Yes, HonorHealth is committed to addressing Social Determinants of Health for our employees and patients. While we
will work towards implementation, the addition funding will accelerate the time in which we will be able to do so.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
This project will be sustained by HonorHealth as it is an integral part of the organization’s commitment to Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Progress and results will be tracked through the following methods:
1. Tracking attendance and feedback of participants at URM people groups.
2. Work with Health Stream and Organization Development to collect enrollment and course completion statistics.
3. Pre and post training knowledge assessments
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Not applicable.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: 06/01/2022 – 05/31/2025
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Personnel

$217,142
$0
$52,317
$0
2. Brochures

$10,000
$0
$0
$0
3. Employee training and peer
support
$0
$0
$36,540
$0
4. Facilities and Administrative Costs
$22,714
$0
$0
$0
5. Vendor Fees
$50,000
$0
$0
$0
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$299,856
$0
$88,857
$0

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Personnel includes the following: Wendy Ellis, Program Manager is the Network Director Physician & Caregiver
Wellbeing and will lead this effort. Year 1 – 7% effort and benefits charged to grant at $12,161, 3% in-kind effort at
$6,081 Year 2 – 3% effort and benefits charged to grant at $5,965, 2% in-kind effort at $2,982. Year 3 – 3% effort and
benefits charged to the grant at $6,144, 2% in-kind effort at $3,072. TBD, Project Coordinator – Learning Modules will
focus efforts on collaborating with others to develop the content and develop the learning modules. Year 1 – 30% effort
and benefits charged to grant at $31,200 Year 2 –30% effort and benefits charged to grant at $32,136 Year 3 - 30% effort
and benefits charged to grant at $33,100 TBD, Project Coordinator – Peer Support Groups will focus efforts on
supporting, training and implementing the peer support groups. Year 1 – 30% effort and benefits charged to grant at
$31,200 Year 2 –30% effort and benefits charged to grant at $32,136 Year 3 - 30% effort and benefits charged to grant at
$33,100 Senior Leadership Guidance and Consulting – Leaders within HonorHealth including the Chief Operations
Officer, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Academic Officer will dedicate in-kind effort towards the planning and guidance
of this project. Year 1 – 5% effort and benefits provided in-kind at $13,000 Year 2 –5% effort and benefits provided in-
kind at $13,390 Year 3 - 5% effort and benefits provided in-kind at $13,792
2. Brochures will be printed in order to educate and market Peer Support Groups and education opportunities provided
through this project. The cost of the brochures will be $10,000, which will be incurred during year 1.
3. Peer Support Group Sessions and Learning Modules will be available to employees during work hours, if the
employee’s schedule allows for flexibility. We anticipate 360 employees in years 2 & 3 for a total of 720 employees will
take advantage of this opportunity. This time will be covered in-kind by HonorHealth.
4. Facility and Administrative costs for this project are calculated at 10% of total direct costs, not including vendor fees.
5. HonorHealth will contract with a vendor to build and implement the learning modules. We anticipate the cost to be
$50,000, which will be incurred during the year 1.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Avenue Suite 960
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: American Red Cross of Central and Northern Arizona
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Barbara Carey Title: Grants Manager
10. Phone Number: 480-226-0744 or 602-347-6508
11. Mailing Address: 4747 N 22nd St., Suite 100
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85016
13. Email Address: Barbara.carey@redcross.org
Website Address: redcross.org/local/az-nm
Project Information
14. Project Name: Blood Saves Lives: Local Blood Drives, the Critical Element
15. Purpose of Grant: Grant funding from the Gila River Indian Community would be used to underwrite 50
blood drives in Maricopa and Pinal Counties. These blood drives would be projected to generate
approximately 1,500 units of blood, providing life-saving blood and blood products for 4,500 recipients – mothers
giving birth, cancer patients needing transfusions, accident victims, organ transplants, people living with sickle cell
disease, those with blood disorders, individuals with rare blood types and countless others for whom the availability of
blood can mean the difference between life and death.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$195,000.00
18. Number of years that funding is requested
one
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$195,000.00
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
2015: $175,000 2017: $100,000
2019: $200,000 2021: $175,500

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

21. Geographic area served
State of Arizona, however focus of this application is Maricopa and
Pinal Counties.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Services are provided in accordance with our mission: The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human
suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors,
furthering our vision to partner with the people of Arizona to develop and foster safer families, neighborhoods,
and worksites … to promote a system of community self-sufficiency and compassionate response when
emergencies arise.

American Red Cross volunteers and employees are committed to improving the quality of human life and
enhancing self-reliance by providing disaster response and recovery, emergency family services, and
preparedness and safety training.

During FY 2021, your Red Cross in Arizona provided vital services to families and individuals in crisis while
preparing our community members with life-saving skills. Our accomplishments included:
• Responded to 1,125 local disasters, of which approximately 95% involved home fires
• Assisted 1,741 families / 4,435 individuals who suffered disaster incidents
• Provided over $1,043,000 in direct financial assistance for food/groceries and clothing; emergency shelter and
rent; bedding and household items; and replacement of prescription drugs, eyeglasses, medical supplies and
health-related items
• Trained 33,392 individuals in CPR, first aid, AED, Babysitting and Family Caregiving, Aquatics, community
disaster education and other life-saving classes
• Offered Service to the Armed Forces assistance to over 16,000 service members and their families, including
outreach services and pre-deployment briefings, emergency message relays, casework services, and financial
aid casework management
• Worked with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to link families separated by armed
conflict, natural disaster or civil unrest in their home countries, and offered International Humanitarian Law
classes
• Collected and distributed donations of over 68,000 units of blood through the Red Cross Arizona Blood
Services Region, a subdivision of the single largest supplier of blood in the US, operating 24/7

From mining towns to metropolitan areas, deserts to shining seas, nearly every second of every day, someone is
assisted by the American Red Cross. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. Every eight
minutes, the Red Cross responds to a disaster in the community. We are proud to uphold our pledge to the
American people: when the Red Cross is notified of a disaster, the Red Cross responds, 100% of the time.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Blood saves lives – it is perishable, it cannot be manufactured or stockpiled, there is no substitute, and it is truly life-
saving, perhaps the ultimate gift one human being can give to another. Blood saves lives, today and every day. Every two
seconds, someone in the US needs lifesaving blood. But during a global pandemic—perhaps more than ever—blood
serves as a critical, irreplaceable part of our nation’s healthcare infrastructure. Emergencies don’t wait – for mothers
giving birth, cancer patients needing transfusions, accident victims, organ transplants, people living with sickle cell
disease, those with blood disorders, individuals with rare blood types and countless others, the availability of blood can
mean the difference between life and death.
As the largest single blood collection organization in the US, the Red Cross is uniquely positioned for this important
work. The American Red Cross helps meet the constant demand for blood by providing about 40% of the nation’s blood
supply—more than any other blood bank in the US—serving as an essential partner to thousands of hospitals and cancer
treatment centers across the country. Right now, the US is facing a critical blood shortage, the worst in over a
decade; and while this shortage can be addressed through concerted efforts, it is likely to continue on some level
for many months to come. Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing a renewed disruption in the availability
of blood donors, an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations, along with an increased demand from
hospitals. In recent weeks, there's been less than a one-day supply of critical blood types.
The surge of COVID-19 cases along with an active flu season have meant a high demand for blood and blood
products. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a 10% decrease in overall blood donations
since March 2020 and a 62% drop in college and high school blood drives. We are experiencing ongoing blood
drive cancellations due to numerous factors: illness, staffing shortages, weather-related closures, and employees
at businesses (where many blood drives are traditionally held) working remotely.
To fulfill our mission, the Red Cross holds about 520 blood drives daily nationwide. In Arizona in the immediate past
fiscal year, we held 2,735 blood drives, collecting 68,831 units of blood. Looking specifically at Maricopa and Pinal
Counties during this timeframe, 855 of the blood drives were in Maricopa County and 99 in Pinal. In terms of units of
blood collected, 22,954 units were in Maricopa County and 2,463 in Pinal. Looking ahead, we have our work cut out for
us. Arizona is known for growth and known for having a robust blood collection program. Therefore, we have been tasked
with increasing our blood collection numbers by 25% in the next five years.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Collectively, our community-based blood drives are the driving factor behind our ability to supply the nearly 13,000 units
of blood needed every day nationwide, but they are expensive – approximately $3,900 per blood drive. The project we
propose to the Gila River Indian Community is to underwrite 50 blood drives in Maricopa and Pinal Counties in calendar
year 2023. Each drive collects approximately 30 units of blood, and each unit can help three recipients. This means that
your gift of $195,000 would underwrite 50 local blood drives (about 5% of the total number of drives in Maricopa and
Pinal Counties) and could provide life-saving blood and blood products for 4.500 recipients.

This journey—from blood donor to recipient—is complex and costly, totaling about $1.7 billion a year. But it’s worth it.
We do what it takes to ensure patients have blood when they need it, where they need it. You can help the Red Cross get
lifesaving blood to people in need through your investment in our Blood Services program. Thank you for your
consideration.

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
Seen through the lens of the priority areas identified by the Gila River Indian Community, our request for
funding to underwrite 50 local blood drives relates most directly to health care, The American Red Cross helps
meet the constant demand for blood by providing about 40% of the nation’s blood supply, serving as an essential partner
to thousands of hospitals and cancer treatment centers across the country.

5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
Whether it is a personal emergency, a community-wide crisis or a global pandemic, people across America rely on the
Red Cross for blood that is safe and readily available. Every two seconds, someone in the US needs lifesaving blood. The
Red Cross is honored to play a critical role in the delivery of our nation’s healthcare. Many life-saving medical treatments
like chemotherapy, organ transplants and general surgeries would not be possible without reliable blood and blood
products.

The problem – especially right now when we are in the midst of a true blood crisis – is having the right amount and type
of blood available when it is needed, where it is needed. The driver for the arm-to-arm journey from blood donor to
recipient is the local blood drive, of which literally hundreds are needed across the country every day. When an individual
makes a blood donation, they contribute “whole blood,” containing a mixture of three separate components: red blood
cells, platelets, and plasma. During processing, whole blood can be separated via centrifuge, allowing for what physicians
refer to as component therapy. In modern medical treatments, patients may receive whole blood or just the components of
blood that their specific condition requires. Component therapy is an effective and efficient use of blood products, as

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

patients use only what they need, leaving remaining components for other patients. Each year, Red Cross technicians
process approximately 6.5 million blood products in facilities across the country, but all of this is dependent upon the
local blood drives.

The Red Cross is proud to manage and be the largest contributor to the American Rare Donor Program, which tracks and
organizes rare donor information. The goal of the program is to better meet the needs of patients with rare blood types.
The Red Cross administers the American Rare Donor Program 24/7, making requests for searches possible at any time. A
rare blood request may entail searching a database to locate the right match that is found in less than one in 1,000 donors.
These rare units are transported on demand across the country and, in some instances, the world, but it all starts with the
local blood drive.

The Red Cross provides in-depth testing, typing and matching of blood products for people with sickle cell disease. To
better serve people with sickle cell disease – a disease that disproportionately affects Black Americans -- we have
established the Sickle Cell Initiative to cultivate a larger pool of Black donors, as these donors are more likely than other
demographic groups to have blood best suited to alleviate the painful symptoms of sickle cell disease in most patients.
Having a larger pool of Black donors will result in better blood matches and increase the number of people with sickle cell
disease we can serve. Yet again, it all starts with the critical element – the local blood drive.

As it relates to this application, the target population is everyone in Maricopa and Pinal counties who meets the
qualifications to be a blood donor. We need to strategically collect enough blood to have it available on a
moment’s notice to meet the healthcare needs of patients locally and across the country, and this means making
local blood drives safe, secure, convenient and widely known.

How many donors? As many as possible, of course, and this will be influenced in part by the number of blood
drives. To quantify in terms of this application, 50 local blood drives would mean approximately 1,500 donors.
How many recipients? Around 4,500 – men and women, adults and children, cancer patients, sickle cell
patients, mothers giving birth, accident victims.

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This is a continuing program. GRIC has most generously funded American Red Cross blood drives in Maricopa
and Pinal counties in 2021 as well as the general Blood Services line of service through the adoption of an older
bloodmobile and the purchase of a new bloodmobile.

7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Blood drives are held in Maricopa and Pinal counties throughout the year, so your funding would be put to use
immediately upon receipt.

8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
We partner with many local high schools, universities, businesses, churches, government agencies, etc. to host
blood drives at their locations. We receive funding for Blood Saves Lives in Arizona from local individuals,
corporations, and foundations.

9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Partial funding would mean underwriting a smaller number of blood drives.

10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Humanitarian Services and Blood Services speak to the heart and soul of the American Red Cross nationwide
and here in Arizona, part of the core services of the Red Cross, and will require on-going funding. We will
continue to seek such funding through various corporate and foundation partners and United Way. The
American Red Cross is not a government agency. Our appeals to the compassion and generosity of Arizona
residents, foundations and businesses enable us to provide these vital services and will be on-going.

We are pleased to report that even with the ongoing difficulties related to COVID-19, in Arizona we are not
only holding our own but saw a small increase in the number of blood drives and number of units collected. We
are facing a huge challenge now, however, as blood donations nationwide are down just at the moment when we
in Arizona are tasked with increasing our blood collections by 25% over the next five years, which means lots
of work for our volunteers and staff as well as an on-going need for funding.

11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
We are committed to diligently tracking all activity and will be pleased to share with you when and where local
blood drives are held, the number of blood drives, the number of donors and the number of units of blood
collected. We know that each unit of blood collected can benefit up to three individuals, but we do not have the
ability due to privacy concerns to track who receives each unit of blood.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
The American Red Cross Central and Northern Arizona Chapter has received funding from the Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community in support of Disaster Cycle Services, most specifically helping to underwrite the
direct financial assistance provided to disaster clients in Maricopa County. In the past, we applied for funding
from the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation in support of Humanitarian Services, but that application was not
funded.

The American Red Cross Southern Arizona Chapter has received funding from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in
support of Disaster Relief and Service to the Armed Forces. They applied for funding from the Tohono
O’odham Nation, but the application was not funded.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: January 2023 – December 2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. 50 blood drives in Maricopa and
Pinal counties
$195,000
$0
$0
$195,000
2. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
3. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
4. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
5. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
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$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
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$0
$0
$0
$0
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$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$195,000
$0
$0
$195,000

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. We are requesting funding in the amount of $195,000 for 50 blood drives @ $3,900 per drive. This $3,900
figure can be further broken down as follows: Blood Collections Staff = $2,240; Donor Recruitment and
Marketing = $916; Medical & Other Supplies = $596; Blood Drive Vehicles = $117; Power Red Cell
Equipment = $31
2. Click here to enter text.
3. Click here to enter text.
4. Click here to enter text.
5. Click here to enter text.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Future for KIDS
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Madonna Bistany Title: Executive Director
10. Phone Number: (480) 947-8131
11. Mailing Address: 1425 W. Southern Avenue, 10A
12. City: Tempe
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85282
13. Email Address: madonna@futureforkids.org Website Address: https://futureforkids.org/
Project Information
14. Project Name: Discover Your Future (DYF)
15. Purpose of Grant: Discover Your Future is a free, trauma-informed afterschool program designed to address the
long-term impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences by promoting personal development, healthy living, and
academic success for disadvantaged youth.
16. Priority Funding Area
Education
17. Annual amount requested
$25,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
2
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$50,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Future for Kids received $50,000 total funding from the Gila River
Indian Community in 2019.
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
For 30 years, Future for KIDS has upheld our mission to provide mentor-driven out-of-school-time programs and camps
that focus on academics, athletics, and ethics to improve the lives of youth who face adversity. Our founder, retired NFL
player Rodney Smith, dreamed of becoming a professional athlete when he was a child. Through the powerful influence
of an adult mentor, Mr. Smith was inspired to succeed. With a vision that all children should have access to the benefits
of mentorship and athletics, he founded Future for KIDS in 1991 to provide free, quality sports camps. In 2006, Madonna
Bistany took the helm and expanded our mission to address whole-person wellbeing through programs designed to
counteract the negative effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences, including Discover Your Future, Sports and Fitness
Camps, and Camp FFK.
At Future for KIDS, we believe all kids should have the tools for building a bright future. Our goal is to decrease the
effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences with our mentor-driven programs to build resilience, expand academic
horizons, and teach healthy habits through our programs that target at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds. Since
our inception, we have touched the lives of more than 135,000 children, and now serve 1,200 youth between the ages
of 6 and 14 annually. Future for KIDS recently received the Commitment to Quality Award from the Arizona Center for
Afterschool Excellence for our Discover Your Future program, and we are Service Enterprise Certified by The Governor’s
Office on Youth, Faith and Family.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Future for KIDS serves low-income kids in cities throughout Maricopa County. During the 2022/23 school year, we intend
to offer Discover Your Future in 17 program sites. The following year we will expand to 19 program sites. All program
sites will be within Maricopa County. In addition, Maricopa County has provided grants to Future for KIDS through its
CARES ACT and ARPA Act funding.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Discover Your Future is a free, trauma-informed afterschool program that helps at-risk youth ages 7-12 engage in holistic
learning and develop healthy outlets. With an overarching goal to counteract the effects of Adverse Childhood
Experience (ACEs), Discover Your Future’s main objectives are: 1) increasing protective factors by connecting youth with
a positive adult mentor, 2) promoting exercise and other healthy habits, 3) building academic skills and confidence, and
4) investing in social-emotional learning.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

The once-weekly, two-hour program occurs over 26-weeks during the school year. Our dedicated volunteer mentors
lead small groups of youth (1:4) through a fun, yet challenging, high-impact curriculum. In the context of positive adult
and peer relationships, youth participate in three program elements: 1) Social emotional learning discussions (15 min.)
at the beginning of each session highlight a social-emotional learning focus that is revisited throughout the day’s
activities. 2) Physical activities (45 min.) encourage healthy habits and teach teamwork and collaborative problem-
solving skills. 3) STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) challenges (45 min.) foster an appreciation for
academics and build kids’ confidence in their ability to learn and apply STEAM concepts.
In alignment with current research, Discover Your Future implements a group mentorship model, in which groups of four
students are matched with one volunteer mentor. A study by Dr. Jean Rhodes from the Center for Evidence Based
Mentoring shows nearly 90% of youth prefer a group model. Moreover, this setting enables mentees to derive benefits
from connecting to their peers as well as to their adult mentor. The group model fosters a safe environment for youth to
learn how to respectfully collaborate, form camaraderie, seek consultation, establish group and individual
accountability, and develop leadership skills, helping them to form healthy and meaningful connections to their
communities.
In addition, Future for KIDS arranges for guest speakers representing businesses and organizations throughout Arizona
to visit program sites. These professionals share information about their work and career path inspiring our young
participants to “discover their future” and encouraging them to make goals and plans to find their path.
Based on prior years’ evaluations, we have found that 85% of Discover Your Future participants will report that they
built a relationship with their mentors, that having a mentor was important to them, and that their mentors cared for
them, and 85% of participants will report Discover Your Future helped them learn new things, building academic skills
and confidence.
We currently hold programs at 15 sites throughout the Maricopa County with plans to expand to 19 sites by 2024. With
each site serving 30 children, this phased expansion will increase our capacity from 450 to 570 students total.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
Discover Your Future programming aligns with the program elements detailed by the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) for
effective Expanded Learning Time programs that are offered after-school or during out-of-school.
1. CONNECTION
This after-school program characteristic of connect related both to the subject matter and to connecting youth with
other youth and with adults. The largest program component, STEAM challenges, gives youth hands-on opportunities
to reinforce and/or supplement science concepts they are learning in school. With mentors leading brainstorming,
asking powerful questions, and encouraging teamwork and problem-solving, youth complete challenging projects and
build confidence in their academic abilities. In addition, Discover Your Future emphasizes mentorship and connection
to address the long-term impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

2. RELEVANCE
LPI details the relevance characteristic for effective after-school programs as curriculum/activities that connect to
students’ real-world experience and community, “a strategy shown to make learning more engaging and effective.”
Discover Your Future’s dynamic and flexible curriculum is designed to help students practice and apply academic
concepts learned in school in ways that are not typically possible in a classroom setting. This furthers the development
of crucial social-emotional skills, such as communication, resilience, and confidence in one’s ability to solve complex
problems. Research shows that early exposure to STEAM activities positively impacts elementary students’ problem-
solving, critical thinking, teamwork, self-efficacy, and future career readiness. With minorities and women under-
represented in this growing segment of the economy, we aim to increase awareness and spark interest in these fields
among the youth we serve. To improve access to opportunities for out-of-school-time STEAM enrichment, Discover Your
Future is launching our STEAM LAB program in early 2022. This mobile STEAM unit that has houses even bigger and
better STEAM activities will visit each Discover Your Future program site at least once per year. Future for KIDS is in the
process of hiring a STEAM coordinator to design and oversee the implementation of STEAM curriculum across our
programming, ensuring that STEAM activities align with school curriculum and offer opportunities to apply concepts
students learn in school.

3. PARTNERSHIPS
LPI states that the third characteristic for effective, high-quality after-school programs is strong, meaningful partnerships
between schools and community-based organizations. Future for KIDS’ lasting, meaningful partnerships with schools and
community organizations enable us to collaborate with partner sites to continually evaluate the effectiveness of
Discover Your Future programming and ensure that we meet the specific needs of the students we serve. As we planned
for the 2021/22 school year, our partners shared that schools were struggling to meet students’ needs and that
educators needed the supportive services offered by organizations like Future for KIDS. In response, we increased the
number of partner sites and plan to continue our program expansion over the next two years.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
Future for KIDS targets at-risk youth ages 7-12 from low-income communities in Maricopa County who may have
endured multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences and do not have access to other comparable programs. According to
America’s Health Rankings, 17% of Arizona children (higher than the national rate of 14.7%) have faced more than two
ACEs, such as neglect, abuse, and other forms of household dysfunction. The American Psychological Association reports
that child poverty, the most common ACE, has been linked to poor academic achievement, behavioral and socio-
emotional problems, physical health problems, and developmental delays.
Having positive adult relationships and a safe space outside the home can provide children with the emotional support
they need to overcome challenging life circumstances. In 2021, the CDC found that mentor relationships and afterschool
activities have the capacity to mitigate the harmful long-term effects of ACEs. However, 56% of at-risk youth have never
had an adult mentor due to lack of available programming or financing (MENTOR 2014). Further, according to America
After 3PM, a 2020 report commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance, Arizona children who have the opportunity to
participate in afterschool programs receive critical supports that positively affect their socioemotional development,

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

academic engagement, and the well-being of their families. 76% of parents whose children attend afterschool programs
report that their children demonstrate increased skills and an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math); 83% agree that afterschool programs provide working parents peace of mind. However, for every child in Arizona
enrolled in an afterschool program, three are waiting to get in, with 160,811 children alone and unsupervised after
school. Further, three in five parents in Arizona say that the cost of afterschool programs is an important factor in the
decision not to enroll their child in afterschool programming. Now, more than ever, it is critical that youth have access to
extended learning, as the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated lack of access to afterschool enrichment.
Future for KIDS is committed to mitigating the devastating impact this crisis has had on our local children. Our after-
school program increases access to critical mentor relationships for these vulnerable youth, while also increasing access
to vital, out-of-school enrichment programming to provide social-emotional support, address learning gaps, and model
healthy living.
We are committed to addressing lack of equity in access to after-school enrichment opportunities with the goal of
helping empower and shape brighter futures for our most vulnerable youth. 100% of the children we serve come from
low-income families. Based on previous years, we anticipate this year’s ethnic breakdown of participants will be
approximately 40% Hispanic, 20% Black, 10% White, 5% American Indian, and 25% Other/not reported. We currently
serve 450 students annually with plans to expand to 570 in 2024.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This is a continuing program. GRIC funded our 2019 application for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
Discover Your Future runs for 26 weeks, from September through April. Meetings are held after-school, once a week,
during a pre-determined two-hour time frame. This request is for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 school years. The annual
implementation timeline is:
July – September: FFK finalizes partnerships, creates marketing flyers, registers youth, and recruits, screens, and trains
mentors.
August – May: Future for KIDS holds weekly Discover Your Future programming throughout the school year.
May – June: Programs conclude. We conduct all program evaluation, complete internal and external reports, and modify
curriculum as needed to achieve goals.
Future for KIDS strives to grow responsibly to meet the needs of Maricopa County’s most vulnerable youth. During
the 2021/22 school year, we have already expanded Discover Your Future to 15 partner sites. Should we be able to
raise the necessary funds, our goal is to expand the program by two additional partner schools each year, according to
the following timeline:
•
FY23: 17 partner sites (510 students)

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

•
FY24: 19 partner sites (570 students)
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Future for KIDS’ lasting, meaningful partnerships with schools and community organizations enable us to collaborate
with partner sites to continually evaluate the effectiveness of Discover Your Future programming and ensure that we
meet the specific needs of the students we serve. Partner schools and organizations donate indoor and outdoor space
for program delivery. A school or organization staff member acts as an on-site liaison to help coordinate logistics and
enrollment, including identifying the students who would most benefit from the program and promoting the program
to them and their families. As part of our collaboration, schools and organizations pay a $5,000 partner fee to support
the programming for its students.
Future for KIDS currently partners with the following 15 schools and organizations to host Discover Your Future
Programming:
•
Arizona Conservatory for Arts & Academics (North Phoenix Charter School);
•
Academies of Math & Science – Flower (Phoenix Charter School), Academies of Math and Science – Glendale
(Glendale Charter School), Academies of Math and Science – South Mountain (West Phoenix Charter School);
•
Holdeman Elementary School (Tempe Elementary School District);
•
Loma Linda Elementary, Gateway School (Creighton School District);
•
ML King Elementary School, Ignacio Conchos Elementary School (Roosevelt School District);
•
Sun Canyon Elementary School (Fowler Elementary School District);
•
Keller Elementary School, Sirrine Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Ralph Waldo Emerson
Elementary School (Mesa Public Schools); and
•
Homeward Bound (West Phoenix).
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes. Future for KIDS has a successful track record of raising the philanthropic funds needed to offer our program at no
cost to our young program participants. Our program is scalable based on the amount of funding secured. Ultimately,
additional funding enables us to provide our award-winning programming to a greater number of kids.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
After 18 years of experience, Discover Your Future continues to be a cost effective and sustainable program thanks in
large part to our volunteer mentors and the in-kind donations of facility space from our program partners. Each partner
site contributes $5,000 to the per site annual cash cost of approximately $22,000, as well as a staff liaison to help

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

identify youth and manage logistics. We have developed diverse revenue streams to support the program including
foundation and corporate grants, individual donors, special events, and United Way funding.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Beginning in August 2021, in order to more rigorously evaluate the efficacy of our programs, Future for KIDS
implemented new evaluation procedures based on a tool developed by ChildTrends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan
research center focused on improving the lives of children and youth, especially those who are most vulnerable. This
survey tool was adapted from a systematic literature review by ChildTrends’ experts specializing in survey and
measurement development and child development and measures critical socioemotional skills: self-control, academic
self-efficacy, persistence, mastery orientation, and social competence. Pre- and post-surveys will be administered to
program mentors and participating youth in order to measure growth in these research-based categories.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Future for KIDS applied to the Tohono O’odham Nation in 2019, but we did not receive funding.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: FY23: 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Staff Salaries
$15,000
$140,720
$0
$155,720
2. Taxes and Benefits
$1,000
$17,686
$0
$18,686
3. Contracted Services
$2,000
$46,200
$0
$48,200
4. Non-payroll Insurance
$0
$7,000
$0
$7,000
5. Occupancy
$2,000
$13,000
$0
$15,000
6. Mileage
$0
$6,000
$0
$6,000
7. Technology
$0
$1,200
$0
$1,200
8. Marketing and Printing
$1,000
$8,500
$0
$9,500
9. Guest Speaker Stipends
$0
$5,000
$0
$5,000
10. Program Supplies/Equipment
$2,000
$25,000
$0
$27,000
11. Other Program Expenses
$2,000
$21,800
$0
$23,800
12. In-kind Donations
$0
$0
$244,000
$244,000
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$25,000
$292,106
$244,000
$561,106

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Staff Salaries ($155,720): Program Manager (.8FTE), Volunteer Coordinator (.8FTE), Program Specialist (.8FTE), STEM
Coordinator (.5FTE)
2. Taxes & Benefits ($18,686): 12% of wages
3. Contracted Services ($48,200): Discover Your Future Program Leaders, 6 part-time ($35,100); allocation of
administrative support ($10,400), Program Leader Support ($2,700)
4. Non-payroll Insurance ($7,000): Program liability insurance
5. Occupancy ($15,000): Allocation of rent and utilities for FFK offices
6. Mileage ($6,000): Reimbursement at $.56/mile
7. Technology ($1,200): Software licenses and subscriptions
8. Marketing and Printing ($9,500): DYF marketing materials ($6,000) and Printing program materials ($3,500)
9. Guest Speaker Stipends ($5,000): DYF guest speaker fees and gifts
10. Program Supplies/Equipment ($27,000): Food ($10,000), Supplies and STEM equipment ($17,000)
11. Other Program Expenses ($23,800): Volunteer management ($14,000); STEAM Lab van expenses ($3,500); Program
meetings ($2,500); Background checks ($1,300); Volunteer recognition ($2,500)
12. In-kind Donations ($244,000)
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: FY24: 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Staff Salaries
$15,000
$145,392
$0
$160,392
2. Taxes and Benefits
$1,000
$18,247
$0
$19,247
3. Contracted Services
$2,000
$52,500
$0
$54,500
4. Non-payroll Insurance
$0
$8,000
$0
$8,000
5. Occupancy
$2,000
$13,000
$0
$15,000
6. Mileage
$0
$6,000
$0
$7,000
7. Technology
$0
$1,300
$0
$1,300
8. Marketing and Printing
$1,000
$10,000
$0
$11,000
9. Guest Speaker Stipends
$0
$5,000
$0
$6,000
10. Program Supplies/Equipment
$2,000
$28,000
$0
$30,000
11. Other Program Expenses
$2,000
$25,700
$0
$27,700
12. In-kind Donations
$0
$0
$273,000
$273,000
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$25,000
$315,139
$273,000
$613,139

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Staff Salaries ($160,392): Program Manager (.8FTE), Volunteer Coordinator (.8FTE), Program Specialist (.8FTE), STEM
Coordinator (.5FTE)
2. Taxes & Benefits ($19,247): 12% of wages
3. Contracted Services ($54,500): Discover Your Future Program Leaders, 6 part-time ($40,950); allocation of
administrative support ($10,400), Program Leader Support ($3,150)
4. Non-payroll Insurance ($8,000): Program liability insurance
5. Occupancy ($15,000): Allocation of rent and utilities for FFK offices
6. Mileage ($7,000): Reimbursement at $.56/mile
7. Technology ($1,300): Software licenses and subscriptions
8. Marketing and Printing ($11,000): DYF marketing materials ($7,000) and Printing program materials ($4,000)
9. Guest Speaker Stipends ($6,000): DYF guest speaker fees and gifts
10. Program Supplies/Equipment ($30,000): Food ($11,000), Supplies and STEM equipment ($19,000)
11. Other Program Expenses ($27,700): Volunteer management ($16,000); STEAM Lab van expenses ($4,000); Program
meetings ($3,000); Background checks ($1,700); Volunteer recognition ($3,000)
12. In-kind Donations ($273,000): Donated partner facility space and program supplies
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
Approval – Amount/Term $ Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/12/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Maricopa County
4. Mailing Address: Click here to enter text.
5. City: Maricopa County
State: Arizona
Zip Code: Click here to enter text.
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Click here to enter text.
Email Address: Click here to enter text. Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Sounds of Autism, Inc.
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Steve Pomerantz Title: Director of Grants
10. Phone Number: (623) 289-9315
11. Mailing Address: 4366 N 156th Dr.
12. City: Goodyear
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85395
13. Email Address: founder@soundsofautism.org
Website Address: www.soundsofautism.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: United Responder Community
15. Purpose of Grant: Training and development of educational curriculum and workshops to support families with
diagnoses and early intervention support.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$19,780
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$19.780
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
N/A
21. Geographic area served
Arizona

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Proactive Crisis Intervention training for at-risk communities, especially Autism and bridging the gaps
between Responders, Educational Leaders, and at-risk communities is the key to a more successful and safer
outcome deescalating situations, especially during crisis.

4 phases that make-up our (16) programs
(we refer to these 4 phases as our foundations walls)

4 Programs within each Phase
(we refer to them as our 4 windows looking out from the Foundation)

This Entire Foundation is referred to as a Unified Responder Community.
(Unified Responder Community = Looks like a House in my mind)

The entire “structure” of our program will serve at-risk populations, especially Autism, prenatal until the final
farewell of life.

Currently we service the west valley and Northern Arizona and will be adding the east valley later in 2022.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Brenda Nelson, Director of College Programs for Maricopa Community Colleges is involved with our
organization in supporting the multiple volunteers from Gateway Community College, Paradise Valley and
Estrella Mountain Community College every semester. Also, Professor Leslie Arriagoa provides Graphic
Design students for our Life Skills Projects. Lastly, her Director Jim Heinrich, supports our organization with
Media or Graphic Design Projects that we may need now and in the future. Maricopa Community Colleges
will be recognized as one of our many Community Responders of the Year for the constant support they
offered in 2021 and now in 2022.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Becoming a Unified Responder Community means everyone involved unconditionally works together to
obtain one common goal leading to a safer and more compassionate society. We believe that responding by
implementing all (4) phases of our 16 core programs into all populations within each city. We start and end
this process for at-risk/ Autism populations from prenatal until the final farewell of life by supporting and
addressing joblessness, homelessness, and other susceptible issues within cities all over the world.
Building the trust necessary to get at-risk/Autism families to seek help, especially during crisis, is one of the
many hurdles we face. Stigmas, lack of resources, lack of awareness by everyone, and the lack of
unconditional support from community and leaders within each city. This includes first responders, educators
and anyone who would have some type of engagement within this at-risk/Autism population. We have
learned this to be one of the many causes of families dis-engagement within society in turn leaving everyone
at-risk, especially during crisis. We have college students from Maricopa Community Colleges, ASU, Ottawa
University and Huntington University. They are part of our “Boots on the Ground” volunteers assigned to
each individual city to seek out at-risk populations. When we encounter these families and their children, we
offer the mental and behavioral health solutions like tools, programs and support, crisis intervention training,
and life skills, to help get everyone in need on a more positive and effective plan leading to a more successful
and independent adult life.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
When we encounter these families and their children, we offer the mental and behavioral health solutions like
tools, programs and support, crisis intervention training, and life skills, to help get everyone in need on a more positive
and effective plan leading to a more successful and independent adult life. Sounds of Autism – Education Team is made up

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

of Parents of Autism that have a tenure in Business or Education and some of our team leaders are also living Life on the Autism
Spectrum, offering first-hand knowledge about the needs of this population. As a team, we wear many different hats to keep
momentum and support one another as we grow and support our communities. Society is behind. We see that society struggles to
ensure we offer support solutions, safe and vetted Resources and Education and Awareness leading our At-Risk/Autism
populations to successful long-term results – Jobs and Independent Living solutions. Our voice is important so we can find the
populations who need help, strategically plan as we develop educational curriculum and training programs supporting the journey
for the different communities we serve. Everyone has a role in society. We bridge the gaps with Families of At-Risk/Autism,
Community and the leaders of the community, Responders and Educational Leaders so that as we work with our families and offer
support and resources, our families are empowered and feel confident in navigating the journey they are faced with. When this
happens, we see the parents carrying out their responsibilities and not giving up.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
We have 88,000 at-risk individuals on a waiting list in Arizona for Long-Term Housing. 90% of the Autism
Populations can not get a job when we have an environment where people are begging for workers. We have not
prepared the at-risk/Autism poplulations to take on these job. We must begin this at pre-k and offer these life and job
skills consistently throughout the day for these kids. Many of us parents have figured this out with our child when the
get into High School but it is already too late. We can not wait for an 18 year old to start all of this.

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
Continuing. This is our first time asking from GRIC.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
This is an ongoing project that happens all year round.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
We have college students from Maricopa Community Colleges, ASU, Ottawa University and Huntington
University.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
We will be able to sustain as an organization because we have been able to determine a way to keep the overhead
cost affordable. If we do have a financial hardship at any point we would have to slow down the growth and our
subcontracted educational trainers and developers of curriculum would have to take a pause in supporting the growth
and we would have to remain at a maintenance organization instead. We have 16 programs with each of them broken
down into 4 phases. We have created a phase by phase stage so that we can methodically implement these programs
and strategically offer the time necessary to ensure the program remains intact with each city we have touched. We
empower others to support the execution and sustainability of our programs. We also utilize multiple college students
to support the implementation so our overhead and financial support extends much longer and keeps our profitability
strong as we grow into the future.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
We record minute notes from every Brainstorm Sesson for all four (4) current programs.
We record success stories and testimonials from multiple agencies, departments, and schools we work with.
We record the number of populations we serve and what categories they will fall under to include low income, diversity,
inclsuvity, etc.
We document the number of at-risk populations that attend the Ambassador Workshops and their results to the
questions at the end of the class.
We will track the number of people that attend our community workshops every month and the breakdown of those
who attended.
We will track demographics for lower income, disabled, etc. to ensure we are covering all populations, especially those
who are susceptible to being at-risk during crisis.
We will track the number of people that attend our community workshops every month and the breakdown of those
who attended.
We will address anything or anyone who is not able to meet the results we set out for originally to determine if the
program is unsuccessful or just needs modifications to get the result which would include: Education, Job Sustainability,
Crisis Interventions, and Independent Living programs to overcome hurdels and obstacles.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: Click here to enter text.
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Training Program Curriculum
Development
$0
$36,400
$0
$36,400
2. Training Education Ambassadors
and Team Workshop
$5,000
$5,920
$0
$10,920
3. Training Seminars Community
Ambassador
$2,500
$4,780
$0
$7,280
4. Training Seminars Responder
Ambassador
$2,500
$4,780
$0
$7,280
5. Training Seminars Educator
Ambassador
$2,500
$4,780
$0
$7,280
6. Training Seminars Family
Ambassador
$2,500
$4,780
$0
$7,280
7. Intern Sessions College Students
ASU
$1,000
$1,730
$0
$2,730
8. Intern Sessions College Students
NAU
$1,000
$1,730
$0
$2,730
9. Intern Sessions College Students
Huntington Univ
$1,000
$1,730
$0
$2,730
10. Intern Sessions College Students
Maricopa Community College
$1,000
$1,730
$0
$2,730
11. Consulting Sessions Doctorial
Professor Special Education Grand
Canyon University
$780
$420
$0
$1,200
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$19,780
$68,780
$0
$88,560

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Training Program Curriculum Development – Sounds of Autism’s Educational Director Team works with Local
Community Leaders from the Mental and Behavioral Health Field, First Responders, Educational Leadership, including
Tribal Liaisons from United Health Care to create Educational Curriculum supporting Early Intervention, Mental and
Behavioral Health Solutions, Crisis Intervention Training for both First Responders and the At-Risk of Special Needs and
Autism Populations to proactively educate skill training to support deescalating Crisis Encounters as well as Life and Job
Skill training and training tools to offer solutions that will lead to a more Independent Life and Sustainable Jobs. $35,000
was calculated - $35.00 an hour x 20 hours a week x 52 weeks in a year
2. Training Education Ambassadors and Team Workshops – Training Workshops virtual and mobile provided to Sounds
of Autism’s Educational Training Ambassadors who will support Sounds of Autism’s Program annually. Educational
Curriculum is constantly being developed so it is important that our ambassadors are always learning the most current
curriculum to support the needs of the communities and their families as well as keeping training top of mind as we
navigate through our journey. $10,920 was calculated - $35.00 an hour x 6 hours a week x 52 weeks in a year ($5000
GRIC to support Tribal training sessions and training tool support solutions for the liaisons supporting the Tribal Families
and their child)
3. Training Seminars Community Ambassador – Training Seminars offered to communities Virtual and Mobile
throughout Arizona, including Rural and Tribal Lands to offer Community Trainings that support Community Leaders in
need of Awareness of how to work with the At-Risk/Autism Populations effectively and how to support seeing the signs
to get these families and their child the help they need, especially 0-5 years-old. 90% of a child’s brain is developed
within the first 5 years of life so having everyone on the lookout for the signs or the needs of families or their child is
critical, so we never leave anyone At-Risk, especially during crisis. $7,280 was calculated - $35 an hour x 4 hours a week
x 52 weeks in a year ($2500 Tribal GRIC to support Tribal Community Training Sessions and Training Tool Support
Solutions for the liaisons supporting the Tribal Families and their child)
4. Training Seminars Responder Ambassador – Training Seminars offered to Responders Virtual and Mobile throughout
Arizona, including Rural and Tribal Lands to offer Community Trainings that support First Responders in need of
Awareness of how to work with the At-Risk/Autism Populations effectively and how to support seeing the signs to get
these families and their child the help they need, especially 0-5 years-old. 90% of a child’s brain is developed within the
first 5 years of life so having everyone on the lookout for the signs or the needs of families or their child is critical, so we

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

never leave anyone At-Risk, especially during crisis. $7,280 was calculated - $35 an hour x 4 hours a week x 52 weeks in
a year ($2500 Tribal GRIC to support Tribal Community Training Sessions and Training Tool Support Solutions for the
liaisons supporting the Tribal Families and their child.
5. Training Seminars Educator Ambassador – Training Seminars offered to communities Virtual and Mobile throughout
Arizona, including Rural and Tribal Lands to offer Educational Leaders Trainings that support Educators and Educational
Administration in need of Awareness of how to work with the At-Risk/Autism Populations effectively and how to support
seeing the signs to get these families and their child the help they need, especially 0-5 years-old. 90% of a child’s brain is
developed within the first 5 years of life so having everyone on the lookout for the signs or the needs of families or their
child is critical, so we never leave anyone At-Risk, especially during crisis. $7,280 was calculated - $35 an hour x 4 hours
a week x 52 weeks in a year ($2500 Tribal GRIC to support Tribal Community Training Sessions and Training Tool Support
Solutions for the liaisons supporting the Tribal Families and their child)
6. Training Seminars Family Ambassador – Training Seminars offered to communities Virtual and Mobile throughout
Arizona, including Rural and Tribal Lands to offer Families and their Child Trainings that support Families in need of
Awareness of how to seek help and support for their At-Risk/Autistic Child effectively and how to support seeing the
signs to get these families and their child the help they need, especially 0-5 years-old. 90% of a child’s brain is developed
within the first 5 years of life so having everyone on the lookout for the signs or the needs of families or their child is
critical, so we never leave anyone At-Risk, especially during crisis. $7,280 was calculated - $35 an hour x 4 hours a week
x 52 weeks in a year ($2500 Tribal GRIC to support Tribal Community Training Sessions and Training Tool Support
Solutions for the liaisons supporting the Tribal Families and their child)
7. Intern Sessions College Students ASU – Sounds of Autism Educational Ambassadors mentor and consult student
interns and volunteers to support our “Boots on the Ground” Initiatives throughout the year. These students are
assigned to multiple communities throughout Arizona to remain a support liaison between Sounds of Autism and the
individual Cities, Rural Areas and Tribal Lands. These students continue to mentor, monitor and report back to Leaders
within the City, Rural or Tribal Community they are assigned to support. Students work with Sounds of Autism to ensure
that they also remain aware, educated, and capable of seeing the signs of At-Risk of Special Needs and Autism
populations before entering their Adult Life and Career so they as the newest Leaders or Parents seek support within the
most critical time of a child life (0-5-Years-Old). We know that proactively educating the College Level Students, offers
the next generation of Leaders and Parents the confidence and compassion necessary, empowering a faster response
leading to a much better result for a family and their child and finally getting society ahead of the epidemic that is now
1-44 (8) year old children in the United States Living with Autism and the other related Special Needs. We are in trouble

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

if we do not start to recognize these statistics and their rapid growth. We have many children in need and their families
and they remain At-Risk due to the Lack of Resources and Support – Awareness, Education, Solutions. $2,730 was
calculated – $35 an hour x 1.5 hours a week x 52 weeks a year. ($1000 Tribal GRIC to support Tribal College Ambassador
Training and Support)
8. Intern Sessions College Students NAU – Sounds of Autism Educational Ambassadors mentor and consult student
interns and volunteers to support our “Boots on the Ground” Initiatives throughout the year. These students are
assigned to multiple communities throughout Arizona to remain a support liaison between Sounds of Autism and the
individual Cities, Rural Areas and Tribal Lands. These students continue to mentor, monitor and report back to Leaders
within the City, Rural or Tribal Community they are assigned to support. Students work with Sounds of Autism to ensure
that they also remain aware, educated, and capable of seeing the signs of At-Risk of Special Needs and Autism
populations before entering their Adult Life and Career so they as the newest Leaders or Parents seek support within the
most critical time of a child life (0-5-Years-Old). We know that proactively educating the College Level Students, offers
the next generation of Leaders and Parents the confidence and compassion necessary, empowering a faster response
leading to a much better result for a family and their child and finally getting society ahead of the epidemic that is now
1-44 (8) year old children in the United States Living with Autism and the other related Special Needs. We are in trouble
if we do not start to recognize these statistics and their rapid growth. We have many children in need and their families,
and they remain At-Risk due to the Lack of Resources and Support – Awareness, Education, Solutions. $2,730 was
calculated – $35 an hour x 1.5 hours a week x 52 weeks a year. ($1000 Tribal GRIC to support Tribal College Ambassador
Training and Support
9. Intern Sessions College Students Huntington Univ.- Sounds of Autism Educational Ambassadors mentor and consult
student interns and volunteers to support our “Boots on the Ground” Initiatives throughout the year. These students are
assigned to multiple communities throughout Arizona to remain a support liaison between Sounds of Autism and the
individual Cities, Rural Areas and Tribal Lands. These students continue to mentor, monitor and report back to Leaders
within the City, Rural or Tribal Community they are assigned to support. Students work with Sounds of Autism to ensure
that they also remain aware, educated, and capable of seeing the signs of At-Risk of Special Needs and Autism
populations before entering their Adult Life and Career so they as the newest Leaders or Parents seek support within the
most critical time of a child life (0-5-Years-Old). We know that proactively educating the College Level Students, offers
the next generation of Leaders and Parents the confidence and compassion necessary, empowering a faster response
leading to a much better result for a family and their child and finally getting society ahead of the epidemic that is now
1-44 (8) year old children in the United States Living with Autism and the other related Special Needs. We are in trouble
if we do not start to recognize these statistics and their rapid growth. We have many children in need and their families,

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

and they remain At-Risk due to the Lack of Resources and Support – Awareness, Education, Solutions. $2,730 was
calculated – $35 an hour x 1.5 hours a week x 52 weeks a year. ($1000 Tribal GRIC to support Tribal College Ambassador
Training and Support
10. Intern Sessions College Students Maricopa Community College – Sounds of Autism Educational Ambassadors mentor
and consult student interns and volunteers to support our “Boots on the Ground” Initiatives throughout the year. These
students are assigned to multiple communities throughout Arizona to remain a support liaison between Sounds of
Autism and the individual Cities, Rural Areas and Tribal Lands. These students continue to mentor, monitor and report
back to Leaders within the City, Rural or Tribal Community they are assigned to support. Students work with Sounds of
Autism to ensure that they also remain aware, educated, and capable of seeing the signs of At-Risk of Special Needs and
Autism populations before entering their Adult Life and Career so they as the newest Leaders or Parents seek support
within the most critical time of a child life (0-5-Years-Old). We know that proactively educating the College Level
Students, offers the next generation of Leaders and Parents the confidence and compassion necessary, empowering a
faster response leading to a much better result for a family and their child and finally getting society ahead of the
epidemic that is now 1-44 (8) year old children in the United States Living with Autism and the other related Special
Needs. We are in trouble if we do not start to recognize these statistics and their rapid growth. We have many children
in need and their families, and they remain At-Risk due to the Lack of Resources and Support – Awareness, Education,
Solutions. $2,730 was calculated – $35 an hour x 1.5 hours a week x 52 weeks a year. ($1000 Tribal GRIC to support
Tribal College Ambassador Training and Support
11. Consulting Sessions Doctorial Professor Special Education Grand Canyon University – Sounds of Autism works with
Doctorial Professors from Grand Canyon University to remain current with the needs of the Special Education
Population, Educational Special Needs teachers and the needs within the Community and First Responder populations.
Dr. Rebekah Dyer, Professor of Special Education at GCU and her Special Education leadership, works with Sounds of
Autism monthly, to offer their expertise when Sounds of Autism is developing and/or creating the Educational
Curriculum and Tools ensuring that we cover the most critical aspects need for the At-Risk Populations and their
families, as well as the needs our Community, Responders and Educational Leaders may have. $1,200 was calculated –
$100.00 an hour x 1 hour x 12 months - ($780 Tribal GRIC is the portion we calculated to cover the needs of those
supporting the Tribal Communities)
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/4/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 West Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom/Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Beth Noble Title: Sr. Grant Administrator
10. Phone Number: 602-933-2689
11. Mailing Address: 2929 E. Camelback Rd. #122
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85016
13. Email Address: bnoble1@phoenixchildrens.com
Website Address: https://phoenixchildrensfoundation.org/
Project Information
14. Project Name: Phoenix Children’s Hospital Simulated Ambulance “Simbulance”
15. Purpose of Grant: The simulation ambulance (“Simbulance”) provides training to the first responders, firefighters,
and EMTs that are often responsible for medical oversight, stabilization, and ambulance transport for infants,
children, and youth.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$89,016
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$89,016
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
We have received funding from GRIC in the past –2010 - $150,000;
2013 - $181,495; 2016 - $100,000; 2018 - $200,000
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County, Arizona, Southwest Region

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Today, Phoenix Children’s is recognized as the indispensable regional provider of high acuity care for patients with
medically complex conditions. Moving forward, the Hospital is working to achieve world‐class status by dedicating
resources to the following:
• Physician‐Scientists – the recruitment of renowned physicians with unique skill sets to combine the integration of
cutting‐edge research into present day patient care
• Discovery – we will transform pediatric care, creating new therapies through participation in collaborative
consortiums, clinical trials and research
• Innovation – revolutionary advancements in pediatric methodologies, treatments, and medicine will enhance and
improve patient outcomes
• Destination Medicine – building our stellar reputation, premier care will attract patients across the globe for complex
medical treatment
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Maricopa County has served as a fiscal pass‐through for Gila River Indian Community grants awarded to
Phoenix Children’s in 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2018. Phoenix Children’s also worked with Maricopa County to submit
12% tribal gaming grants to Gila River Indian Community in 2015. Phoenix Children’s receives federal grant
support through Maricopa County for clinical services, most recently a multi‐year award for the Emergency Department
Expansion.

3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Phoenix Children’s is one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems. It is the only free-standing children’s hospital
and Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in Arizona. It is certified by the Arizona Department of Health Services as an
Advanced Life Support Base Hospital. As an ALS Base Hospital, Phoenix Children’s serves as a communications center
that provides phone and online pediatric medical direction to certified EMTs and paramedics in the field — whether the
patient’s destination is Phoenix Children’s or another hospital. Healthcare providers and first responders look to Phoenix
Children's as the pediatric emergency medicine experts in Arizona.
Because of our expertise, Phoenix Children’s is implementing simulation ambulance training to EMT’s and paramedics
across the state. The mission of the simulation ambulance is to provide training to the first responders, firefighters, and
EMTs that are often responsible for medical oversight, stabilization, and ambulance transport of infants, children, and
youth. The simulation ambulance will reproduce the challenging treatment and transport environment and will contain
equipment such as life-like pediatric mannequins that will allow first responders to diagnose and treat conditions using
real monitoring and resuscitation equipment. The mannequins smoothly transition between physiologic states in
response to commands from a wireless computer. This simulation training has already been incorporated as a standard
training methodology at every level of medical training. Utilizing high-fidelity simulation mannequins creates a learning
environment that develops assessment and technical skills that are safe and controlled. The primary objective of the
project is to ensure Arizona’s first responders have the necessary skills and training to treat pediatric emerengies in the
field.
The timeline to accomplish the activities will consist of: 1) Purchase Materials/Supplies; One month following award 2)
Outfit the Simbulance upon receipt of materials/supplies: Months two-three following award; 3) Community based
training of EMT’s/First Responders: Month four following award and ongoing.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
Phoenix Children’s “Simbulance” initiative positively impacts health and wellness by ensuring our community’s first
responders are equipped to respond to pediatric medical emergencies. Simulation training is associated with improved
patient outcomes including the reduction of medical errors, improved procedural performance, and improved team
dynamics. Maricopa County saw its population grow by 86,820 people, more than any other U.S. county. The U.S.
Census Bureau estimated that the Phoenix metro area grew on average 291 people every day in 2020. Phoenix's metro
area was the 16th fastest growth percentage nationally. Greater Phoenix remains the 10th most populous metro area in
the nation. The population growth is being helped by a steady birthrate while the rest of the nation is seeing a decline.
The birth rate has been holding constant around 57,000 over the last 5 years with little indication of decline given the
influx of business and industry making Arizona their home base. With more families and more children residing in
Arizona, the need for pediatric emergency medical services will also continue to rise. The entire community benefits
when first responders can appropriately and confidently respond to pediatric emergencies in the community.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Maricopa County is the fourth most populous county in the nation. Currently the East Valley accounts for 34
percent of the share of pediatric lives in Maricopa County. The Northwest and Southwest account for a
combined 21 percent. The Valley has seen unprecedented growth, with little signs of slowing down. Phoenix
Children's has kept pace with the growth, expanding facilities and services throughout the county and state
so all children have access to specialized pediatric services. Unfortunately, because of this growth,
emergency response and emergency medical treatment will remain in high demand. However, very few first
responders have training in pediatric emergencies. In emergency medical situations, minutes matter. Phoenix
Children's is committed to providing the best possible healthcare to children. This commitment extends to all
children in the community, not just those who enter the doors of our facilities.

Unintential injury, asthma, severe allergic reactions, seizures, and sports-related injuries are among the top
reasons the 911 system is activated for children under 18 years of age. These time-sensitive conditions occur
more frequently and can be made worse during times of increased physical and emotional stress. Phoenix
has the third highest asthma burden in the nation. The data demonstrates that schools with a noted high
asthma burden call 911 for asthma related incidents involving students, with great frequency. Unintentional
injury remains a leading cause of injury and death for children ages 5 to 20. Availability and accessibility of
simulation ambulance training ensures that when schools, parents, or any community member must dial 911,
EMS responders who arrive on the scene are proficient in pediatric emergency. The timely identification,
treatment, and transport of children who become ill or injured can have a profound effect on patient
outcomes.

The target population for the Simulated Ambulance training is first responders including emergency medical
technician’s who will respond to pediatric emergencies in the field. The project will serve 500 first responders
annually.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This is a new project. GRIC has not previously funded this project.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The ambulance that will be used for the simulation training has already been acquired. Partial funding to
purchase materials and supplies to outfit the “Simbulance” has been awarded. Phoenix Children’s request to

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

GRIC will secure the balance of funds needed to complete the acquisition of the items to fully equip the
simulated ambulance. The timeline is flexible based on award notification date.
Feb 11, 2022
Submit proposal and time event schedule to Maricopa Country (pass through agency)
April 1, 2022
Upon approval from Maricopa County, submit proposal to Gila River Indian Community
October 2022
Award Notification – move forward with supply and equipment requisition
November-
December 2022
Complete final outfitting of Simbulance
January 2023-
ongoing

Provide Simbulance training to first responders

8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
City of Buckeye/Buckeye Valley Fire Department-Contributed the vehicle valued at $180,000
Phoenix Suns-Provided funding in the amount of $100,000 to purchase equipment and supplies
Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority has awarded a grant in the amount of $110,992 to purchase
equipment and supplies
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
The Simbulance project can proceed with partial funding. Equipment and supplies will be purchased based on
the funds available. Training of EMS First Responders can be scaled with a focus on existing equipment.
Requests to other philanthropic partners and individual donors will be submitted to secure the balance of the
funding.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
The large equipment, including the vehicle, represent one-time expenses. The simulation ambulance project
is expected to have a minimum of 10 useful years. Ongoing operations and maintenance costs will be
supported by philanthropy and Base Hospital Department budget.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.

There is robust evidence demonstrating that simulation training is associated with improved patient outcomes including
the reduction of medical errors, improved procedural performance, and improved team dynamics. To demonstrate
success, we will provide the following:
-Objective data, background literature and citations that simulation is a validated form of medical education that
reduces errors, improves care, and improves provider confidence and knowledge
-Pre/post test data to show 80% of EMS providers will demonstrate improvement of pediatric medical knowledge after
simulation
-Number of EMS providers reached and number of pediatric patients these agencies treated per year
-Based on a post-training evaluation, a minimum of 75% of participants will respond to each question in the affirmative.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: 11/1/22-10/31/23
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Dodge Ram 4500 Ambulance
$0
$180,000
$0
$180,000
2. Guamard Advanced Pediatric Hal 5
year old Simulator
$0
$63, 882
$0
$63,882
3. Guamard Super Tory Advanced
Neonatal Simulator and Airway
Trainer 1 year old (x3)
$17,585
$35,704
$0
$53,289
4. Hamilton T1 Transport Ventilator
$10,580

$21,482
$0
$32,062
5. R Series ALS Defibrillator
$4,629
$9,399
$0
$14,028
6. B Braun Infusomat
Space Pump (x3) and B Braun
Perfusor Space Syringe Pump (x3)
$4,455
$9,045
$0
$13,500
7. L1 90 GR Portable Aspirator and
Statpacks G3 Responder EMS pack
(x2)
$530
$1,077
$0
$1,607
8. McGrath MAC EMS Video
Laryngoscope
$1,022
$2,074
$0
$3,096
9. Ferno Pedi-mate and Neo-mate
Restraint Systems
$245
$497
$0
$742
10. Expendable Medical Supplies and
Storage Bins
$3,465
$7,035
$0
$10,500
11. Customized Logo Ambulance
Wrap and Graphic Design
$1,650
$3,350
$0
$5,000
12. Power-Pro XT Cot with MTS
Power Load
$19,283
$39,149
$0
$58,432
13. Vehicle Fuel and Maintenance (5
years)
$13,072

$7,298
$0
$20,370
14. Vehicle Title Transer/Registration
$2,500
$0
$0
$2,500
15. Vehicle Insurance (5 years)
$10,000

$12,000
$0
$22,000
Total Budget
$89,016
$391,992
$0
$481,008

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Dodge Ram 4500 Ambulance (Equipment)-Provided by Buckey Valley Fire Department @ $180,000. Value of Vehicle
provided by Buckey Valley Fire Department based on make, model, and year.
2. Guamard Advanced Pediatric Hal 5 year old Simulator (Equipment) @ $63,882 derived from vendor quote. Cost of
item covered by secured funds from Phoenix Suns.
3. Guamard Super Tory Advanced Neonatal Simulator (Equipment) @ $51,504 derived from vendor quote and Airway
Trainer 1 year old (x3) (Supplies) @ $1,785 derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost to be covered by secured Arizona
Sports and Tourism Authority (AZSTA) grant.
4. Hamilton T1 Transport Ventilator(Equipment) @ $32,062 derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost to be covered by
secured AZSTA grant.
5. R Series ALS Defibrillator (Equipment) @ $14,028 derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost to be covered by secured
AZSTA grant.
6. B Braun Infusomat Space Pump (x3) (Equipment) @ $6,000 derived from vendor quote and B Braun Perfusor Space
Syringe Pump (x3) (Equipment) @ $7,500 derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost to be covered by secured AZSTA
grant.
7. L1 90 GR Portable Aspirator (Equipment) @ $975 and Statpacks G3 Responder EMS pack (x2) (Equipment) @ $632
derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost to be covered by secured AZSTA grant.
8. McGrath MAC EMS Video Laryngoscope (Equipment) @ $3,096 derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost to be
covered by secured AZSTA grant.
9. Ferno Pedi-mate (Equipment) @$371 and Ferno Neo-mate Restraint Systems (Equipment) @ $371 derived from
vendor quote. Portion of cost to be covered by secured AZSTA grant.
10. Expendable Medical Supplies @ $10,000 and Storage Bins (Supplies) @ $500 derived from vendor quote. Portion of
cost to be covered by secured AZSTA grant.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

11. Customized Logo Ambulance Wrap @ $4,500 and Graphic Design @ $500 derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost
to be covered by secured AZSTA grant.
12. Power-Pro XT Cot with MTS Power Load (Equipment) @ $58,432 derived from vendor quote. Portion of cost to be
covered by secured AZSTA grant.
13. Vehicle Fuel @ $5,370 and Maintenance @ $15,000 (5 years each) derived from estimates based on current fuel
prices and agency historical data for comparable expenses. A portion of cost to be covered by secured Phoenix Suns
grant. GRIC’s support of this line item will ensure ongoing operation of the vehicle in order to continue training first
responders in subsequent years.
14. Vehicle Title Transer/Registration @ $2,500 derived from agency historical data for comparable expenses.
15. Vehicle Insurance @ $22,000 (5 years) derived from agency historical data for comparable expenses. A portion of
cost to be covered by secured Phoenix Suns grant. GRIC’s support of this line item will ensure ongoing operation of the
vehicle in order to continue training first responders in subsequent years.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/9/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson 10th Floor
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Arizona YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Genevieve Villegas Title: Director of Advancement
10. Phone Number: 602-258-0990
11. Mailing Address: 8561 N. 61st Ave
12. City: Glendale
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85302
13. Email Address: Genevieve@ywcaaz.org
Website Address: www.ywcaaz.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Senior Program
15. Purpose of Grant: To provide meals for low-income seniors and disabled adults
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$10,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$10,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Yes, $5,000 in both 2019 and 2020
21. Geographic area served
Glendale

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

The Senior Meals program feeds, engages, and sustains vulnerable seniors and disabled adults in Glendale and El
Mirage, providing the only Meals-on-Wheels program in that area. Own It Financial Education provides financial
education to disadvantaged women and their families through collaborative efforts with 40 other non-profits and
organizations. The Women’s Empowerment Series and Young Women’s Forum elevates women and young
professionals. And YWCA’s Stand Against Racism advocates for the elimination of racism and the end to the gender pay
gap.

Organization Goals:
Goal A: Fund Development: Create, implement, and manage a comprehensive fundraising operation
Goal B: Organizational Development: Ensure the YWCA is financially sound and has appropriate policies and procedures
in place to strengthen stability and accountability
Goal C Board Development: Enhance the Board to represent the community and strengthen the organization
Goal D: Marketing and Communications: Strengthen the brand and increase awareness of the YWCA
Goal E: Programs: Create and sustain programs that achieve our mission
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
YWCA’s Own It program works with a number of the City of Phoenix related groups and receives funding from the City of
Glendale for our Meals on Wheels and Senior Meals Program.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
The Senior meals program offers meals, social activities, companionship, and transportation to 1,200 low-income seniors
in the Glendale Arizona. We coordinate services among four locations to provide hot meals in a group setting,
educational opportunities, self-improvement activities, health screenings, health fairs, and other socialization activities.
The program engages and supports clients through Dial-A-Ride and delivers Meals On Wheels to home-bound clients.
Home deliveries serve as a social visit and wellness check, often circumventing loneliness and isolation. We provide pet
food for client animal companions through our We Feed Four Feet program. Participants are asked to make a minimal
contribution for their meals. Clients qualify based on financial need through a confidential intake interview and
application.
Activities:
1) Serve one nutritious meal each weekday at one of three senior center locations and once a month at an additional
senior center.
2) Registered dietitian approves all meal menus.
3) Provide transportation to and from each senior center location for lunch participants.
4) Provide meal delivery for home-bound participants.
5) Schedule Health and Wellness presentations at two centers twice a month.
6) Provide socialization activities, special events, community resources, supplemental food programs, health fairs, and
health screenings to address loneliness and isolation.
Program Goal: Seniors and/or disabled adults eat at least one nutritious meal each weekday.
Outputs:
1) Provide 110,000 meals to 1,200 unduplicated seniors and disabled adults through meal deliveryand drive-up.
3) Provide 11,000 rides to and from the Senior Center for seniors and disabled adults with Dial-A-Ride through YWCA.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

This program meets the GRIC priority of health by providing nutritious hot meals, disease prevention, wellness activities,
recreational activities that promote physical fitness, nutrition in seniors and disabled adults. In the U.S., 8.6 million
adults over 60 face hunger, and nearly a third of them are disabled. There is a way to help. Nutrition programs for our
elderly prevent or delay early placement of seniors in nursing homes. They help manage chronic health conditions
reducing costly hospital and care center stays. Our Senior Meals program provides nutrition, socialization, and support
to seniors and disabled adults helping them eat, remain independent, and live with dignity.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
One in five Arizonans reported that there were times in the past 12 months that they didn't have enough money to buy
food their family needed. St. Mary's Food Bank reports that 1 in 7 Arizona seniors live in poverty, and Arizona's hunger
rates are higher than national averages. Glendale's fastest growing population segment is baby boomers ages 55 to 64.
Meals on Wheels recently found that 83% of low-income seniors do not receive the home delivered meals they need.
The US Senate Committee on Education and Labor maintains that proper nutrition extends seniors' lives and helps them
maintain independence when combined with recreation, socialization and education. Nutrition programs prevent or
delay placement of seniors in nursing homes and help people manage chronic health conditions. The YWCA works to
nourish and support seniors in Glendale. The target population is low-income seniors and disabled adults in Glendale AZ
and surrounding communities. Key findings include that 57% of participants report their meal from YWCA as their main
meal and 47% report as their only meal of the day. This program serves approximately 1,200 low-income disabled adults
and seniors in Glendale aged 55 years and older.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
Continued program and GRIC has funded this program.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
This is a year round program with a fiscal year ending on June 30th.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
The YWCA collaborates and shares resource with several agencies in the West Valley with a goal to eliminate elderly
hunger and is the only organization that delivers meals to the elderly in Glendale and El Mirage. The main Senior Center

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

coordinates meal service and delivery among three other centers including Glendale Community Center, Glendale Adult
Center, and the Japanese Senior Center. The City of Glendale provides recreation and socialization activities. St. Mary's
Food Bank Alliance shares maintenance food and supply items, and stocks our food pantry with take home items.
Gleaners Brown Bag Program supplies free food products out of the Senior Center weekly and Waste Not provides
excess food products. The YWCA Center also collaborates with the Area Agency on Aging to develop, coordinate, and
deliver services to seniors.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
If we received partial funding and are not able to secure through other sources we would seek to secure the remaining
funds through other sources.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Our comprehensive development plan seeks funding from: individuals, corporations, foundations, and government
entities each year. We have a planned giving legacy program to create sustainability for the organization. We develop
strong relationships with funders through volunteer opportunities and opportunities to participate in the YWCA
programs.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
We evaluate the program based on reaching the outlined goals and adjusting to the impact of COVID-19. Due to COVID-
19 concerns we closed the four senior center locations to eliminate crowds. Social activities and transportation services
are temporarily suspended. We make daily wellness calls to seniors to offer companionship and community. For our
dine in clients we began mobile distribution at one location for meal pick-up. Requests for home delivered meals
increased 65%. In June we delivered 9,600 meals compared to a typical month of 5,800 meals. Area Agency on Aging
requested that partner agencies provide seven meals a week instead of five, increasing meals by another 40%. We
intake five to 10 new clients every few days and expect demand to continue into 2021.
We increased production of shelf stable and frozen meals for delivery, requiring additional funds for more food, supplies
and staff. We received funding from federal partners for food costs and seek additional funds for supplies and staff.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Increased expenses include paper products, storage containers, insulated delivery items, cleaning supplies, mileage,
masks, gloves.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
We submitted grant applications to Tohono Oodham, and Fort McDowell Yavapai Tribes in the past five years, none
were approved.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: Click here to enter text.
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Marketing & Outreach
$0
$0
$0
$0
2. Communications-Phones
$0
$7,917
$0
$7,917
3. Depreciation
$0
$11,000
$0
$11,000
4. Employee Benefits & Training
$0
$26,600
$0

$26,600
5. Raw & Packaged Food
$10,000
$288,224
$0
$298,224
6. Insurance
$0
$13,900
$0
$13,900
7. Vehicle & Transportation
$0
$29,896
$0
$29,896
8. Occupancy-Bldg-Permits
$0
$55,100
$0
$55,100
9. Operational Expense
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Payroll Taxes
$0
$57,351

$0
$57,351
11. Postage & Printing
$0
$3,740
$0
$3,740
12. Professional Services
$0
$40,856
$0
$40,856
13. Salaries
$0
$471,977
$0
$471,977
14. Specific Assistant Dial a Ride
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Office Supplies
$0
$2,584
$0
$2,584
Total Budget
$10,000
$1,009,145
$0
$1,019,145

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Marketing & Outreach: n/a
2. Communications, Phones ($7,917): Allocation of phone, fax and internet services based on plan pricing
3. Depreciation ($11,000): Allocation of depreciation expense
4. Employee Benefits & Training:($26,600) Paid time off, health insurance, and retirement plan percentage calculated
based based on total program payroll, employee training
5. Raw & Packaged Food ($298,224): Raw and packaged food based on anticipated numbers to be served
6. Insurance ($13,900): Allocation of insurance expense
7. Vehicle & Transportation ($29,896): Estimated vehicle an transporation costs associated with coordinating services at
various locations and food deliveries
8. Occupancy-Bldg-Permits ($55,100): Cost allocation of office space and maintenance
9. Operational Expense: n/a
10. Payroll Taxes ($57,351): Payroll taxes based on estimated percentage of total program payroll
11. Postage & Printing ($3,740): Estimated postage and printing and copying expense of program
12. Professional Services ($40,856): Dietician and other professional services
13. Salaries ($471,977): Projected Program Director and staff annual salary expense
14. Specific Assistance Dial a Ride: n/a
15. Office Supplies ($2,584): Estimated basic office supplies
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
¨ Approval – Amount/Term $ ¨ Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates, Board of Supervisors Chairman
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Arizona Hydrological Society Foundation (Foundation)
8. Select Organization Type: Choose an item.
! If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: David Chrsitiana Title: Vice-President
10. Phone Number: 602-903-8296
11. Mailing Address: PO Box 65690
12. City: Tucson
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85728
13. Email Address: davidgchristiana@gmail.com Website Address: www.ahsfoundation.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: AHS Foundation Educational Programs
15. Purpose of Grant: To partially fund our educational programs focused on hydrology and water resources education
in AZ.
16. Priority Funding Area
Choose an item.
17. Annual amount requested
$1,600.00
18. Number of years that funding is requested
Four years
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$6,400.00
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
No
21. Geographic area served
Statewide, predominantly in Maricopa County

Non-proﬁt
Educa&on

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
The Arizona Hydrological Society (Society) is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization formed in 1985, dedicated
to advancing hydrology and water resources research, planning, and development. AHS provides a forum
for professionals to exchange information and support public understanding, education, and training in the
science and technology of hydrology and water resources. The Society’s website is www.azhydrosoc.org.
The AHS Foundation (Foundation), a 501(c)3 organization, was created in 2005 as the charitable arm of the
Society, encouraging and supporting water science students of all ages.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
The Society and the Foundation are statewide organizations. The Society has three chapters in Phoenix,
Tucson, and Flagstaff. Approximately 50% of the membership is in the Phoenix Chapter (Maricopa
County). We currently do not have any prior partnerships or collaboration with Maricopa County other
than participation in the Society by County employees and sponsorships of Society functions by
subdivisions of Maricopa County. For instance, the Flood Control District has been very supportive of
Society programs by sponsoring a number of water-related activities associated with the Society’s
Symposium.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
AHS Educational Programs have been, and will be, ongoing; some programs have been in existence for 25
years. The Foundation’s objective is to support water-related education for all ages though science fairs,
intern/mentor scholarships, academic scholarships, and workshops for educators (through collaboration
with Project WET). Programs are implemented by each Society Chapter. Volunteers select interns and
mentees through an application and interview process, judge grade school and high school science projects
at science fairs in Phoenix and Tucson, and assist in training grade school teachers to aid them with water
science curricula in the classroom. This request is seeking financial support for only several of the
Foundation educational programs.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
Foundation educational programs satisfies GRIC’s educational priority funding area. The Foundation’s
broad range of programs encourage and support students of all ages, as well as educators. With the
challenges of the Covid pandemic, programs have adapted to address the needs of students and educators
by modifying the programs to accommodate virtual presentation, rather than in-person.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
Science education is not supported as it should throughout Arizona and the country. Science fairs help younger
students to appreciate the sciences and spark an interest in seeking that career path. The fairs attract up to
1,000 students in both venues, for a total of at least 2,000 students. Mentees receive stipends to help college
students with the high cost of higher education, as well as make professional contacts that may help them find
meaningful employment after their academic careers. The mentor program serves 3 university students. The
Project Wet program (called AHS Teachers’ Academy), usually is limited to 20 teachers in one geographic area.
With the virtual version of the program, teachers from thoughout the state will be able to be reached.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
These programs are continuing programs. GRIC has not previously funded the Foundation for these programs.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The various programs run from approximately March through December of each year. The timeline is flexible,
and has been adjusted because of covid. A primary concern is a safe learning option for the students.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Various members of the Society, and their employers, will be participating as volunteers in all of the programs.
Funding of these and other programs of the Foundation may be funded by Society members and other
organizations, such as Central Arizona Project.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
The Foundation will be able to fund, and the Society implement, these programs, if partial funding is received, as
has been done for a number of years.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
The Foundation has reserves to fund these programs after the grant period. Project financial stability is assured.
The Foundation is committed to seeking funds from a variety of sources for its programs. The Society is one of
the largest contributors to the Foundation. The Society and Foundation look forward to GRIC’s partnership in
these programs.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Mentees receive a stipend that is remitted in several payments as the mentee completes certain tasks. This
assures the mentee completes the program. Mentees are required to submit an article for the Society’s
newsletter that describes their experience upon completion. Volunteer judges at science fairs will capture
photographs of selected winners of the AHS awards for best science fair projects and their project posters.
Attendees of Project WET workshops will be recorded and their comments solicited and documented.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
The AHS Foundation has never requested any funds from state revenues. This is our first year at seeking this
collaboration with AZ tribes.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: The budget below reflects an annual budget. The Foundation is requesting funding for four years. The
amount requested from GRIC is an annual amount for four years, with total funding requested in parentheses. Amounts
requested from other sources are requested for 2022 only, but will likely continue at the same level throughout the
request period. In Kind Contributions includes only cash from the Society and Foundation, and not quantification of
volunteer labor.
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Mentor Scholarship Program
$850 ($3,400)
$2,400
$1,250 ($5,000)
$4,500
2. So Arizona Science & Engr Fair
$250 ($1,000)
$300
$250
($1,000)
$800
3. AZ Science & Engr Fair
$250 ($1,000)
$300
$250
($1,000)
$800
4. Project WET (AHS Teachers’
Academy)
$250 ($1,000)
$250
$500 ($2,000)
$1,000
5. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$1,600 ($6,400)
$3,250
$2,250 ($9,000)
$7,100 annually

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Mentor Scholarship Program ($850): The cornerstone of the Society/Foundation’s educational programs has
been the Intern Scholarship Program (Program). The program had to be cancelled due to Covid. To keep students
engaged during this difficult time, the Society has implemented a virtual Mentee Scholarship Program in place of
Internships. The selected applicants, one from each Society chapter will meet virtually with their Society-
designated mentor and are required to attend four water-related meetings, which may include Society Chapter
meetings. The Mentee will write a summary of their experience, to be published in the AHS Newsletter and posted
on the Society and Foundation websites. Each Mentee is awarded a $1,500 stipend. The Mentees will be invited to
attend the Society’s 2022 Annual Symposium at no cost to the Mentee and will be recognized at the Symposium
awards luncheon. The Foundation requests $850 to support this program. Should circumstances allow in-person
meeting, the Foundation would like to resume the Intern Scholarship Program and apply the GRIC funds to this
program, in place of the Mentor Scholarship Program. The programs are very similar, except the Intern meets in-
person with at least three agencies or companies to gain actual work experience.
2. Southern Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF; $250): Society members have participated in the
Southern Arizona Science and Engineering Fair as judges for a number of years. In addition to providing
volunteers to serve as judges, monetary awards are given to entries by K–12 students for outstanding water
science projects. The Foundation requests $250 to support the SARSEF awards in 2022. With other requested
funds from other sources and Foundation contributions, the total program cost will be $800. The Society will
provide a team of judges for the events. The authors of the outstanding water science projects will receive a cash
award. Society volunteer judges will photograph the winning project posters.
3. Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (AZSEF; $250): Society members have participated in the Arizona Science
and Engineering Fair as judges for a number of years. In addition to providing volunteers to serve as judges,
monetary awards are given to entries by K–12 students for outstanding water science projects. The Foundation
requests $250 to support the AZSEF award in 2022. With other requested funds from other sources and
Foundation contributions, the total program cost will be $800. The Society will provide a team of judges for the
events. The authors of the outstanding water science projects will receive a cash award. Society volunteer judges
will photograph the winning project posters.
4. Virtual Project WET Workshop ($250): The Society/Foundation have supported Project WET for many years.
The workshop, referred to as the AHS Teacher’s Academy, is usually presented in conjunction with the Society’s

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Annual Symposium. The virtual 2022 Teacher’s Academy will be offered during the Annual Society Symposium in
September 2022. Twenty 6th through 12th grade teachers will be targeted. Society volunteers, all professionals in
water-related careers, will share their expertise with the teachers. The Foundation is requesting $250 from GRIC
to augment the funds from the Foundation and requested from other sources for a total program cost of $1000.
5. Click here to enter text.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85012
13. Email Address: clangholff@freeartsaz.org
Website Address: www.freeartsaz.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Arts Programs for Children
15. Purpose of Grant: To provide resilience building arts programs to 5,000 children experiencing trauma.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$10,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$10,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
No
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
Free Arts programs began in 1993, developed to interrupt the cycle of trauma in foster, abused and homeless
children's lives through the arts, providing a path to a healthier life. This continuing program incorporates the
trauma informed care curriculum with a knowledge of ACEs scores (Adverse Childhood Experiences of potentially
traumatic events such as: experiencing violence or abuse, witnessing violence in the home or community, or having
a family member attempt or die by suicide that occur in childhood from ages 0-17), and our own outcomes model
to deliver resilience-building art programs to the underserved population of homeless and abused foster children.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Free Arts received funding from the State of Arizona from 2005 to 2021 primarily through the Victims of Crime Act
Grant; the Arizona Commission on the Arts from 1997 to 2021; the Arizona Lottery from 2010 to 2019; City of Phoenix
from 2002 to 2021; City of Peoria since 2011; City of Glendale from 2014 to 2017; City of Tempe 2009-2011; City of
Chandler from 2003 to 2018; City of Goodyear from 2012 to 2019; Casino Arizona from 2009 to 2019; and Desert
Diamond from 2016 to 2020. Free Arts is a current featured charity at the Gila River Casino Kiosk.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Free Arts seekis funding for our core Programs for children:
1) The Weekly Mentor Program builds trusting relationships by connecting volunteer mentors with small groups of
children. Mentors lead the children through intentional art making projects for 8 to 16-week sessions. Our
scripted mentor curriculum guides mentors through each session for maximum therapeutic benefit. Staff
support mentors arranging substitutes, conducting site visits, and individual coaching, improving success even in
challenging circumstances.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

2) The Camp Series engages mentors and professional teaching artists to support children as they bravely explore
their stories through various art forms. The series allows children to share their skills and stories with the public
through: a one-week Multicultural Art Camp, the Art of Leadership Camp, and a two-week Theater Camp. This is
the most popular program in the community we serve with the greatest impact due to 30 hours of consistent
programming. The program moves children quickly through outcomes and towards our goal of building
resilience.
3) Professional Artist Series commissions professional teaching artists to teach a specific art form that culminates
in a final performance or exhibition. This program is particularly effective in building skills and self-efficacy.
4) Free Arts Days connect children with their communities via one-day creative events with our arts and culture
partners. Partners include cultural institutions such as the Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona Ballet, and Phoenix
Symphony. This program allows children to explore a variety of art forms and connect with caring adult mentors
while learning about and experiencing the beauty of the art museums and cultural institutions.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
This program addresses the healthcare priority. Free Arts programs interrupt the cycle of trauma in foster, abused and
homeless children's lives and, through the arts, providing a path to a healthier life. The programs and written materials
available in both English and Spanish, and children can participate in multiple programs.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
Every year, more than 78,600 children in Arizona experience the pain of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. In the Annie
E. Casey Foundation’s 2020 Kids Count Data Book, Arizona ranked 42nd in the nation in child well-being with 20% of
children living in poverty and 28% living with parents lacking secure employment. Arizona ranked 36th in economic well-
being, 46th in education, 33rd in health, and 46th in family and community. According to the Arizona Department of
Child Safety, 14,767 children live in out-of-home care as of June 30, 2021 and 28% have been in out-of-home care for 13-
24 months, and 25% have been in out-of-home care for more than 24 months.

This crisis affects our children’s wellbeing and health. Extreme and prolonged stress of a traumatic experience often
becomes toxic. Left untreated, toxic stress can impair a child’s brain development, focus, decision-making, and long-
term health. According to Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, “Children are especially sensitive to repeated stress activation

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

because their brains and bodies are just developing. High doses of adversity not only affect brain structure and function.
They affect the developing immune system, developing hormonal systems, and even the way our DNA is read and
transcribed.” It may lead some children to struggle in the future with mental health, education, job potential, financial
security, substance abuse, and serious health problems, including heart disease, lung cancer, and a 20-year decrease in
life expectancy.

Free Arts serves children ages 3 to 21 years old residing in homeless and domestic violence shelters, foster care group
homes, residential treatment centers, and with foster and kinship families.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This is a continuing program with no previous funding from GRIC.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
This is a year round program with a fiscal year start of October 1, 2021.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Free Arts works with 40 social service and child welfare agencies at 130 facilities throughout Maricopa County. These
partner agencies include foster care group homes, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, unaccompanied minor
shelters, residential treatment centers, alternative schools and local arts and culture organizations.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
With partial funding we can implement the program, if we are unable to secure other funds we would reduce either the
number of programs or children served.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

The last five years have been eventful for Free Arts. We are completing a $4.5 million capital campaign that allowed us
to purchase and renovate a building in Central Phoenix as a permanent home for Free Arts to provide resilience building
arts programs, host and educate community groups, and house administrative offices. This purchase and renovation
moved some net income to an asset that provides stability for Free Arts for years to come.

After our building investment, Free Arts has approximately $2.3 million remaining in cash reserves (liquidity) which
represents 11 months of expenses. Our goal is to have 6-8 months of reserves/liquidity to provide stable cash flow
throughout the year and as a buffer for unusual circumstances, such as last year’s pandemic. Over the next three years
we plan to draw down the extra cash reserves to fund growth initiatives in our 2028 strategic vision which includes
statewide programming, services for foster and kinship families, continued resilience-building opportunities for alumni,
and being a recognized leader for resilience through the arts.

Since 1993, we have maintained steady, controlled growth in direct response to increased demand for services,
balanced with the available funding to meet those services. Free Arts' fundraising plan includes revenue from
private/family foundations; corporate, state, and municipal grants; individual donors; agency-driven special events; and
third-party beneficiary events. Free Arts works collaboratively with funding partners to define and execute goals that
advance the strategic priorities Free Arts and our funding partners.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
We measure outcomes using a child survey developed using the center for afterschool excellence youth program survey
standards. This children survey measures the extent to which children experience the impact of the 5 free arts program
outcomes. We partner with Indigo Cultural Center who support us in the continual process of improving our child
surveys and overall data collection to focus on accuracy and equity.

Qualitative data related to outcomes is collected at the end of each program using a hard copy survey completed by the
children. Children are asked to agree or disagree on a five-point scale with statements such as “I was able to express
ideas, emotions, and stories.” and “I was challenged to think and build skills.” Partner agency staff, volunteer mentors
and teaching artists also complete a survey reflecting on their experience. The child survey toll was built based on the
Arizona Quality Standards Assessment Tool created by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence and the Valley of
the Sun United Way.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Data from these surveys is used to understand and report on program impact. Program quality is assessed and
improvements to programs are made based on results and comments from surveys. Free Arts programs are considered
successful when at least 85% of children demonstrate these outcomes. We anticipate serving our current year outcomes
to resemble last year’s results” 87% had meaningful relationships with adults, 80% overcame obstacles and built self-
efficacy, 82% felt a sense of belonging, 86% had opportunities to lead their peers, and 87% used inspiring materials and
learned a new skill.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
In 2020 Free Arts applied to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation which was not funded, and to the Tohono O’odham
Nation which was funded.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries and Benefits
$0
$976,918
$0
$976,918
2. Professional and Outside Services
$5,000
$389,311
$0
$394,311
3. Program Expenses
$5,000
$130,937
$0
$135,937
4. Operational Expense
$0
$177,505
$0
$177,505
5. Fundraising
$0
$46,000
$0
$46,000
6. Technology
$0
$54,816
$0
$54,816
7. Outreach
$0
$43,246
$0
$43,246
8. Earned Revenue Expense
$0
$6,975
$0
$6,975
9. Building Hope LLC
$0
$112,341
$0
$112,341
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$10,000
$1,938,049
$0
$1,948,049

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries & Benefits: $976,918 icludes salaries, payroll taxes & fees, health and Dental, retirement, professional
development, worker’s comp, mileage, parking, travel awards based on prior years salaries and projected increases.
2. Professional & Outside Services: $394,311 includes support services in technology, counseling and teaching artists for
programs, leadership, and accounting. Based on prior year expenses.
3. Program Expenses: $135,937 includes art supplies, program evaluation, refreshments , based on prior years and
projected program usage.
4. Operational Expenses: $177,505 includes bank fees, rent, furniture lease, liability insurance, office supplies, dues &
subscriptions, communications. Based on prior years expenses.
5. Technology: $54,816 includes hardware, software, database and maintenance. Based on previous year expenses.
6. Outreach: $43,246 includes advertising, postage, design, printing, and socia media
7. Fundraising: $46,000 includes donor recognition and event expenses based on prior years.
8. Earned Revenue Expense: $6,975 includes expenses related to an initiative to develop earned revenues in order to
become more self-sustainable.
9. Building Hope LLC: $112,341 includes expenses to maintain the building Free Arts owns and uses for their
administrative offices, childrens exhibitions and performances, conferences, and for family and kinship programs.
10.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates, Chairman
4. Mailing Address: 301 W Jefferson St, #10
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Cryotherapy For Veterans
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Sean Swaringer Title: CEO
10. Phone Number: 623-252-8582
11. Mailing Address: 1515 N 7th Ave, #110
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85007
13. Email Address: s.swaringer@cryotherapyforveterans.org
Website Address:
https://www.cryotherapyforveterans.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Whole-Body Cryotherapy for Veterans
15. Purpose of Grant: Fund the free-of-cost intake and first month of treatment for 450 veterans over two years.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$25,000.00
18. Number of years that funding is requested
Two
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$50,000.00
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
No
21. Geographic area served
The Greater-Phoenix Metropolitan Area

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
Sean Swaringer, co-owner of the health spa Cryoworld Therapy, shifted his attention to the needs of veterans and first
responders after watching whole-body cryotherapy transform one veteran’s life. This veteran purchased an unlimited
30-day cryotherapy package to treat ten years of chronic back pain from combat injuries. His goals were to decrease his
opioid use and join his family for a mountain hike. After only three weeks of whole-body cryotherapy, his back pain
decreased, and he reduced his daily opioid use. After six weeks of treatment, he was able to hike with his family and cut
opioid use by 75%. While he wished to continue whole-body cryotherapy, unfortunately, he could not shoulder the cost
of $200 per month. Sean was moved to give him another 30 days of free treatments, and from that point took it as his
mission to extend the benefits of cryotherapy.
In 2020, Swaringer founded Cryotherapy for Veterans, with the mission to provide whole-body cryotherapy as a healthy
alterenative for pain management to veterans and first responders during vulnerable times to help reduce some of the
symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress and addictions. Through their commitment, all veterans and first
responders will be assisted regardless of personal obstacles, medical history, or trauma.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Cryotherapy for Veterans’ program benefits veterans and first responders throughout Maricopa County. Specific to this
proposal, we are grateful that Maricopa County will serve as our municipal sponsor. Our office and treatment center are
located near Downtown Phoenix, and our clients come from cities across the county, including Avondale, Goodyear,
Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, and Maricopa.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Cryotherapy for Veterans seeks to develop systemic change and sustain our veterans and first responders – producing
healthier human beings for themselves, their families and the betterment of our country and the state of Arizona.
Through the provision of whole-body cryotherapy, our program helps veterans and first responders who suffer from
pain and/or who have symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition
classified as an anxiety disorder that arises from a frightening life-threatening or unsafe experience.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Arizona veterans and first responders frequently suffer from long lasting physical and psychological wounds.
In their struggle to manage these nuanced but devastating conditions, too many resort to harmful coping
strategies including long-term opioid use, substance abuse, and other damaging behaviors. For these men and
women, finding treatment that alleviates their symptoms can be on ongoing challenge. How well a particular
treatment works can vary from one person to the next. Cryotherapy for Veterans offers a noninvasive and
nonpharmaceutical treatment that can help veterans and consequently, their families, their community, and
our state.

Cryotherapy aids veterans and first responders by reducing pain and migraines, managing symptoms associated with
PTSD and substance abuse, increasing the participant’s sleep, and improving overall health and wellness. Through our
program, we seek to restore the quality of life holistically and drastically minimize pain. We accomplish this through
whole-body cryotherapy. Cryotherapy, literally “cold therapy,” is a technique where the body is exposed to extremely
cold air of approximately -220 degrees for 2-3 minutes. The resulting health benefits include reducing migraine and
fatigue symptoms, mood disorders, and nerve irritation. This can be transformative for individuals experiencing PTSD.
Whole-body Cryotherapy is designed to provide an alternative way to help the mind, body and spirit potentially recover
from pain versus taking pain medications, alcohol abuse or destructive behaviors.
Cryotherapy is a four-week program, with three sessions per week. There is an evaluation after the first week and a
second evaluation after 30 days. Treatment may continue up to 120 days after start of program. After 120 days,
veterans may continue if they would like to; however, after this period most do not require further cryotherapy
sessions.
Prior to starting our program, we request that veterans attend our Cryo Education one-day seminar on the benefits of
whole-body cryotherapy. The seminar provides an overview of history/research, types of cryotherapy, benefits, sample
experiences and assessments. Veterans and first responders who choose whole-body cryotherapy will receive a
minimum of a month of cryotherapy sessions – three, one-on-one sessions weekly for four weeks. This includes a
detailed intake and exit assessment with a psychologist to measure results and progress on coping mechanism for pain
management.

In 2022, we aim for the following outcomes for veterans who receive whole-body cryotherapy from Cryotherapy for
Veterans:
•
Achieve an average pain reduction for participants of 25% (30 days) and 50% (90 days)
•
Achieve an average reduction in headaches/migraines of 25% (30 days) and 35% (90 days)
•
Achieve an average improvement in self-reported mood of 20% (30 days) and 50% (90 days)
•
Achieve an average improvement in sleep of 20% (30 days) and 35% (90 days)
•
Achieve an average improvement in energy of 25% (30 days) and 40% (90 days)

Programming and infrastructure are already in place to guide new participants through the one-day Cryo-Education
seminar, to perform their intake and health assessments, and to administer three-times weekly whole-body cryotherapy
treatments for as long as participants need to achieve their goals, with fresh professional evaluations every 30 days.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

With a $50,000 grant from the Gila Indian Community, we can provide 400 months of treatment (4,800 sessions) free of
charge to Arizona veterans and first responders. Depending on how long the participating veterans elect to continue
treatment, a $50,000 grant would fully fund the treatment of 100 to 150 veterans.

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
Whole-Body Cryotherapy for Veterans aligns with the Gila River Indian Community’s focus on healthcare by offering a
program that assists in improving the overall health of participants.
Whole-Body Cryotherapy is an innovative approach to reduce chronic pain, soothe psychological symptoms, and boost
overall wellbeing – with positive results. Cryotherapy for Veterans has found that our cryotherapy is producing
promising results for treating chronic pain, nerve irritation, headaches and migraines, insomnia and fatigue, anxiety,
depression, and PTSD. We are providing important research and championing this innovative therapy to support
veterans’ and first responders’ physical and mental recovery as an alternative to harmful pain-management strategies
such as opioid medications, substance abuse, and destructive coping behaviors.
To date, our Whole-Body Cryotherapy for Veterans program has delivered the following results for 187 veterans and
first responders, based on their initial and 30-day assessments:
At 30 days: Pain decreased by 25%, migraines decreased by 26%, mood improved by 22%, energy increased by 25%,
sleep improved by 24%.
At 60 days: Pain decreased by 34%, migraines decreased by 32%, mood improved by 36%, energy increased by 34%,
sleep improved by 34%.
At 90 days: Pain decreased by 50%, migraines decreased by 35%, mood improved by 50%, energy increased by 40%,
sleep improved by 35%.
At 120 days: Pain decreased by 61%, migraines decreased by 40%, mood improved by 55%, energy increased by 44%,
sleep improved by 52%.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
Arizona ranks 13th in the country for total veteran population with 528,000 veterans; of those, about 96,000 (18%) have
service-connected disabilities, one-third of which have severe disabilities (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2018).
More than 50% of veterans registered for healthcare experience chronic pain above level 4 on a 10-point pain scale. To
manage their conditions, veterans without adequate support and access to treatment resources may turn to opioids and
substance abuse. U.S. veterans are twice as likely to die from opioid overdoses as civilians (Secretary of Veterans

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Affairs). One out of ten veterans deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan is diagnosed with alcohol or drug abuse, correlated
with chronic pain, disability, and psychological trauma (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2019). These health burdens and
insufficient treatment options contribute to alarmingly high suicide rates among veterans. The overall suicide rate for
veterans is twice the rate for civilians, and in June 2021, a report from the Costs of War Project at Brown University
found that post- 9/11 veterans are four times as likely to die from suicide as from combat.
First Responders’ work is similarly taxing on their health. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, 30% of first responders develop depression or PTSD, two-times more than the general population. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more police officers and firefighters die from suicide than in the
line of duty, and Emergency Medical Services personnel are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general
population. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the toll on first responders’ wellbeing has risen sharply. For example, a
2021 study by the University of Arizona found that first responders such as firefighters, EMTs, and police officers are
twice as likely to get COVID as essential workers, including healthcare workers.
For these men and women, finding treatments that alleviate their physical and psychological symptoms can be an
ongoing challenge, and treatment effectiveness varies widely from one person to the next. The support systems
currently in place are unable to meet all veterans’ and first responders’ needs, and many resort to pain medications,
substance abuse, and unhealthy coping behaviors to manage their challenging symptoms. Cryotherapy for Veterans
provides timely, individualized, free alternative therapy to support the physical and mental health and wellbeing of
Arizona veterans and first responders and reduce the incidence of harmful coping behaviors.
From August 2020 to December 2021, Cryotherapy for Veterans has provided whole-body cryotherapy to 235 veterans
and first responders. Over 2022 and 2023, we plan to serve a total of 450 veterans and first responders, 225 each year.

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
Whole-Body Cryotherapy for Veterans is a continuing program. GRIC has not previously funded this program.

7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
Cryotherapy for Veterans accepts new participants year-round. The timeline for an individual veteran entering the
Whole-Body Cryotherapy program:
To start the program, veterans attend our Cryo Education one-day educational seminar that provides them an overview
of cryotherapy (benefits, how it will be administered, etc.). If they chose to begin cryotherapy, we conduct an intake
health assessment with our psychologist and schedule their initial whole-body cryotherapy sessions. Veterans receive
cryotherapy treatments in month-to-month Cryo “Whole” Mind & Body Spirit Therapy packages. For as many months as

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

they choose to continue with treatment, they receive three free sessions per week, or 12 sessions per month. At the end
of each month, we conduct new health assessments to measure their progress.

8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
We have existing partnerships with corporations and businesses with veteran affinity and advocacy groups. We partner
with Inside Out Nutrition and with Dr. Charlie Piermarini of Restorative Care of Arizona (pain management and CBD).
We also partner with the Wounded Warriors Project (WWP), which refers veterans to us to assist with WWP’s hypobaric
chamber program.

9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes. The number of new clients can be scaled to reflect the amount of funding secured. Ultimately, more funding means
more veterans and first responders will receive the benefits of cryotherapy to their health and wellbeing.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Cryotherapy for Veterans is fortunate to have had a handful of early donors provide funding to help start the
organization as well as support its capacity building. We have begun working with a contract grant writer in November
2021 who has conducted comprehensive prospect research for us to help us build a grants program. In addition, she will
work with us throughout 2022 to strategize on cultivating, soliciting (including writing and submitting grant proposals),
and stewarding grants. We will continue to work with individuals and hold special events to augment our philanthropic
revenues.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Cryotherapy for Veterans obtains data from the veterans at intake and then again every 30 days (for as long as they are
receiving treatment) related to their current levels of pain, anxiety, addictive behavior, sleep, and energy among other
measures. For example, questions related to pain include rating their current level of pain, rating their average level of
pain for the past two weeks, and rating their worst level of pain for the past two weeks. We also obtain information on

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

how many headaches/migraines they had over the past month and how often they took pain medication over the past
two weeks. In addition, we utilize the National Center for PTSD’s survey to measure PTSD symptoms and the General
Anxiety Disorder Scale to measure their anxiety. These pre- and regular-interval-post-assessments help use determine
the efficacy of the Whole-Body Cryotherapy program at improving the physical and mental health of participating
veterans.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Cryotherapy for Veterans has not received any awards from Gila River Indian Community nor from any other tribe.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024; Year 2 Budget will be the same.
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries/Wages
$10,000
$95,500
$0
$105,500
2. Contract Services
$7,000
$8,000
$0
$15,000
3. Occupancy

$0
$59,520
$0
$59,520
4. Equipment
$1,500
$18,500
$0
$20,000
5. Supplies
$500
$4,500
$0
$5,000
6. Educational Seminars
$500
$2,000
$0
$2,500
7. Office Supplies & Computer
Software
$1,500
$8,500
$0
$10,000
8. Insurance
$0
$11,000
$0
$11,000
9. Fundraising Events
$3,000
$12,000
$0
$15,000
10. Advertising
$1,000
$3,500
$0
$4,500
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$25,000
$223,020
$0
$248,020

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries and wages $105,500: CEO ($49,500); Program manager ($30,000); Community Engagement Coordinator
($16,000); Social Media Consultant ($10,000)
2. Contracted Services $15,000: CPA ($1,500) and Other outside contracted services ($13,500)
3. Occupancy – Rent ($59,520)
4. Equipment – Cryotherapy Tanks ( $20,000)
5. Supplies – Cryotherapy Program Supplies outside of tanks ($5,000)
6. Cryotherapy Educational Seminar for new clients ($2,500)
7. Office Supplies & Software ($10,000)
8. Insurance – Liability ($11,000)
9. Fundraising Events/Donor Events – 4 ($15,000)
10. Advertising – Ad design, printing ($4,500)
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Ave., 10th Floor
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst, Maricopa County
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@mail.maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: First Place® AZ
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Denise D. Resnik Title: Founder & President/CEO
10. Phone Number: 602-228-3928
11. Mailing Address: 3001 N. Third St.
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85012
13. Email Address: denise@firstplaceaz.org
Website Address: firstplaceaz.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: First Place® AZ 360 Health & Wellness® Instructional Video Series
15. Purpose of Grant: To create a series of three instructional healthcare videos for greater self-advocacy and more
successful independent living for adults with autism and other neurodiversities
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$27,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
Year 1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$27,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Yes. 2018: $74,000
21. Geographic area served
Phoenix Metropolitan Area

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
First Place® AZ is a nonprofit charitable organization established in 2012 with the mission to create a supportive,
sustainable community where adults with autism and other neurodiversities live and thrive with pride, purpose and
endless possibilities. Our goal is to ensure that housing and community options are as bountiful for special populations
as they are for everyone else.
First Place strives to create replicable residential and post-secondary education models that promote
private/public/nonprofit/philanthropic collaboration serving as catalysts for advancing public policy focused on housing
and community solutions. Such advances support local economic development and create opportunities for
employment and more independent living for members of this population.
First Place–Phoenix broke ground in December 2016 and opened doors to residents in July 2018 offering three
primary components: 1) First Place Apartments—with 55 studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom units for up to 79
residents—provide access to various services and amenities; 2) First Place Transition Academy, operated by our sister
nonprofit the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), offers a two-year, 32-course life skills program—
the Learn4Independence® Curriculum—to prepare residents for employment and to live more independently; 3) First
Place Global Leadership Institute represents a faculty of experts from across the country focused on pressing concerns
for accessibility to more housing and independent living options. It serves as an international education and training
center for professionals, support staff and medical personnel, as well as a robust site for research and advancements in
public policy. The Institute’s five centers facilitate the critical work and impact of First Place and include: Maricopa
County IDA Center for Education, Training & Employment; Center for Real Estate & Community Development; Colonel
Harland Sanders Center for Applied Research; Mulzet Center for Expression & Communication; and The Daniel Jordan
Fiddle Foundation Center for Public Policy.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
First Place has received the following municipal/government funding:

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

•
Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority (IDA): $335,000 community investment grant for the First
Place Global Leadership Institute’s Center for Training, Education & Employment
•
Phoenix IDA: $250,000 community investment grant for the expansion of the First Place Transition Academy
•
COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding: $250,000 from federal funds made available to Maricopa
County to support and expand community and economic recovery.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
During summer 2021, the First Place Global Leadership Institute implemented a pilot of the First Place 360 Health &
Wellness® curriculum before adding two subsequent and successful cohorts. The 360 H&W curriculum is comprised of
three courses:
Staying Healthy is designed for individuals with autism and other neurodiversities. Lessons focus on establishing
a medical support network, self-advocacy, monitoring health, identifying symptoms and developing an electronic
medical management record; Supporting Independence is designed for families and support providers. Lessons focus on
medical advocacy and independence, building a medical support team, establishing an electronic health record and
supporting health and wellness as a child transitions to adulthood; Implementing Care is designed for physicians, nurses,
physician assistants and/or medical students to create an environment conducive to autism-friendly health
and wellness care. Lessons focus on the facts about and nuances of autism, as well as the various aspects of support,
procedures, communication, team training and patient rights.
Feedback from autistic adults who participated in the initial cohort identified a need for more visual healthcare
tools, including instructional videos, to support the curriculum and their learning on their paths to greater independent
living. Various video topics were identified using feedback that included pre- and post-survey responses and course
evaluations from autistic adult participants, their parents/guardians or support professionals, the medical team at the
Virginia G. Piper Health Spot—First Place–Phoenix’s on-site medical clinic—and instructor observations.
The three-video series for which First Place AZ is requesting GRIC funding includes the following:
1) Your Digital Locker: This video will depict the process of collecting and uploading documents to the Peace of Mind
Portfolio® using the Kiip Vital Document Management™ System.
2) Your Annual Physical: This video will depict expected activities of an annual exam (e.g., making the appointment,
checking in, waiting, meeting with the medical assistant—reason for appointment, height, weight, blood pressure,
temperature, vision test—physical exam, discussion with physician, lab work).

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

3) After Your Appointment: This video will depict the importance of understanding and following the steps in the
treatment plan; scheduling follow-up appointments with primary care physicians or referrals to specialists;
understanding medication management and filling prescriptions.
Videos would average 4–5 minutes in length, depending on content. First Place Apartment residents, Transition
Academy students and/or Transition Academy graduates would be used as actors in the videos.
The Health Spot medical team could then email links to these videos to support individuals to prepare before
and/or after appointments. Additionally, to further build out our current curriculum, the videos would be added to the
existing 360 Health and Wellness content.

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
The First Place AZ 360 Health & Wellness Instructional Video Series Residential satisfies the “Healthcare” priority funding
area identified by the Gila River Indian Community focusing on health education through visual instructional media.

5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
First Place AZ continues to leverage the investment of 25 years in community development by the Southwest Autism
Research & Resource Center (SARRC), our sister nonprofit, by addressing the needs of an ever-increasing population of
U.S. children with autism, of which approximately 50,000 to 60,000 per year in the U.S. are transitioning to adulthood.
First Place recognizes the need for innovative solutions when considering the following data representing
lifelong challenges for this population:
•
Autism remains the largest disability group among adults in the U.S.
•
The incidence of autism today is 1 in 44 compared with 1 in 2,500 20 years ago.
•
National data indicates that the majority of adults with autism are either unemployed or underemployed, with
estimates ranging to as high as 90%.
•
The lifetime incremental cost per individual in this population: $2.4 million

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

According to the 2020 National Autism Indicators Report: Health and Health Care, healthcare challenges for this
population specifically include:
•
People on the autism spectrum often have complex health needs.
•
Emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations occur more often.
•
People with autism may use healthcare more often and have higher healthcare costs.
•
Even when people on the spectrum access care, they have more unmet healthcare needs.
•
Differences between pediatric and adult health care may be challenging.

The target population served by First Place is adults ages 18 and older with autism, Down syndrome, traumatic
brain injury and other neurodiversities. First Place–Phoenix serves as home to 79 residents who are potential
beneficiaries of and participants in the video series, including First Place Transition Academy students.
Once the videos are developed, they can be digitally accessible to members of special populations we serve, as
well as made available to potentially hundreds out in the community at large, including tribal members who could
benefit from this unique, visual instructional tool.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
The instructional video project is a new program that GRIC has not previously funded.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The following flexible timeline represents one year of funding:
Q1 – Pre-Production
•
Obtain needed consents/permissions
•
Develop content and script
•
Identify potential actors
•
Identify location for filming
•
Develop graphic content
Q2 – Filming
•
Film each video per script
•
Support actors to fully participate in filming

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Q3 – Post-Production
•
Edit videos
•
Develop marketing content
Q4 – Promote
•
Engage with community partners
•
Share via 360 Health & Wellness® curriculum
•
Share via Digital Locker
•
Share via social media
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Kiip Vital Document Management System: Kiip will provide expertise in the use of the digital locker and support the
development of the script for this video. Additionally, we anticipate that Kiip will assist with promotion of the video.
Creighton University Health Sciences Campus: Through our current collaboration with Creighton University Health
Sciences Campus in Phoenix just three blocks away, we will involve medical faculty and students in developing and
testing content for the video series, along with First Place residents and their families.
Virginia G. Piper Health Spot at First Place–Phoenix: Dignity Health provides healthcare to individuals with autism both
at the on-site Health Spot and Dignity locations across Arizona. The healthcare team that participates at First Place–
Phoenix will assist with the development of the scripts for the videos, participate in filming, assist with promotion and
use of the videos by neurodiverse individuals at First Place and statewide.
Videographers: In the past, First Place has utilized a team with expertise in video production and experience supporting
neurodiverse individuals to fully participate in videos helping adults on the spectrum and their families to access quality
services and supports. We also anticipate connecting with an organization with experience supporting neurodiverse
individuals to participate as actors for this production.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes. With partial funding, First Place would move forward with the development of the video series and continue
seeking funding from other public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic sources.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Without the need for additional long-term funding, completed videos would be stored as a sustainable instructional
digital library that addresses the various topics necessary for medical self-care and self-management, resulting in greater
independent living skills.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
The following steps will be taken to guide and educate participants toward progress of attaining desired outcomes of the
instructional video series.
Video 1: Your Digital Locker
•
Provide autistic youth/adults with a preview of the Peace of Mind Portfolio® using the Kiip Vital Document
Management System.
•
Educate on how to gather important information (insurance card, list of medications) and prepare for a visit with
the doctor (Annual Physical Exam prep).
•
Describe how the digital locker can support autistic youth/adults to prepare for a visit and be a partner in their
healthcare decision-making.
Video 2: Your Annual Physical
•
Provide autistic youth/adults with a preview of the expected sequence of events involved in an annual medical
exam.
•
Identify important topics to discuss with primary care physician (PCP) during annual visit.
Video 3: After Your Appointment
•
Provide autistic youth/adults with a preview of the sequence of events after an appointment with their PCP.
•
Educate on what should be discussed as part of a care plan, including how to ask questions to ensure
understanding.
•
Describe patient responsibility to schedule appointments with specialists, fill prescriptions and report back to
their PCP during follow-up appointments.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
First Place AZ received a 12% gaming grant from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community for
$120,000 in 2016 and $51,000 in 2017 to fund the purchase of appliances (refrigerators, stoves/ovens,
microwaves, washers, dryers) for the First Place Apartments and the on-site teaching kitchen. This

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

investment will support hundreds of people with different abilities to build their life skills and provide
opportunities for safer, greater independence while at First Place, their next place or more places informed
and inspired through our work. First Place also received a 12% gaming grant from Fort McDowell Yavapai
Nation for $47,800 in 2020 for the development and implementation of First Place AZ Learning for
Independence Workshops.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: Year 1
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Production & editing
$15,000
$0
$0
$15,000
2. Script & content development
$9,000
$0
$0
$9,000
3. Packaging & promotion
$2,400
$0
$0
$2,400
4. Compensation for actors
$600
$0
$0
$600
5. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$27,000
$0
$0
$27,000

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. $15,000: Production & editing of 3-video series with videographer: Your Digital Locker, Your Annual Physical, After
Your Appointment
2. $9,000: Script & content development through First Place Global Leadership Institute Centers for Expression &
Communication and Education, Training & Development
3. $2,400: Packaging & promotion through Center for Expression & Communication
4. $600: Compensation for actors with autism: residents at First Place Apartments; current students and alumni of First
Place Transition Academy residential life skills program
5. Click here to enter text.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 1/17/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson St.
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom/Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Back To School Clothing Drive
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Nikki Eancheff Title: Grants Manager
10. Phone Number: 602-256-9408
11. Mailing Address: 360 E. Coronado Rd. #200
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85004
13. Email Address: nikki@btscd.com
Website Address: www.btscd.com
Project Information
14. Project Name: New Clothes, New Beginnings
15. Purpose of Grant: To provide school uniforms and supplies to low-income children in Maricopa County
16. Priority Funding Area
Education
17. Annual amount requested
$5000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$5000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Yes, $125,000 in both 2010 and 2014
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
New Clothes, New Beginnings. Over the course of a week each July we outfit approximately 5,000 elementary school students with
everything they need for a successful school year. The students are pre-registered by our partner schools based on need, and each
get two pairs of shorts, two polo shirts, one sweatshirt, one belt, three pairs of socks and underwear, one pair of shoes, and a
backpack filled with supplies. They also get dental screenings, books, visits from special guests, and perhaps, most importantly, the
message that their education matters.
Student Attire for Education, or SAFE. In 2011 the Stardust Foundation invited BTSCD to become its operational partner for the SAFE
program. The goal of SAFE is to help Title I elementary schools stock their on-site closets so that clothes and supplies are available
throughout the year to students in need. Partner schools can purchase school items at a discount in our online store. Proceeds are
invested into the program. Schools place orders online and merchandise is shipped directly to the school.
Stitches of Love. Stitches of Love is often referred to as the heart and soul of BTSCD. Our roots go back 40 years ago when a single
seamstress decided to sew back to school clothes for the migrant farm workers children. We think she would be pleased to know
that we are now 200 strong and sew year-long for thousands of our valley’s neediest children. Volunteers sew at home and come
together once a month at the sewing center in the BTSCD office. The sewing room stocks fabric, notions, yarn and current patterns
for our volunteers. This is where we go to pick up supplies and drop off finished items.
Momentum School Uniforms. An expansion of SAFE, this program instituted the capacity to sell to end-users. Now charter school
and private school parents who can afford to clothe their children can buy their uniforms from us and, in doing so, help a lower-
income family get uniforms for their children too. (All of the profits from retail sales also go directly to funding our programs.) This
online platform also offers a way to serve the children and families we historically have had to turn away.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
BTSCD receives CDBG funding from the city of Glendale.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
1) New Clothes, New Beginnings provides up to 5,000 children from low-income families with two new school uniforms
or outfits, a backpack, books, school, and hygiene supplies. The children are K-6th grade students attending a partner

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Title I elementary school in Maricopa County. We distribute 4,000 additional backpacks filled with supplies to children
from low-income families in northern Arizona and select local not-for-profit agencies.

Activities:
1. Raise funds to purchase clothing and supplies through grants, special events, and individual giving. Cultivate
relationships to reduce program costs through donations, sponsorships, and volunteers.
2. Recruit and organize 2,800 volunteers.
3. Work with partner schools to ensure clothing and supplies meets standards and requirements and register students.
4. Secure space to construct temporary event site. Create safe, respectful, and enjoyable experience for students.
5. Arrange for delivery of backpacks statewide.
6. Facilitate distribution of clothing in July to distribute new school clothes, shoes, backpacks, school supplies and
hygiene items. Ensure students receive all items in correct sizes. Register and track student attendance.
7. Implement RFP process for all product suppliers to ensure quality and economy of purchases. Ensure timely delivery
of merchandise.
8. Coordinate with partner school to provide adequate and appropriate inventory.

In the event COVID-19 prevents BTSCD from resuming normal operations, this contingency plan from 2020 is still in
place as needed. This is a seamless transition, as our partner schools already have accounts on the SAFE store and are
familiar with the ordering process.

The process will work as follows:
*Assign partner schools a number of uniforms, shoes and backpacks based on an average of their last three years of
attendance.
*Allow schools to use the SAFE store to order uniforms, shoes, underwear, and socks and provide a code that zeroes out
any owed balance.
*BTSCD processes bulk orders and drop ship clothing items directly to schools.
*BTSCD delivers shoes and backpacks to schools.
*Schools distribute items to the families they registered.
*Schools use the SAFE store's exchange process for different sizes after delivery if needed.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
This request aligns with the GRIC Education focus. Many studies indicate that a majority of chronically absent students
come from low-income families. In some cases these students choose not to attend school because they are
embarrassed and bullied, often as a result of their income status. In Arizona 51% of students in public schools are from
low-income families. That's one in two children attending a public school in our state living near poverty. Their families
chose between paying rent and putting dinner on the table. School clothes, new shoes, and school supplies don't even
make the shopping list. They make do with what they have. More often than not, they do without.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
The 2021 National Retail Federation annual survey estimates that families spend an average of $848.90 on back-to-school items, an
increase of $59 over last year. While that might not cause a thought for families who can afford it, it’s a much different situation for
the more than 595,000 students in Maricopa County who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch programs. For these families $850
is not disposable income, so a decision has to be made: get the children properly prepared for school or pay rent and buy food. It
doesn’t take a crystal ball to see what they choose.
Research shows that the feeling of not fitting in at school isn’t just bad for a child’s self-esteem, it’s also an indicator of future
educational success. A 2018 study on high school performance of at-risk students showed lower dropout rates among those who
were made to feel like they belonged at school and who believed that people cared about their education. It also showed that
interventions are more successful in elementary school years, and that once students are in high school it is typically too late to
change their trajectory. Unfortunately, we have never been able to fully address the need in our community and, as you would
expect, the calls and emails we get for asking help have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While students have already returned to the classroom for the 2021-22 school year, we know not all of them were able to do so with
the things they need. Additionally, children grow and seasons change, which means clothes and shoes are needed year-round. By
using our existing model and incorporating the capabilities of Momentum School Uniforms, we can help alleviate the burden of
poverty exacerbated by COVID-19.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This is a continuing program that has not previously been funded by GRIC.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
August to December: Organize event details. Secure venue, begin meeting with 140 partner schools to determine
clothing and supply needs for the school year.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

January: Develop a merchandise plan to obtain resources by January, including purchase of new school clothes and
school supplies.

February: Meet with 140 partner schools again to schedule up to 300 slots per school and allocate inventory.

April: Organize and schedule 2,500 volunteers to manage the event setup, tear down, and event activities.

July, 1 Week Prior to event: Staff, board, and volunteers convert venue into a retail department store, inventory
merchandise, and stock shelves in preparation for event week.

Event Week: Students are bussed to the store to pick out their clothes and supplies during the five days of the event.
Over 1,000 students shop each day with the help of 300 - 500 volunteers.

Post Event: Organize and pack remaining items, place in storage. Prepare reports and evaluate program.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
We work year round with more than 2,500 volunteers, 13 board members, and strategic community partnerships help
manage this program every year. Our relationships with schools, community organizations, churches, high schools,
corporations, and nonprofit agencies provide additional support including:
-- School supply drives held by multiple businesses
-- National Charities League, provides and coordinates volunteer support
-- BHHS Legacy Foundation and Legacy Connections major funding and other support to provide 10,000 backpacks filled
with supplies
-- KPHO CBS 5, official media partner for event week and telethon concurrent with program activities
-- Grand Canyon University, provides space, event support and inventory storage for distribution event
-- Bank of America, corporate sponsor and significant volunteer support
-- AT Still University, oral hygiene education and screening
-- Local sports teams Mascot days
-- City of Phoenix Fire and Police Departments visits
-- AzStruts Stem Day Camp for select students who also take home a free laptop

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

-- Alpha Delta Kappa sorority book drive for each student to select two books
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes, we will continue to seek other funding.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
BTSCD’s general plan includes: Increase funding and partnership commitments from corporations and foundations to
match money raised; Continue positioning SAFE as an essential resource for individual and school district uniform
purchases; Generate revenues by expanding our uniform sales with a public-facing store and; Increase our individual
donor base with a goal of the general public providing fifty percent or more of our funding.
Strategy:
1. Migrate donor data to new database to improve communication, tracking, and development.
2. Raise $40,000 through the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.
3. Increase the quantity and amount of small donations using email and digital retargeting advertising and marketing
campaign as part of the Buy-One, Give-One sales strategy
4. Create new relationships with private and parochial schools that require school uniforms and drive a percentage of
their business to BTSCD.
5. Develop Major Gifts Program and cultivate members through current donors, board fundraising efforts, and direct
mail.
6. Pursue planned giving program focused on Stitches of Love volunteers.
7. Develop and execute annual Gala event raising $300,000 annually.
8. Target companies with matching gift programs through volunteer efforts.
9. Develop Board of Directors Giving campaign.
10. Secure $100,000 in new corporate grants.
11. Explore additional revenue opportunities (merchandise lines) through SAFE retail store sales.
12. Expand Board of Directors to include individuals that have retail, finance and sales and marketing expertise.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Indicators: 90% of students registered receive school uniforms or clothing, backpacks and school supplies.
Outputs
1) 5,000 students receive two complete school outfits and one backpack filled with school supplies and hygiene items
2) 4,000 backpacks filled with school supplies distributed to students from low-income families through local nonprofit
organizations and in northern Arizona through the BHHS Legacy Backpack Buddies program.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
We have applied to Tohono Oodham but have not been funded. We have also applied to Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation
and received $5,000 in both 2018 and 2019.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: January 1 to December 31, 2022
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries

$0
$69,089
$0
$69,089
2. Rent and grounds maintenance
$0
$19,000
$0
$19,000
3. Specfic Assistance to Individuals
$5,000
$196,911
$0
$201,911
4. Inkind
$0
$0
$635,188
$635,188
5. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$5,000
$285,000
$635,188
$925,188

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries: ($60,089) Program administrator and allocation of Executive Director
2. Rent and grounds maintenance: ($19,000) Office lease and utilites expense
3. Specific Assistance to Individuals: ($201,911) Purchase of school clothing and supplies
4. Inkind: ($635,188) Storage: $3,000 Grand Canyon University arena use: $30,000 Materials- school supplies: $201,370
Food: $12,900 Volunteers: $344,918 Dental screening: $43,000
5. Click here to enter text.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/7/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 960
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Dress for Success Phoenix
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Tamala McBath Title: CEO
10. Phone Number: (602) 489-7397
11. Mailing Address: 1024 E Buckeye Road, Suite 165
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85034
13. Email Address: phoenix@dressforsuccess.org
Website Address: phoenix.dressforsuccess.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Employment Skills & Training Program
15. Purpose of Grant: Career readiness, connection to employment, workforce development, empowering women
16. Priority Funding Area
Economic Development
17. Annual amount requested
$25,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
One year
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$25,000
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
No
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Dress for Success Phoenix (DFS) works to break the cycle of poverty and pave a pathway to self-sufficiency for unemployed
and underemployed women and their families. Founded in 2009, we have served over 17,000 women since we opened our
doors and distributed more than $2,700,000 in apparel and accessories to our clients.

Our core services include:
*Boutique: At our Boutique, each client works one-on-one with a volunteer personal shopper who helps her select
professional attire and provides support and encouragement as she prepares for upcoming interviews. Once gainfully
employed, she can return to our Boutique to receive a full week’s worth of attire to help build her professional wardrobe, and
her self-confidence.

*Career Center: Taking women’s job readiness “beyond the suit,” our Career Center promotes confidence and professionalism
by providing one-on-one coaching to create superior resumes and cover letters, as well as provide career counseling, and
mock interviews.

*Mobile Career Center: As a traveling hub of workforce development, employment readiness, and career coaching programs,
the DFS Mobile Career Center is a critical element of our programming that expands our reach to clients across the Valley who
may be unable to commute to our Phoenix location.

*Fast Track to Success: Our Fast Track to Success Program helps unemployed and underemployed women who have
participated in our programming and have been unable to secure a job gain more competitive professional skills, accelerate
their job search, and build confidence through a four-day training session.

*Professional Women’s Group (PWG): A job retention program and international networking association for Dress for
Success clients who have recently entered the workforce to provide support, practical information, and inspiration to help
women achieve self-defined success in their careers and in life. Women receive mentorship, financial education, information
about homeownership, and professional and personal development opportunities to help them grow and thrive.

*Teen Workforce Initiative (TWI): The Teen Workforce Initiative is a collaboration between Dress for Success Phoenix and St.
Joseph the Worker to provide early career guidance, skills development, and professional clothing to teens at high schools in
low-income areas across Maricopa County.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Dress for Success Phoenix is applying through Maricopa County. We work directly with multiple municipalities within
Maricopa County to deliver our programs. For example, we have a satellite office within the Community Assistance
Resource Center in Peoria, and the City of Phoenix and AZ@Work contract with us to provide our services for their
programs. We are proud to serve women throughout Maricopa County.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Dress for Success Phoenix Is seeking funding to support our Employment Skills and Training Program that will provide critical
professional development services and resources (including essential work-appropriate clothing, employment skills training,
resume writing, and career coaching) to 250 low-to-moderate income women from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

According to Data USA, the largest demographic living in poverty in Maricopa County is women, ages 25-34, followed by
women ages 35-44, and women ages 18-24. Low-income women in Maricopa County face additional barriers when
entering and staying in the workforce, such as lack of childcare, job training, and education, and they continue to be
disproportionately harmed by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2021, nearly 2 in 5 unemployed
women, ages 16 and over, had been out of work for 6 months or longer and more than 1 in 4 unemployed women had been
out of work for a year or longer.

As in most crises, those who were already on the margins are suffering the most, which, in this case, are low-income
Women, and women of color who are combating not only widespread job loss, but also an increasingly
competitive job market, with fewer and fewer opportunities that puts them at risk of being pushed out entirely.
We have seen this begin to happen already; just 39,000 women, ages 20 and over, joined the labor force in January
2022, meaning they are newly working, or looking for work. Even with these modest gains, there were still nearly 1.1
million fewer women in the labor force in January 2022 compared to February 2020. Meanwhile, men ages 20 and over
joined the labor force last month in massive numbers, with over 1 million more men newly working or looking for work.
This means men have now recouped all their labor force losses since February 2020. (National Women’s Law Center).
Assistance from Dress for Success Phoenix is critical for Maricopa County women to be able to weather the challenges
presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and succeed in this highly competitive job market, empowering them to achieve
economic independence and self-sufficiency fo themselves and their families.
The majority of Dress for Success programs take place at our Career Center in Phoenix. We also have a satellite office in
the Peoria Community Center, and our Mobile Career Center travels throughout the Valley and surrounding areas,
making it extremely convenient to serve more women, especially during the pandemic. For this proposal, we are seeking
$25,000 to support our Mobile Career Center, which is a traveling hub of workforce development, employment
readiness, and career coaching programs on wheels. It carries a selection of professional clothing and accessories along
with computers, internet access, and dedicated staff to locations throughout Maricopa County, to help women get back
to work. In coordination with other nonprofit organizations, schools, and community events, women and teens
participate in workshops, coaching, mock interviews, and the suiting program within the Mobile Unit.

As a result of an investment from GRIC, participants and their families will gain increased financial security, begin to emerge
from poverty, and see themselves as self-sufficient and able to manage their financial lives. In doing so, they will begin to pave

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

a way to a more equitable future for themselves and their children. Thus, your support will be transformative in our vision to
break the cycle of poverty and empower women in Maricopa County to achieve economic independence.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
These services satisfy the funding priority of Economic Development by providing women throughout Maricopa County
with the resources they need to support themselves and their families, and to develop professionally so that they can
continue to succeed in their careers.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED: With the COVID-19 pandemic causing mass job losses throughout the country, workers are
facing a more competitive job market than ever right now. The pandemic has revealed and exacerbated the many facets
of inequality in our society, and women in the workplace is one of those areas.

Our target population is low- to moderate-income women in Maricopa County who are seeking employment and those
seeking to increase their earnings and further their careers. The typical profile of those we serve is a minority female
who is unemployed and struggling to find employment due to barriers that hinder her employability. These barriers
include lack of previous work experience, marketable job skills, language fluency, access to reliable transportation, and
affordable childcare. The demographic breakdown of our target population is as follows: 28% Hispanic/Latino, 20%
Black/African American, 27% White, 8% Native American, 1% Asian, 9% Other, 7% Unknown.

Outcomes we aim to achieve over a one-year grant period include the following:
• 250 clients will be served and receive one-on-one career coaching
• Weekly workshops will be created and delivered
• 85% of those who are new to the process of applying for employment online will have acquired new job searching
skills; approximately 40% of women we help have never applied online for a job.
•At least 80% of 10-15 participants per month will obtain employment within 90 days of receiving services, for a total of
84-126 women hired in a one-year period.
In addition to tracking the number of women we serve through each program, we also track the various programs each client
participates in, which allows us to track the total number of unduplicated clients, as well as those clients who are progressing
from one service to another. Additionally, clients fill out self-evaluation forms before, and after, their participation in our
programs to measure outcomes and growth.

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
The Mobile Career Center is a continuing program, which has not been previously funded by GRIC.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The Mobile Career Center provides year-round, ongoing programming at many different locations. The dates for specific
events are flexible and determined on a rolling basis according to the needs of our partners.

8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Dress for Success Phoenix has established collaborative relationships with more than 150 local agencies serving various
populations. We are able to help women with the greatest needs get back to work, including single moms, domestic
violence survivors, veterans, refugees, women who have recovered from addictions, women who have been incarcerated,
as well as those that simply have lived in poverty for a long time. We also work with schools to prepare teens for the
world of work, and build the skills they will need to succeed in their first jobs and beyond.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes, but we would not be able to increase the number of women the Mobile Career Center serves.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Our sustainability model for this program involves an aggressive fundraising program that includes corporate and foundation
grants and individual donations. Our organization remains fiscally sound, and our fundraising program continues to grow each
year. We seek to continue to expand our services to keep up with the increasing need for our services in our community, and
support from Gila River Indian Community will enable us to meet this demand.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
As part of our programming requirements, we collect data at every stage of involvement for a client, including how
many clients receive job interviews, job offers, promotions, and other quantitative measures. Quantitative and
qualitative data also includes conducting 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day evaluations with all clients, as well as satisfaction
surveys. We also gather testimonials from clients whose lives are changed as a result of our programming. Our
measurements and outcomes are published in our annual report each year. The impact of our program can also be
measured through the women we serve in their own words. One such story is below.

“My Journey:
I recently relocated to the Phoenix area. I was in a domestic violence environment where my 13-year-old daughter was
being molested. I had to provide a safe place for my children, so I left with the clothes on my back and we stayed with
relatives, sleeping from sofa to sofa. I want to be able to provide for my family so getting a job is a must. I needed some
assistance to prepare for my interview. I was referred to Dress for Success by UMOM. I was suited by a personal shopper
who picked a beautiful outfit for me. I love the color. It gave me a positive mind set and made me smile with confidence.
“I can do it.” I felt so good, I did not take it off. I left with my suit on. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. The staff was

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

great. I also received transportation and a cell phone to help me find employment. I left Dress for Success feeling
empowered.”
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Dress for Success Phoenix submitted a grant application to Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation in 2021 and received a $10,000
grant award. We have not submitted grant applications to any other tribe in the past 5 years.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries and Wages

$18,000
$64,902
$0
$82,902
2. Clothing
$5,000
$43,000
$0
$48,000
3. Occupancy
$0
$17,341
$0
$17,341
4. Professional Fees
$0
$14,400
$0
$14,400
5. Transportation
$0
$5,136
$0
$5,136
6. Employee Taxes and Benefits
$2,000
$2,725
$0
$4,725
7. Utilities
$0
$3,016
$0
$3,016
8. Miscellaneous
$0
$1,800
$0
$1,800
9. Insurance
$0
$1,325
$0
$1,325
10. Marketing
$0
$600
$0
$600
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$25,000
$154,245
$0
$179,245

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
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Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Salaries for two staff are required for this project. We are requesting $18,000 to pay for a portion of our Mobile Career
Center Coordinator and our Mobile Career Center Manager.
2. Clothing costs include professional wardrobe and accessory items that are needed to supplement the in-kind donations
that make up the bulk of our suiting program. We are requesting $5,000 to purchase clothing to provide to women/clients
served through this program.
3. Occupancy costs include storage and parking fees for the Mobile Unit truck and trailer.
4. Professional fees include payments to collaborating organizations for staff time (for joint programming events that also
serve men and boys).
5. Employee Taxes and Benefits are calculated in proportion to the amount of their salaries requested. We are requesting
$2,000 for this line item.
6. Utilities include internet service and support for the Mobile Career Center.
7. Miscellaneous costs include office supplies and refreshments for clients.
8. Insurance costs are calculated as a proportion of the total organization budget.
9. Marketing costs include outside printing and mailing expenses.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 1/26/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson St.
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom / Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Avondale Police Department
8. Select Organization Type: Municipality
 If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Stephen Alt Title: Sergeant
10. Phone Number: 623-333-7403
11. Mailing Address: 11485 W Civic Center Dr

12. City: Avondale
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85323
13. Email Address: salt@avondaleaz.gov
Website Address: www.avondaleaz.gov
Project Information
14. Project Name: Avondale Police Department handheld narcotics analyzer
15. Purpose of Grant: The City of Avondale Police Department Street Crimes Unit is requesting $27,850.00 to obtain a
handheld narcotics analyzer and on-site device training for up to twelve members of the Department. This is a
request to cover the one time cost for the purchase of the device, initial training, and start up supplies.
16. Priority Funding Area
Public Safety
17. Annual amount requested
$27,850.00
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$27,850.00
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
Yes the City of Avondale was awarded a one time amount of
$75,000 on 10/04/18 for Youth Employment and Small Business
Assistance.
21. Geographic area served
City of Avondale and surrounding Cities.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
This project would allow for a new way for narcotics testing for the Avondale Police Department. The
analysis/testing method used is called Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy has been a recognized
scientific technique used in laboratories and research for more than 40 years. In the last 10 years, advances in
technology have led to instruments that were increasingly portable, and, now handheld. Combined with easy
to use software, officers now have the ability to quickly identify seized drugs in the field. Raman spectroscopy
is an analysis technique recommended by the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs
(SWGDRUG), a group formed in 1997 by Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) & Office of National Drug Control
Policy (ONDCP) that is responsible for recommending standards for the forensic identification of commonly
seized drugs. The Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) latest recommendations
(July 2011) list Raman spectroscopy as “Category A”: an analytical technique with the highest potential
discriminating power for the analysis of controlled substances.
A handheld narcotics analyzer identifies the following types of drugs, which are the primary drugs of abuse,
narcotics such as heroin and oxycodone, stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine, depressants such
as clonazepam and diazepam, hallucinogens such as MDMA (ecstasy) and ketamine, muscle relaxants such as
carisoprodol, cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan, and many others. A handheld narcotics analyzer
also identifies chemicals that are some of the most frequently used precursors in the illicit manufacturing of
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. A handheld narcotics analyzer will also identify a wide array of
cutting agents.
The makers of handheld narcotics analyzers have indicated their support and continued development of this
product. The company has said they will continue to build and update the library. When a new substance of
interest (e.g. new designer street drug) is needed, the company the device is purchased from will work with
the City of Avondale Police Department to identify if it can be reliably added to the library. The company offers
a reach back service where we can email results for review by their scientists, and they have indicated
willingness to provide expert testimony to the technology if/when needed.
Some of the benefits of the project are as follows;
•
Officer Safety with non-contact, non-destructive sampling – The user can scan directly through plastic bags
or glass containers to minimize contamination, reduce exposure and preserve evidence for most substances.
This increases officer safety in the field and reduces potential contamination of the evidence. This method
also reduces the potential contamination of drugs being introduced to the officer via direct contact. There is
no need to open the packaging, handle the narcotic, or use up the narcotic for field-testing for most
substances.
•
Fast accurate, analysis of street drugs, precursors and cutting agents directly in the field
•
Provides a clear, readable and objective result, and does not require user interpretation.
•
Utilizes a proven scientific method for the analysis of seized drugs. The handheld drug detector utilizes
Raman spectroscopy, a ‘Category A’ (most discriminating/most reliable) analysis technique under
SWGDRUG. The handheld Raman spectroscopy drug identifier brings lab-proven technology to the field.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

•
Durability. – Rugged, splash-proof instrument is designed for field use.
•
Able to analyze the most common drugs of abuse including Cocaine HCL, Cocaine base, Methamphetamine,
MDMA (Ecstasy), Heroin, Fentanyl (17 variants), Ketamine, Oxycodone, BZP, GBL, GHB, PCP, Morphine and
many more.
•
Keep ahead of designer drug trends: identifies many synthetic cathinones (bath salts) and synthetic
cannabinoids. As new analogues of these drugs come to market, the drug identifier library can be updated
to include these new analogues.
•
Confirming precursors and cutting agents can help prove manufacture and/or distribution of a drug.
•
Reduces operating costs. Software and library updates are no charge for the life of the instrument. When
secondary confirmation is desired using colorimetric kits, only one test kit needs to be consumed.
•
Improved speed of prosecution / investigation by providing immediate analysis results. Real time analytical
Reach back support provides 24-hour response to unknown samples, providing the fastest recognition of
newly emerging drugs available or identification of substances not within the library.
•
Evidence integrity – Built on a closed loop system that cannot be manipulated by the user. Does not permit
the addition of materials, assuring all library items are lab-certified and traceable.
•
Raman spectroscopy drug identifier comes with easy-to-use PC software which automatically downloads all
scans from the device to a PC or laptop (via provided USB cable). All scans can be printed out for evidentiary
purpose or attachment to arrest record system. Rapid results combined with automated reports can
streamline the path to prosecution, reducing administrative burden and positively impacting the time and
expense of drug-related arrests.
•
Through use of the Raman spectroscopy drug identifier and preliminary drug examination reports,
organizations have seen a marked improvement in court efficiency and plea bargain rates. When a
defendant pleas out, the drug evidence is not sent to the state lab, reducing the number of samples
submitted. Fewer simple possession cases would be added to the backlog.
•
Increase the speed, efficiency and accuracy of prosecution. An increase in plea agreements before
indictment (PBIs) has been attributed to use of handheld drug identifier results and preliminary drug
examination reports prior to grand jury. The increase in pleas helps further streamline prosecution by
ensuring that offenders receive treatment and/or rehabilitation needed, or can begin repaying their debt to
the State more quickly.
•
Address laboratory backlog by eliminating nuisance cases and known benign substances from the processing
queue, allowing lab resources to focus on larger, more complex cases

The City of Avondale Police Department deployment plan is to provide the device to the Street Crimes Unit,
which handles most narcotics related cases and case filings with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, while
slowly training patrol units on its use. Once more patrol officers are trained in the handheld narcotics analyzer
function the device can further be deployed in the field with patrol division on a case by case basis.

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
This project satisfies the Public Safety priority of the Gila River Indian Community. Right now across America
there is an opioid related pandemic which crosses all economic, social, cultural, and geographical barriers.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Currently, as of the most recent Arizona Department of Health opioid report, the City of Avondale has a high
rate of opioid related incidents and deaths. This project allows for the Avondale Police Department to not
only protect the officers assigned to investigating these incidents by limiting exposures to unknown
substances, but it also allows for quicker and more successful prosecution of the individuals fueling the crisis
by supplying the drugs. This project is aiming high by not only providing this much needed tool internally but
offering to assist other surrounding agencies as needed. Through the continued teamwork among the west
valley cities this crisis can be lessened.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
Currently the City of Avondale Police Department uses presumptive, field colorimetric test kits, e.g., NIK kits.
Drawbacks to the current process are time, effort, cost, and officer safety. First, this testing method requires
the seized drug to make contact with testing chemicals/test pouches, and as such, can destroy what may be
little remaining evidence. Further, this method requires a separate test for each narcotic, and the process can
be messy and uses hazardous materials and glassware, which can result in chemical exposure or injury to the
officer. Results can have a high false alarm (false positive) rate, and must be subjectively interpreted by the
officer, is that dark blue or light blue? Also, a photo must be taken of each color result as color may change
over time. This method still requires analysis by the lab as NIK Kits are SWGDRUG ‘Category C’ (least
discriminating/least reliable). NIK kits have a limited shelf life and approximate annual cost of NIK kits is
$600.00.
With the procurement of a handheld narcotics analyzer the City of Avondale Police Department would have a
new testing method. This is an easy to use handheld, electronic device that tests for dozens of narcotics with a
single scan/test, again as above the current NIK method requires multiple tests. A handheld narcotics analyzer is
a non-destructive method so it will preserve any remaining evidence. A handheld narcotics analyzer is also non-
contact, it can identify through plastic bags, this allows officer to avoid contact with NIK kit
chemicals/glassware. A handheld narcotics analyzer provides a clear readable result and does not require officer
to interpret the color. All scan data & results are stored on the device, and are time and date stamped. A
handheld narcotics analyzer comes with easy to use PC software which automatically downloads all scans from
the device to a PC or laptop. All scans can be printed out in .jpg report form for evidentiary purpose or
attachment to arrest record system. This method uses Raman spectroscopy, a SWGDRUG ‘Category A’ (most
discriminating/most reliable) analysis technique.
The identified individuals who will benefit from this project are the officers assigned to the Avondale Police
Department in its entirety, the community members of Avondale and surrounding cities/agencies, and the

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Benefits will be in the form of officer safety, reduced crime in the
community, and successful prosecutions.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
GRIC has not previously funded this project. This will be a new project allowing for a more precise, safe,
efficient way to test unknown substances and know narcotics. Initially starting small with few trained the
project will continue to grow for years to come eventually reaching all corners of the department. While the
initial startup cost is large the maintenance and sustainability of the program is small. While monetarily after
the initial purchase the impact is small the over all impact of the project will be far reaching.

7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The timeline of this project is dependant on the awarding of the grant. Upon awarding of the grant monies a
purchase order for the handheld narcotics device would be made in order to obtain the device. Upon arrival
of the device training for the initial 12 officers could be requested and put into place within the first 2
months. After the initial officers have received training the device would begin being used immediately.
Further training will then be made available to other officers virtually at no cost. The initial 12 officers trained
on the device would act as the agency ambassadors in training the remaining officers.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
No other agencies would be directly partivipating in the project, but the device would be made available to
surrounding agencies who either do not have one themselves or need one for whatever reason through
internal agreements. This will allow for the device to be more readily available to all law enforcement
agencies in the Avondale area than in the past.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
No. We have reached out to our city for funds and our current budget does not afford us the opportunity for
this purchase.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
All maintenance related costs that are not covered by the grant will be paid for using
the City of Avondale Police Department narcotics funds. Additionally, the division will
be responsible for all software updates and the purchase of H test kits as needed. The
cost of H test kits is $610.00 and they are estimated to only have to be purchased
every 3 years. Since the narcotics field is continuously changing, the need for the
handheld narcotics analyzer device will persist. If the Gila River Indian Community can
facilitate the procurement of the device, the City of Avondale Police Department will
accept responsibility of all future costs that may be incurred to assure that this
valuable technology will be utilized frequently throughout the City of Avondale or
neighboring city’s upon request ensuring improved safety for all involved.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
The success of this program will be measured by the reduction of the use of the NIK test kits as
measured by the number of cases where the handheld narcotics analyzer device is used, the
reduction of potential officer exposures measured by exposure incidents, the number of further
requests sent by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for further drug analysis, and the number
of successful case filings measured by the Street Crimes Unit. The number of cases where the
handheld narcotics analyzer device is used is expected to increase over 90% of cases during the first
year of implementation and further years after with more training being made to larger groups of
officers.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

The City of Avondale was awarded the following amounts from the following tribes:

A one time amount of $25,000 on 07/03/18 for a traveling tap trailer, Public Works Department, from
Tohono O’odham Nation.

A one time amount of $75,000 on 10/04/18 for Youth Employment and Small Business Assistance, City of
Avondale Neighborhood and Family Serivces Department, from the Gila River Indian Community.

A one time amount of $16,629.50 on 10/15/19 for fire and medical barrier hoods, Avondale Fire Department,
from Tohono O’odham Nation.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: 10/01/21 – 09/30/22
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Handheld narcotic analyzer
$27,850.00
$0
$0
$27,850.00
2. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
3. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
4. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
5. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
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$0
$0
$0
$0
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$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$27,850.00
$0
$0
$27,850.00

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Requesting a one time purchase of a handheld narcotics analyzer which will come complete with initial training of 12
officers, a one year warranty, and a H-test kit start up. Cost of $27,850.00 includes tax and free shipping for company to
mail device to the Avondale Police Department.
2. Click here to enter text.
3. Click here to enter text.
4. Click here to enter text.
5. Click here to enter text.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
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15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022
For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
Approval – Amount/Term $
Denial
Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/10/2022
(NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 West Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@Maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Special Olympics Arizona, Inc.
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit
 If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Jim Van Wicklin Title: Chief Development & Marketing Officer
10. Phone Number: (602) 476 - 0844
11. Mailing Address: 2455 N Citrus Rd, Bldg. 64
12. City: Goodyear
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85395
13. Email Address: Jim@SpecialOlympicsArizona.org
Website Address: www.SpecialOlympicsArizona.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Special Olympics Inclusive Proramming in Maricopa County
15. Purpose of Grant: Funding from the Gila River Indian Community will support crucial health and wellness
programming that targets individuals with intellectual disabilities in Maricopa County.
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$30,000.00
18. Number of years that funding is requested
2
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$60,000.00
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
2011 - $60,000; 2017 - $5,000
Special Olympics Arizona was also grateful to receive a $20,000
sponsorship from Gila River Hotels & Casinos in 2021 for the Law
Enforcement Torch Run.
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022
2
Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1.
Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
In 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver began a summer day camp at her home in Maryland for children and
adults with intellectual disabilities. This camp was designed to allow these special individuals a chance to
explore their capabilities in a variety of sports and physical activities. The idea quickly took off, and in 1968
the first International Special Olympics took place at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, with 1,000 athletes from
the US and Canada competing in Track & Field and Swimming.
As the movement spread, the hard work and goodwill of Shriver’s efforts reached Arizona in 1975. The
first Special Olympics Arizona competition consisted of a one-day Track & Field event with 100 athletes and
20 volunteers. Today Special Olympics Arizona, and independent 501(c)(3) organization accredited by Special
Olympics International has grown to 21 sports, 675 regional competitions, and 4 statewide competitions for
21,461 athletes and 24,743 volunteers annually. Special Olympics Arizona also provides health and leadership
programs for people of all abilities and ages, as well as a variety of inclusive activities that aim to capture the
interests of Special Olympics athlete statewide and increase inclusion throughout their communities. Special
Olympics Arizona works to realize founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s vision: to improve the lives of people
with intellectual disabilities everywhere and transform the lives of everyone they touch – building a better,
more accepting world for all.
The mission of Special Olympics Arizona is to provide year-round sports training and athletic
competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving
them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and
participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and
the community. Our goal is to empower the over 180,000 Arizonans with intellectual disabilities to be
healthy, productive, and respected members of society through SOAZ’s year-round sports training,
competitions, and support programs.
2.
To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Headquartered in Maricopa County, Special Olympics Arizona has a long history of support from county
leaders, departments, and initiatives. This has included program partnerships, collaborations, in-kind
contributions, grants, and other forms of funding and support for local inclusive school- and community-
based programs since our founding in 1975. Most recently, Special Olympics Arizona received a $200,000
grant from Maricopa County in support of local inclusive programming in our shared communities. Maricopa
County has agreed to support Special Olympics Arizona’s grant request to the Gila River Indian Community as
outlined in the requirements of funding through Proposition 202. Maricopa County will continue to support
Special Olympics Arizona’s inclusive programs county-wide as we serve individuals both with and without
intellectual disabilities in our shared community.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
As an organization that seeks to empower people with intellectual disabilities (ID) to achieve their
personal best in all aspects of life, Special Olympics provides an opportunity for people with ID to
demonstrate excellence, improve their physical fitness, and create relationships through sports. Special
Olympics Arizona provides opportunities for athletes to participate in a variety of Olympic-style sports in a
seasonal format. Each season consists of eight weeks of practice with their local community delegation
followed be regional- and state-level competition. Unified Sports follows the same model but provides an
opportunity for Special Olympics athletes (with ID) to train and compete side by side with Unified partners
(peers without ID). Unified Sports creates a space where the fun and friendship of sport increases social
competence, inclusion, and respect for individuals of all abilities.
Knowing that sports and health go hand-in-hand, Special Olympics Arizona is also committed to
improving health outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities through inclusive health screenings
and education. Special Olympics Arizona provides free health screenings in a fun, welcoming environment
with a focus on removing the anxiety people with intellectual disabilities often experience when faced with a
visit to a medical professional. The professional training and hands-on experience at screenings also benefits
health care students and professionals who are able to increase knowledge of best practices in caring for
people with intellectual disabilities through their volunteer commitments. These screenings typically take
place at Special Olympics Arizona’s regional and state competitions where athletes are already gathered
together in a fun and exciting environment.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Special Olympics Arizona’s inclusive health education resource, Healthy LEAP into Fitness, allows
athletes and partners to experience increased physical activity, improved daily nutrition, heightened social
engagement, and better emotional well-being through a series of age-appropriate resources, lessons, and
activities. Participant and coach guidebooks allow participating teams to implement these opportunities for
inclusive health education and engagement at a pace relevant to their team to enhance their participation in
sports activities by promoting a healthy lifestyle off the playing field.
In effort to create communities of health, safety, and inclusion for individuals of all abilities, Special
Olympics Arizona also partners with local Law Enforcement agencies through the Law Enforcement Torch
Run (LETR). LETR plays a vital role in the lead-up to Special Olympics Arizona’s state competitions. By
participating in a series of runs in which agencies carry the Special Olympics Torch, participating law
enforcement officers and agencies help to raise awareness and funds for the movement. Their role in
Opening Ceremonies at state competitions holds great significance as they participate alongside Special
Olympics Arizona athletes for the great honor of lighting the cauldron.
However, LETR is much more than just a run; it is a year-round campaign to raise awareness and
support for Special Olympics Arizona. Special Olympics Arizona hosts an annual LETR Conference for law
enforcement involved in the inclusive movement for individuals with disabilities in our shared community.
The LETR Conference aims to celebrate, educate, support, and promote inclusion among law enforcement
agencies and officers throughout Arizona by educating law enforcement about Special Olympics Airozna
programs and services, training law enforcement about safely and positively engaging with individuals with
disabilities, and providing resources to support law enforcement mental health. This conference effectively
educates, empowers, and activates community leaders in their service to the health, safety, and inclusion of
individuals with disabilities.
Special Olympics Arizona has a dedicated staff to implement these programs county-wide. This includes
individuals who oversee sports and competition, implement inclusive health initiatives, coordinate LETR
efforts, and provide regional oversight in Maricopa County. A robust network of 1,000 Maricopa County
volunteers who serve as delegation heads, coaches, clinical directors, event organizers and support, and fans
in the stands truly make these programs shine, ensuring that Special Olympics Arizona athletes have an
experience on par with any other professional sporting organization.
With support from the Gila River Indian Community, Special Olympics Arizona will implement inclusive
programming in Maricopa County with the following objectives:

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

1. Engage a minimum of 6,500 Maricopa County athletes in inclusive sports and health programming
each year of the grant period.
2. Provide a minimum of 1,500 health screenings to athletes at state competitions held in Maricopa
County each year of the grant period.
3. Recruit a minimum of 250 new Maricopa County volunteers during the grant period.
4. Engage a minimum of 1,000 Maricopa County Law enforcement officers in inclusive training,
awareness building, and competition support each year of the grant period.

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
The proposed project satisfies the Gila River Indian Community’s priority funding area of healthcare.
Special Olympics Arizona’s inclusive sports and health programming work hand-in-hand to promote healthy
behaviors, increase opportunities for recreational activities that promote physical fitness for athletes with ID,
and provide health education. In addition, these programs are offered to local schools. School-based Unified
Sports teams enhance the school experience for students with ID and provide opportunities for them to
increase their health and fitness while building friendships and a sense of belonging on campus. Inclusive
training provided to local law enforcement and their subsequent involvement in Special Olympics Arizona’s
events encourage more inclusive communities that support the health and safety of individuals with
disabilities.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
In Arizona, 13.3% of individuals have some type of disability. It is estimated that 120,000 of those
individuals have a developmental disability (ID), which commonly includes limitations in cognitive
functioning and skills such as communication, social, and self-care skills, typically manifesting before a child
turns 18 years old. Like neurotypical individuals, those with intellectual disabilities face difficulties
throughout their lives—however, these difficulties are often compounded by the presence of their disability.
Individuals with disabilities are known to face disparities in health, including a higher prevalence of
adverse health conditions, less access to health-promotion programs, inadequate attention to care needs,
and inadequate access to quality health care services. In fact, individuals with ID have as many chronic
health conditions at 20 years old as individuals in the general population do at 50 years old, experiencing life

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

expectancies that are 20 years lower than the general population. Findings from Special Olympics and
National Core Indicators echo these disparities. Arizona surveys of adults with intellectual disabilities
indicate that 15% have cardiovascular disease, 16% have diabetes, 24% have high blood pressure, 29% have
high cholesterol, and 10% have oral health or dental problems. Special Olympics adult athletes are also two
times more likely to be obese compared to adults without intellectual disabilities. Specific to Arizona, SOAZ
health screenings have found that 70.3% of athletes are overweight or obese, 65.4% have a gait
abnormality, 33.1% have obvious, untreated tooth decay, 32% have low bone density, 25.1% have an eye
disease, and 20.1% fail a hearing test. Since individuals with intellectual disabilities aren’t inherently
unhealthy, the prevalence of these preventable and/or treatable health conditions also indicate disparities
beyond the health status of this population alone.
Research demonstrates that physical activity improves motor skill development, muscular strength,
immune system functioning, sleep patterns, and diet. Physical activity can also improve health outcomes by
reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer—conditions for which individuals with
disabilities are often at increased risk. Special Olympics is the ultimate prescription, with inclusive sports
providing opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) to get active and live healthier lifestyles
through activities that too often have barriers to their participation in their communities.
A simple online search shows countless unfortunate incidents between law enforcement and individuals
with disabilities. Disability communities often have negative perceptions of law enforcement due to less
than ideal or limited interactions and misunderstanding between both groups. Although training about
intellectual disabilities among law enforcement has improved in recent years, this does not compare to the
impact of direct interaction with the population that participating with the Law Enforcement Torch Run can
provide. Many law enforcement agencies have become strong champions for inclusion through their
involvement with Special Olympics and continue to bridge the gap between communities.
The benefits of Special Olympics extend beyond physical wellbeing. According to a study examining
psychosocial outcomes, people with ID who are involved in Special Olympics sports demonstrate increased
ability to adapt to stressors. In another study, Special Olympics athletes show increased levels of self-
esteem, self-worth, and social inclusion. Fostering increased inclusion and improved well-being, Special
Olympics acts as a catalyst for change, increasing awareness of ID and subsequently, the acceptance of
people with ID, creating healther, safer, and more inclusive communities.
With support from the Gila River Indian Community, SOAZ will impact a minimum of 6,500 Special
Olympics athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and Unified partners (individuals without
disabilities) of all ages in Maricopa County throughout the grant period while engaging 1,000 local law
enforcement officers and 250 new local volunteers.

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

This is a continuing program. The Gila River Indian Commnity has previously funded Special Olympics
Arizona’s Unified Champion Schools program ($5,000 in 2017) which aims to promote inclusion on school
campuses through four pillars: Unified Sports, Inclusive Youth Leadership, Whole School Engagement, and
Inclusive Health. Although participants in the Unified Champion Schools program are involved in inclusive
sports and health programming, this project does not specifically focus on the Unified Champion Schools
program previously funded.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
Special Olympics Arizona anticipates start and finish dates of October 15, 2022 through October 14, 2024 if a
two year grant period is approved. The general timeline of events, as indicated below, is not flexible as it aligns
with the school year and Special Olympics Arizona’s schedule of sports seasons. However, start and end dates of
the grant period are flexible and will support continuing programming that falls into that range.
October 2022
Project Start; End of Fall Season; Regional competitions; State Fall Games (Swimming,
Bocce, Softball, Healthy Athletes screenings)
November 2022
Regional competitions; Start of Winter Season (Soccer, Floorball, Basketball,
Cheerleading, Flag Football)
December 2022
Winter Season continues, Regional competitions; Training for healthy LEAP into Fitness
to be implemented in Spring Season
January 2023
Winter Season continues, Regional competitions
February 2023
Winter Season continues, Regional competitions
March 2023
End of Winter Season; Regional Competitions; State Basketball & Cheerleading
Competition (Healthy Athletes screenings); Start of Spring Season (Track & Field,
Volleyball);
April 2023
Spring Season continues; Regional competitions; Torch Run events begin
May 2023
End of Spring Season; State Summer Games (Healthy Athletes screenings); Torch Run
events continue, culminating at Summer Games; Regional competitions; End of school
year
June 2023
Break from sporting events during Summer Season; Virtual esports tournaments;
Outreach for 2023-2024 season
July 2023
Break from sporting events during Summer Season; Virtual esports tournaments;
Outreach for 2023-2024 season

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

August 2023
School year begins; Training for Healthy LEAP into Fitness to be implemented through
Fall and Winter; Start of Fall Season (Swim, Softball, Bocce, Golf, Bowling); Law
Enforcement Torch Run Annual Conference; Regional competitions
September 2023
Fall Season continues; Regional competitions
October 2023
End of Fall Season; Regional competitions; State Fall Games (Swimming, Bocce, Softball,
Healthy Athletes screenings)
November 2023
Regional Bowling competitions; Start of Winter Season (Soccer, Floorball, Basketball,
Cheerleading, Flag Football)
December 2023
Winter Season continues, Regional competitions; Training for healthy LEAP into Fitness
to be implemented in Spring Season
January 2024
Winter Season continues, Regional competitions
February 2024
Winter Season continues, Regional competitions
March 2024
End of Winter Season; Regional Competitions; State Basketball & Cheerleading
Competition (Healthy Athletes screenings); Start of Spring Season (Track & Field,
Volleyball);
April 2024
Spring Season continues; Regional competitions; Torch Run events begin
May 2024
End of Spring Season; State Summer Games (Healthy Athletes screenings); Torch Run
events continue, culminating at Summer Games; Regional competitions; End of school
year
June 2024
Break from sporting events during Summer Season; Virtual esports tournaments;
Outreach for 2024-2025 season
July 2024
Break from sporting events during Summer Season; Virtual esports tournaments;
Outreach for 2024-2025 season
August 2024
School year begins; Training for Healthy LEAP into Fitness to be implemented through
Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons; Start of Fall Season (Swim, Softball, Bocce, Golf,
Bowling); Law Enforcement Torch Run Annual Conference; Regional competitions
September 2024
Fall Season continues; Regional competitions
October 2024
End of Fall Season; Regional competitions; State Fall Games (Swimming, Bocce, Softball,
Healthy Athletes screenings); End of 2 year grant period
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Special Olympics Arizona collaborates with the following organizations, partners, and funders in support
of inclusive sports and health programming in Maricopa County:

Arizona Interscholastic Association – supports sanctioned interscholastic Unified Sports in Arizona high
schools participating in the Unified Champion Schools program.
Thunderbirds Charities – Provides grant funding and volunteers for state competitions held in Maricopa
County
Maricopa County – Provides grant funding to support inclusive programs in Maricopa County
May & Stanley Charitable Trust – Provides grant funding to support Unified Sports
Special Olympics International – provides funding, resources, guidelines, and support for locally implemented
inclusive programs
A.T. Still University – provides student volunteers and clinical direction for Healthy Athletes screenings
Midwestern University – Provides student volunteers and clinical direction for Healthy Athletes screenings
Mercy Care – provides funding and volunteer support for Healthy Athletes screenings at state competitions
United HealthCare – provides funding and support through a sponsorship for Healthy LEAP into Fitness

Various schools and community programs (often tied to cities or recreation centers) also work with
Special Olympics Arizona to support programming in Maricopa County. They provide volunteers, coaches,
facilities, and other resources that contribute to the success of inclusive programs in our shared community.
Special Olympics Arizona also works with law enforcement departments county-wide for LETR support.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes, Special Olympics Arizona would continue to implement the proposed plan if only partial funding for
this project was received. However, the availablity of some resources and/or supplies that make the project
possible may be limited, restricting the number of individuals able to be engaged or the number of activities
that are offered. Staff would continue to seek out additional sources of support through funding, in-kind
contributions, and volunteers to do our best to ensure that participation is not limited and continues to
remain free of charge for all participants.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Ensuring programmatic financial sustainability continues to be a priority for Special Olympics Arizona.
Our development team works year round to secure financial and other forms of support through, grants,
sponsorships, fundraisers, in-kind contributions, and more. The programs team also supports these efforts by
working with community partners to secure partnerships, resources, and facilities while also working with
school- and community-based delegations who implement our programs to support their self-sustainability
plans. Often, this includes helping to build inclusive programs into their school or department budgets.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Special Olympics Arizona utilizes a variety of tools to document progress and results. The Games
Management System (GMS) tracks all athlete registrations and participation in competitions. Programs staff
track participation in health screenings and education opportunities year-round. Special Olympics Arizona
also gathers information from pre- and post-surveys, seeks input from regional athlete councils, and
conducts internal analysis after events to track measurable goals and inform future planning.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Year
Tribe

Applied for

Status
2019
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
$5,000 for Unified Champion Schools
Declined
2018
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
$5,000 for Unified Champion Schools
Declined
2017
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
$5,000 for Unified Champion Schools
Declined

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: October 2022-October 2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Facility Rental
$5,000
$62,500
$1,000
$68,500
2. Meals
$7,500
$28,010
$0
$35,510
3. Professional Fees
$1,500
$1,500
$0
$3,000
4. Health Screening Supplies
$0
$9,000
$0
$9,000
5. Event Supplies
$1,000
$11,350
$0

$12,350
6. Awards
$0
$19,375
$0
$19,375
7. Officials
$0
$27,000
$0
$27,000
8. Sports Equipment & Uniforms
$10,000
$52,704
$0
$62,704
9. Volunteer Expense
$5,000
$8,750
$0
$13,750
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$30,000
$220,189
$1,000
$251,189

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022
12
Project Budget
Budget Period: October 2023-October 2024
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.
Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Facility Rental
$5,000
$62,500
$1,000
$68,500
2. Meals
$7,500
$28,010
$0
$35,510
3. Professional Fees
$1,500
$1,500
$0
$3,000
4. Health Screening Supplies
$0
$9,000
$0
$9,000
5. Event Supplies
$1,000
$11,350
$0
$12,350
6. Awards
$0
$19,375
$0
$19,375
7. Officials
$0
$27,000
$0
$27,000
8. Sports Equipment & Uniforms
$10,000
$52,704
$0
$62,704
9. Volunteer Expense
$5,000
$8,750
$0
$13,750
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$30,000
$220,189
$1,000
$251,189

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022
13
Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Facility Rental: Facility rental to host LETR conference (includes conference room ($1,000) and audio visual services
($1,500) = $2,500; Facility rental for State Competitions held in Maricopa County (State Basketball & Cheer = $10,400;
Summer Games = $2,000; Fall Games = $2,500); Local facility rental for Maricopa County team practices and regional
competitions = $51,100)
TOTAL: $68,500 each year
2. Meals: $16/breakfast + $26/lunch x 150 attendees @ LETR Conference = $6,300; $5/meal x 5,842 total meals @ all
regional/state competitions held in Maricopa County = $29,210
TOTAL: $25,510 each year
3. Professional Fees: LETR Conference guest speaker fees @ $1,500/speaker x 2 speakers = $3,000
TOTAL: $3,000
each year
4. Health Screening Supplies: Supplies to support Healthy Athletes screenings in 8 health disciplines at Maricopa County
events, including Tongue Depressors, Stress Balls, gloves, resistance bands, hand sanitizer, floss, mouth mirrors,
toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. = $9,000
TOTAL: $9,000 each year
5. Event Supplies: LETR Conference Attendee Bag (includes notebooks, shirt, pen, waterbottle, etc) @ $25/bag x 150
bags = $3,750; Practice & Sports competition supplies (includes water/ice, clipboards, whistles, court tape, event
signage, cones, pylons, trash cans, porta-potties, etc.) = $8,600
TOTAL: $12,350 each year
6. Awards: $2/medal x 8,000 medals (gold, siver, & bronze) = $16,000; $.50/ribbon x 4,750 ribbons (1-10th place) =
$2,375; 30 LETR Agency awards = $1,000
TOTAL: $19,375 each year
7. Officials: $200/day of competition x 135 competition days throughout the year in Maricopa County = $2,700
TOTAL: $27,000 each year
8. Sports Equipment & Uniforms: $60/uniform x 600 uniforms = $36,000; $26,704 in sports equipment, including for
soccer, floorball, basketball, cheerleading, flag football, track and field, volleyball, swim, softball, bocce, golf, and
bowling)

TOTAL: $62,704 each year
9. Volunteer Expense: $6.50/shirt x 1,500 Torch Run shirts = $9,750; $5/shirt x 800 Healthy Athletes volunteer shirts =
$4,000
TOTAL: $13,750 each year
10. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022
14
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

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Application: Positive Family Coaching Program
- Behavioral Health Technician
Christopher Tiffany - christophert@raisingspecialkids.org
Gila River Indian Community (GRIC)
Summary
ID: GRIC-8780644684
Last submitted: Feb 9 2022 02:11 PM (MST)
Labels: Gila River Indian Community
Upload Electronic Application
Completed - Feb 9 2022
Please upload the electronic version of your organization's grant application. Each tribe has different
application requirements, so please refer to the infomation provided in the email confirming reciept
of your organization's Intent to Apply.
FINAL 2022 RSK GRIC Grant Application
Filename: FINAL_2022_RSK_GRIC_Grant_Applicat_k4pn9Hd.pdf Size: 271.3 kB
Non-Profit Status
Completed - Feb 9 2022
Please upload a copy of the organization’s IRS determination confirming non-profit or like status.
RSK - IRS Tax-Exempt Determination Letter
Filename: RSK_-_IRS_Tax-Exempt_Determination_hOkTBb2.pdf Size: 904.6 kB

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/8/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 West Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Raising Special Kids (RSK)
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Christopher Tiffany Title: Executive Director
10. Phone Number: 602-242-4366
11. Mailing Address: 5205 East Washington Street #204
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85034
13. Email Address: christophert@raisingspecialkids.org Website Address: www.raisingspecialkids.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Positive Family Coaching Program – Behavioral Health Technician
15. Purpose of Grant: Provide Behavioral Health Support for Families of Children with Disabilities and Special Health
Care Needs
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$50,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$50,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
No, Raising Special Kids has not received funding from GRIC in the
past.
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
Raising Special Kids’ (RSK) mission is to improve the lives of children with the full range of disabilities, from birth to
age 26, by providing support, training, information, and individual assistance so families can become effective advocates
for their children. Raising Special Kids strengthens families and systems of care to improve outcomes for children with
disabilities and special health care needs. Our programs are available in English and Spanish and are offered at no cost to
families.
RSK began in 1979 as a grassroots effort of families, professionals, and community leaders determined to provide
support and information for parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. Today, we serve as
Arizona’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center, and as Arizona’s Parent Training and Information Center, helping
parents access information about health care, community resources, and support so they can make informed decisions
regarding their children’s care. We support thousands of Arizona families each year through our programs and services.
Credo of Family Support:
o We believe that experienced families are a key source of knowledge and support to help new parents become
effective advocates for their children.
o We believe that professionals are important allies for families. The shared wisdom, counsel, respect, and support
creates enhanced positive outcomes for children.
o We value diversity and celebrate our commitment to serving families in many forms.
o We believe in supporting the role of the family in establishing public policy, and promoting public awareness
related to families dealing with disabilities.
o We believe that parents who model effective self-advocacy encourage a child’s pursuit of his or her own dreams.
Raising Special Kids fields more than 11,000 calls each year from parents of children with disabilities and special
health care needs, from all regions of the state. More than 30% of inquiries come from parents seeking assistance
managing their child’s behaviors. Managing challenging behavior can be stressful. But the behavior indicates there is a
problem in learning and not in the person.
Our core services for families include:
o Assistance and support at all ages and stages of your child’s development for birth to age 26.
o Individual problem-solving support to understand and access the programs, health plan, and services your child may
need.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

o Accurate, authoritative information related to your child’s disability or special health condition.
o Special education consultations, training, and problem resolution.
o Parent-to-parent connections with a trained parent “mentor” who has a child with a similar diagnosis and is skilled
at providing information and support.
o Workshops and training geared to increase advocacy skills and improve the ability to work with professionals on
your child’s educational and medical needs.
o Referrals to agencies, organizations, and community resources with expertise to meet your family’s needs.
RSK’s core services for professionals include:
o A Physician Training program which includes a visit to the home of a child with a disability through our Family
Faculty network.
o A program designed for pre-service teachers in regular and special education related to special education services,
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Section 504s.
o In-Service Training for professionals in education, health, or social services.
By helping parents become more effective advocates for their children, RSK upholds the belief that experienced
families are a key source of knowledge and support to help parents acquire essential skills in advocating for needs,
services, education, and health care for their children.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

● An increased confidence and competence in implementing evidence-based interventions.
● Increased knowledge of early intervention and early childhood educational settings.
● Increased access to the health care system to meet the needs of their child(ren) with a disability.
● Increased number of partnerships with professionals in the treatment and education of their child.
Throughout COVID-19, the past several school years have been drastically different than in previous years, with students
participating in shortened school days, hybrid approaches with on-campus and distance learning instruction, or
continuing the distance learning only model developed in March-May of 2020. There is a heavy reliance on
parent/family participation to facilitate online and virtual learning platforms, which critically impacts families who have
children with developmental disabilities. Children are physically at home and with their families significantly more,
which makes the behavioral health care support proposed in this project even more critical for families. Mental health
issues have become increasingly more prevalent in both parents and children, along with increased rates of depression
caused by many different factors, including social isolation.
Children with significant developmental disabilities and special health care needs and their families have also
experienced a drastic change in delivery of home and community-based services administered by the Arizona
Department of Economic Security, Division of Developmental Disabilities, and Arizona’s Early intervention Program.
Home visitations by home and community-based therapy providers have decreased drastically, and, as a result, parents
and families are temporarily allowed to fill the role of paid provider of services for their child. Behavioral health care
support is decreasing during a time when the need is increasing. Our Positive Family Coaching program is helping meet
this need. At this time, we are seeking support to increase the capacity to serve additional children and families in
Mariocpa County by hiring an additional Behavioral Health Technician.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
This project will address two priority funding areas identified by the Gila River Indian Community, Health Care and
Education. RSK’s programs are unique due to our 42-year history of providing service to children with developmental
disabilities in Arizona. We have long-standing relationships with local schools and medical care facilities.
This program will build capacity to enhance parents’ and caregivers’ skills in advocating effectively for, and securing,
educational and health services that will ultimately lead to better physical and mental health and education outcomes,
as well as enhancing future independent living outcomes. Behavioral Health Technicians will work closely with families
to help them navigate the health care and education systems. This is an important and critical piece of this program.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
The CDC reports 1 in 6 children living in the U.S. has at least one developmental disability. Developmental disabilities
include Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder,
moderate to profound hearing loss, blindness, seizures, and Cerebral Palsy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families of

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

children with behavioral health needs have reported an increased level of stress and uncertainty, which has led to an
increase in challenging behaviors for families of these children. The anxiety of change in schedules and the
unpredictability of each day contributes to these challenging behaviors, and parents are desperately seeking additional
and targeted intervention, training, and strategies to manage these uncharted waters. Managing challenging behavior
can be stressful, but our philosophy that behavior indicates there is a problem in learning and not in the person helps
guide parents toward positive, evidence-based intervention strategies. The requested funding will enhance RSK’s
capacity to meet the needs of families with children who have behavioral health needs in Maricopa County. Funding will
support the salary for a 1.0 FTE Behavioral Health Technician devoted specifically to eligible families in Maricopa County.
The Behavioral Health Technician will work with approximately 100 families over the grant term, and annually
thereafter.
The proposed Behavioral Health Technician will be responsible for the following:
• Behavioral Health Technician - Assess strengths and needs of families, identify issues, and determine priority status for
immediate action. Adhere to treatment plan for family and collaborate the member’s team (CFT, Education,
Professionals, etc.) to carry out the plan with the family. Develop relationship with state agencies, schools, community
organizations, professionals, hospitals, universities, and others to increase knowledge, collaboration, and stakeholder
involvement.
• Family Support - Provide services in-person and virtually in various community environments (family home, schools,
and other public settings) when needed.
• Training and Self-advocacy - Through consultation, training, and workshops, assist with providing the knowledge, skills,
and understanding of system navigation and access to various systems of care, public programs, special education,
problem resolution, evaluating options, understanding rights, filing appeals, using effective strategies for resolving
conflict, and collaborating with professionals.
• Current and Reliable Resources - Provide high-quality sources of information on disability issues, care providers,
childcare, meeting basic needs, early intervention, special education, youth transition, and locating community
programs and services for appropriate referrals and follow-up.
This program is unique because it focuses on families struggling to navigate multiple systems of health care who have a
child, or children, with multiple disabilities. The expansion of the Positive Family Coaching Program will benefit Maricopa
County families with children who have a disability or other health care need by providing individualized support and
training to build each family’s capacity to facilitate positive behavior management. Improving behavior management
techniques will reduce the overall stress of the child and family unit, strengthen the family unit, improve quality of life,
and optimize the opportunity for children to become the best versions of themselves possible.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This is an existing program. We have not received GRIC funding in the past.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
We propose funding from 11/01/2022 – 10/31/2023. The timeline is flexible and can be adjusted to match
the grant funding year.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Raising Special Kids has established long-standing relationships with school districts, head start programs, and
therapy providers who are located in, and serve residents throughout Maricopa County. Funds will be leveraged to
promote the program and identify parents and families that need, would benefit from, and want to participate in the
program.

RSK has ongoing partnerships with many agencies, such as the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of
Developmental Disabilities (DDD), Arizona’s Early Intervention Program (AzEIP), the Rehabilitation Services
Administration/Vocational Rehabilitation (RSA/VR), Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Department of
Education, Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System (AHCCCS – Arizona’s Medicaid program), Children’s
Rehabilitation Services, Arizona Center for Disability Law, Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, and First
Things First, Arizona’s birth to five initiative. These entities currently support projects or collaboration activities with
Raising Special Kids and comprise a statewide referral network of over 300 organizations.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
If partial funding were received for this project, the number of families we serve in Maricopa County would decrease
based on the amount received.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

We will also begin to bill insurance for our services, which will add an additional, consistent source of revenue moving
forward. RSK is now certified as a Community Service Agency, which will transform our sustainability model dramatically.
This certification enables us to receive payment for services through Medicaid, creating an entirely new funding stream
for services we have provided for years. This is a process and will take time to fully implement. One year of grant funding
will provide salary support while this process is implemented.
This program has not been previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Evaluation methods include in-person evaluation forms and electronic surveys. Evaluation tools are created to address
the needs of reading levels and preferred language for optimal ease of use by parents and youth with disabilities. RSK
utilizes formative evaluation to provide program staff with ongoing feedback for program implementation and
modifications, and summative evaluation for periodic reviews of progress on major program goals and objectives.
Tools evaluate:
● An increased level of confidence and competence in implementing evidence-based interventions.
● Increased knowledge of early intervention and early childhood educational settings.
● Receiving access to the health care system to meet the needs of their child(ren) with a disability.
● Partnering with professionals in the treatment and education of their child.

12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Last year, Raising Special Kids submitted Gila River Indian Community application for our Navigating Health Care and
Education Systems program in the City of Mesa, but it was not funded. We did receive funding from Fort McDowell
Indian Community in 20/21 and 21/22 in the amounts of $7,000 and $15,000 respectively, and funding from the Ak Chin
Indian Community in 20/21 and 21/22 in the amounts of $20,000 and $50,000 respectively. Funding for Fort McDowell
Indian Community and from Ak Chin Indian Community were for support of Triple P Positive Parenting Program and
Navigating Healthcare and Education Systems Programs.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: 11/01/2022 – 10/31/2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Personnel
$50,000
$0
$0
$50,000
2. ERE
$0
$5,000
$0
$ 5,000
3. Travel
$0
$1,000
$0
$ 1,000
4. Supplies
$0
$ 500
$0
$ 500
5. Phone/Internet
$0
$1,200
$0
$ 1,200
6. Administrative Costs
$0
$4,847
$0
$ 4,847
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$50,000
$12,547
$0
$62,547

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Personnel $50,000: 1.0 FTE Behavioral Health Technician
2. ERE $5,000: Employee Related Expenses: Calculated at 10% of salary for health insurance @ 80% of premium, 403(b)
retirement, work/comp, FICA, Medicare, Payroll Management Fees
3. Travel $1,000: 149miles/mo x 12mo @ 0.56/mile
4. Supplies $500: office supplies $41.70/mo x 12mo = $500
5. Phone/Internet $1,200: VOIP phone system - $800/yr/per person x 1.0FTE plus $400/yr for internet
6. Administrative Costs $4,847: Federal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate 8.4%
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PedrcentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Arouet Foundation
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Alison Rapping Title: Chief Executive Officer
10. Phone Number: 480-660-5714
11. Mailing Address: 4340 E. Indian School Road, Suite 21-499
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85018
13. Email Address: arapping@arouetempowers.org
Website Address: https://arouetempowers.org/
Project Information
14. Project Name: Arouet Workforce Program
15. Purpose of Grant: Arouet’s Workforce Program helps women successfully reenter society after incarceration. Our
program provides supports related to basic needs, workforce development, and peer mentoring.
16. Priority Funding Area
Economic Development
17. Annual amount requested
$25,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
2
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$50000
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
No
21. Geographic area served
The Phoenix metro region (Maricopa County) is our primary
service area. We also offer the program virtually for women who
live outside of the county’s boundaries.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
HISTORY AND MISSION: Arouet was founded in 2011, and for more than 10 years has served as a community-based,
second-chance movement supporting women as they start over and seek to succeed in life post-incarceration. For these
women just released from prison, having positive community support such as housing and employment, is essential to
their ability to adjust and continue as contributing members of their communities. Our mission is to restore these
individuals, rebuild families, and positively impact communities by offering comprehensive workforce and reentry
support services.
GOALS: Without a strong support system, newly released women are at higher risk of returning to prison, also known as
recidivism. The goal of Arouet’s Workforce Program is to help these women by focusing on three key areas: 1)
preparation andrelease,2) workforce, and 3) peer mentoring. Our bundled services address their complex short- and
long-term needs. These include immediate support for basic needs assistance (e.g., transportation, connections to
shelters/housing, clothing, and peer support), as well as services for their long-term stability (e.g., coaching on financial
literacy and budgeting, career preparation, and family reunification).
We have provided career planning services to more than 1,500 justice-involved women. Our program participants have
a low recidivism rate of 6-7% in comparison to Arizona’s average of 39%. And while many of our nonprofit and business
partners reduced operations or closed entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we redesigned our post-release services
and successfully restructured them to be delivered virtually when necessary.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Since the inception of our program, Arouet has partnered with the State of Arizona (both with the Arizona Department
of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry and the Department of Economic Security) to offer our programming in the
Perryville Correctional Facility, which is located in Goodyear. More recently, we have begun working with Maricopa
County, which has provided financial and partnership support for the program, to begin offering our program in
Maricopa County jails. Our staff is currently completing the security protocols that will enable us to offer our programs
and resources in their jails. Maricopa County supports our mission to help these women find employment and secure
their basic needs during their job search. Having a partnership with the County presents us with ongoing opportunities
to expand our services and to talk about criminal justice reform and clarify common misconceptions that surround
justice-involved women.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
PROJECT: The Arouet Workforce Program facilitates women re-entering society following incarceration by helping them
create financial stability for themselves and their families. We support these women by leveraging their strengths and
aiding them in building productive, successful lives. Through this project, women can move away from the conditions
that perpetuate problem issues (e.g., violence) in communities across Maricopa County. The Workforce Program
includes 1) pre-release re-entry education and support, 2) Opportunity Center employment services and financial
counseling, and 3) peer and professional mentoring and coaching. With this proposal, we respectfully request $25,000
for two years (a total of $50,000) to support the work of this program.
OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTATION: The overarching goal of the Arouet Workforce Program is to guarantee a successful
re-entry for justice-involved women. Through receipt of this grant, Arouet aims to:
1) Reduce recidivism: Women take our Foundations for Freedom class to build positive coping skills, set goals, and
receive an introduction to the program’s Opportunity Center and mentorship services. Once released, women receive
transportation assistance to safely reach post-release housing and are provided with essentials to meet their basic
needs (e.g., food, health care, clothing, and bus passes). Program participants typically work with a peer mentor who
eases their re-entry and guides them through the first 30-90 days of their release as they work on a basic plan (e.g.,
getting ID, benefits, clothing). The peer mentors, who were also formerly incarcerated themselves, check-in regularly
with participants to make sure they are meeting their goals and provided support during the challenging transition.

2) Increase the number of women who complete job training and secure and maintain employment with a sustainable
wage: Opportunity Center Coaches counsel on how to conduct successful job searches with a criminal background
and how to prepare application documents (e.g., resumes, cover letters, and letters of explanation). They also
conduct mock interviews and share partner job openings. With support from their coaches, participants work on
meeting their professional and/or educational goals over the course of 3-12 months. In addition, Arouet uses
TalentLMS as a digital platform to deliver learning content, particularly around employment. This includes curated
lessons on building a resume, where to find jobs, how to prepare for interviews, and how to navigate the
background check process. Participants can also be matched with professional mentors who review the participant’s
experience and skill sets and help them create an employment plan.

3) Recruit, train, and partner with more employers to become fair-chance employers: Arouet partners with almost 50
employers who are second-chance friendly and willing to hire Arouet participants. Arouet plans to recruit, train, and
empower an additional 30 employers to become fair-chance employers willing to interview and hire Arouet
participants.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Arouet’s work aligns with GRIC’s Economic Development focus. The goal of the Arouet Workforce Program is to support
a successful re-entry for justice-involved women helping these women gain stable employment that pays a living wage.
Stable employment is critical for reducing recidivism; however, the unemployment rate for individuals with a conviction
is 27%, compared to the national average of 5%. Arouet’s year-round provision of Workforce Program services ensures
more women find employment. Our peer mentor model with formerly incarcerated individuals offering support based
on first-hand experience, gives newly released women an empathetic helping hand. Finding stable employment leads to
successful reintegration into the community. This equitable outcome helps our communities flourish.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
The target population for the Arouet Workforce Program is justice-involved women that are recently or soon to be
released from incarceration. During this 2-year grant period, we anticipate helping 600 women move closer to stability
and rebuilding a successful and productive life outside of prison. We primarily work with the Arizona Department of
Corrections, Rehabilitation and Re-entry, particularly Perryville Correctional Facility. However, we are preparing to work
with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in their jails. We also work with women referred by their peers or members of
the justice community. Approximately 75% of our participants reside in Maricopa County. Due to the COVID pandemic,
we also deliver our programming using an online platform, enabling us to support women throughout the state of
Arizona.
Arouet works with women of all ages and backgrounds: 71% of participants identify as Caucasian/White, 9% as
Hispanic/Latino, 8% as Black/African American, 6% as American Indian, 1% as Asian, and 5% as Bi-Racial or Other. Less
than 1% identify as transgender. 90% of participants are between 25-54 years old, with only 2% between 16-24 years
old. Currently, 50% of the women in Perryville are Caucasian. Arouet is committed to increasing the numbers of women
of color that we serve. To that effect, we are working with prison staff to increase the racial diversity of our participants
to better reflect the demographics of those incarcerated. We are also working with referral partners (including program
participants) to increase the diversity of our participants who start receiving services after post-incarceration.
As they have just been released from incarceration, a full 100% of the women served by our program are low income
with immediate financial needs related to housing, food, and clothing. Upon release, only 10% of women report having
any other source of income besides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and only 7% have
access to a checking account. Initially, more than half of our participants earn between $12-14 per hour. Roughly 80%
are mothers whose incarceration has negatively impacted their children and families.
Post incarceration, these women are typically unprepared for reentering their communities and dealing the problems
they faced prior to sentencing (e.g., poverty, substance use, etc.). They also have complex needs in comparison to the
general workforce development population. For example, with little to no funds available upon their release, these
women struggle to secure safe housing and food, as well as the clothing, transportation, and identification needed to
secure a job. Having a criminal record they will carry for the rest of their life also impairs their ability to find a stable job,
meet basic needs, and overcome hardships. Many companies deny employment to individuals with a criminal
background. Promotions are often denied due to concerns of liability, despite evidence showing this population is more

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

engaged and has lower turnover rates than general workers. Limited employment leads to less financial prosperity, less
savings, and less ownership of assets.
However, the Workforce Program helps women overcome these barriers to re-entry. Once women have their basic
needs met through our wraparound services, they can focus on the workforce development program that will help them
to secure stable employment with a second-chance friendly employer.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
The Workforce Development Program is a continuing program. Gila River Indian Community has not previously funded
this program.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
Funding from the Gila River Indian Community would be used to support program operations for the Workforce
Program for two years (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024). The Arouet Workforce Program operates continuously
throughout the year and our timeline for grant start date is flexible.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Since our inception, Arouet has partnered with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Re-entry and
the Arizona Department of Economic Security. We are also now working with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. In
addition, we partner with more than 75 nonprofit and community organizations to support the women and secure their
basic needs while they are working to find jobs. These partners include food banks, health care centers, supportive
housing, etc. We also have almost 50 employment partners who hire our participants. We partner with second-chance
friendly national companies like State Farm, sales companies such as Safety Services, integrated health providers like
Community Medical Services, as well as local small businesses and staffing agencies. Additional funders supporting
program services include Banner Health, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Phoenix, Maricopa County IDA,
Maricopa County, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank and JP Morgan Chase, and Valley of the Sun United Way.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Any funding received from Gila River Indian Community would be greatly appreciated and will provide valuable support
for Arouet’s programming. If we receive partial funding, the Arouet Workforce Program will continue to operate as
intended, but we would redouble our efforts to seek funding from a wide range of community foundations,
corporations, and individuals.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
The Arouet Workforce Program is committed to remaining free of charge for the women that we serve. This point is
critical, as these women typically have little to no income sources when beginning the program. Because we do not
charge a fee to our participants, Arouet’s funding comes primarily from philanthropic donations. Currently, most
program support comes from foundation and government grants. We plan to continue securing corporate sponsorships
and foundation grants; however, we are also focused on increasing donations from individuals to expand our revenue
stream. In addition, we are exploring how to build a consulting service to support companies engaging in fair chance
hiring. We will reinvest these consulting fees into our program operations. Additionally, we participate in SNAP CAN
(Career Advancement Network), earning income from our work that is then reinvested into program operations.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Upon enrollment in the Workforce Program every participant goes through a basic intake where information is
collected regarding demographics, income, and housing status. After this entry point, the staff work with each
participant to understand their backgrounds and goals to provide targeted support. Follow up check-ins allow us to
update their record with any new supports/services provided (e.g., transportation support, housing support, etc.). Upon
graduation from the program, participants take part in an exit interview and are contacted every few weeks to make
sure they are maintaining their jobs, housing, and receiving needed supports. These records are kept as part of a
customized internal Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that allows for comprehensive reporting and
performance tracking. As needed, the CRM allows for any measures that are not currently tracked to be added and
reported.
Arouet measures the recidivism rate of our participants with the goal of maintaining or reducing that rate. The current
recidivism rate of our participants within three years of release is 6-7%, compared to Arizona’s average of 39%, and the
national one-year recidivism rate of 44%. Arouet keeps information regarding services, supports received, and
information on any post-release employment as part of a detailed record for each woman served. This information is
used to document progress and results of the Workforce Program.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
The Arouet Foundation has no applications or awards made by another tribe, other than Gila River Indian Community,
from the past 5 years.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023; Year 2 budget will largely be the same
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Salaries and Wages
$0
$320,000
$0
$320,000
2. Insurance and Benefits
$0
$56,000
$0
$56,000
3. Consultants and Professional Fees
$5,000
$8,000
$0
$13,000
4. Supplies and Equipment
$5,000
$11,820
$0
$16,820
5. Printing/Copying/Postage/Delivery
$2,500
$3,500
$0
$6,000
6. Rent/Utilities/Phone
$10,000
$13,890
$0
$23,890
7. Travel
$1,000
$5,234
$0
$6,234
8. Payroll Processing/Bank Fees
$0
$2,720
$0
$2,720
9. Emergency Support for Participants
$1,500
$3,500
$0
$5,000
10. Miscellaneous
$0
$11,503
$0
$11,503
11. Administrative Overhead
$0
$61,793
$0
$61,793
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$25,000
$497,960
$0
$522,960

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. 1.0 FTE Manager ($70,000); 1.0 FTE Coach ($50,000); 0.7 FTE Employment Specialist ($35,000); 2.0 FTE Mentorship
and Volunteer Manager ($50,000); 1.0 Manager of Community Programs ($60,000), 1.0 FTE Program Coordinator.
2. Employer taxes at 7.5% and benefits at 10% of salaries
3. Financial Coach ($6,000), Intern ($2,000), Financial Coordinator ($5,000)
4. Supplies ($9,000), Equipment Rental and Maintenance ($7,820)
5. Printing and Copying ($3,500), Postage and Delivery ($1,500), Advertising ($1,000)
6. Rent ($19,240), Utilities ($3,150), Telephone ($1,500)
7. T Workforce dev, conferences, travel to/from Perryville Correctional Facility ($6,234)
8. Payroll Processing ($1,870), Bank Fees ($850)
9. Emergency support for our participants (i.e., purchasing work clothes, helping with a utility payment) ($5,000)
10. Dues ($4,953), Non-Payroll Insurance ($2,550), Training ($4,000)
11. Overhead expenses at 11.8%
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
¨ Approval – Amount/Term $ ¨ Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2021 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 West Jefferson Street
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: The Joy Bus
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit ! If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Megan Norton Title: Program Director
10. Phone Number: 602-842-7347
11. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 22163
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85028
13. Email Address: megan@joybus.org Website Address: www.thejoybus.charity
Project Information
14. Project Name: More Than a Meal
15. Purpose of Grant: To support a project that benefits hundreds of homebound cancer patients
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$100,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
One
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$100,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
No
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Narrative
Please structure your proposal to provide the following information in the order indicated. Provide the narrative in
paragraph form in the text field provided. Please be thorough but strive for brevity.
1. Briefly describe your organization’s history, mission and goals.
Founded in 2011 by award winning chef, Jennifer Caraway, The Joy Bus was named in honor of her friend, Joy,
who struggled with the painful and debilitating side effects of ovarian cancer, to which she ultimately
succumbed. Her grace, drive, and determination inspire us to help those who fight that same battle. The Joy
Bus is a nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to relieve the daily struggles of homebound cancer
patients with a fresh and healthy meal delivered by a friendly face.
Our mission is to improve the lives of our clients through good food and good company.
Many cancer patients are left to fend for themselves during this turning point in their lives. The Joy Bus eases
that burden by providing healthy meals specially prepared to meet our patients' needs, delivered by
volunteers who are often cancer survivors themselves.
Our healthful meals, delivered weekly, are made with fresh, organic, non-GMO produce, and come in eco-
friendly, chemical-free packaging. Tucked into each hand decorated paper bag is an informational sheet on the
nutritional power of the ingredients used and how they will support the patient’s fight against cancer. These
deliveries are prepared in, and funded by, proceeds generated by The Joy Bus Diner, located just off the 51
Piestewa Freeway and Shea Boulevard. With a reputation for creative gourmet breakfasts and lunches, the
Diner has become a destination for locals and foodies from around the Valley. For nearly a decade, The Joy
Bus has delivered much more than meals. Our service also includes critical home visits and wellness checks.
The goal of this project is to expand both our geographic reach into both the east and west valley, and the
total number of meals we can deliver each week from the current 140 to more than 2,500.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
We have no specific relationship with Maricopa County beyond our being within Maricopa Countt and their being
our required municipal entity to receive any grant funds awarded by the Gila River Indian Community.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

In keeping with its long-term plan, The Joy Bus seeks to grow its meal/support program to benefit
more patients, with a goal of up to 400 home visits per week. To do so, The Joy Bus Community Diner
must dramatically expand its kitchen, pantry and dining capacity. This will require a new facility built
to our specific needs.
We have secured a 3,600 square foot restaurant site, which, with some
remodeling and equipment upgrades, will serve our purpose. This new facility will also allow us space
to create: An organic food pantry available free of charge to
all cancer in Maricopa County, paired with meal planning service; A culinary program providing
training, certification, and job placement to young adults who have been personally affected by
cancer and are interested in pursuing a career in the culinary arts; and a teaching kitchen for cancer
patients and their caretakers, medical students, and others interested in the preparation of nutritious
food, especially as it relates to cancer and general physical health.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
We know from conversations with patients and families and formal surveys, that the nutritional and
psychological benefits of our program are significant. They provide increased quality of life for
patients and a sense of relief for their loved ones. The Joy Bus has always delivered more than a meal.
Now, with support from the broader community, we will to take The Joy Bus to the next level! The
Joy Bus Meal Delivery Program is an unparalleled service and vital community resource in Arizona as
no other organization currently exists that focuses both on the nutritional and social well-being of
people with cancer with freshly prepared, hot meal delivery. With a commitment to quality, meals
include certified naturally grown local and organic produce to properly nourish patient’s bodies.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.

According to the most recent data, there are over 30,000 cases of invasive cancer per year in Arizona (AZDHS,
2019). Among those diagnosed, malnutrition can be documented in 40-80 percent and more that 20 percent of
cancer related deaths can be attributed solely to malnutrition (Prevost & Grach, 2012). The Joy Bus seeks to
grow its meal support program to benefit more patients, with a stretch goal of up to 400 patients visits per
week by 2025.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This would be a new program for GRIC Funding.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
In our Tier One program, our compassionate volunteers will provide companionship and social support to patients
located within a 15-mile radius of The Joy Bus Diner. Each volunteer visits approximately 2 households and will reach the
cumulative goal of 100 fresh meals per week, coupled with a home visit, by 2022. Our current number is actually 140 per
week. Patients in the Tier Two program receive a weekly delivery consisting of 10 pre-packaged meals by our paid
delivery driver in a refrigerated truck. The goal of 200 homes per week served by the Tier Two program will be reached
by 2024. The Joy Bus Organic Pantry, available free of charge to any person with cancer will be erected within one year
of completed buildout of new facility. The Certified Chef Training Program and Teaching Kitchen will be implemented in
2024 once Tier One and Tier Two Programs are effectively grown and managed. We feel pretty confident that these
goals are reachable given where we are today.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
We pursue partnerships with local farmers, chefs, and restauranteurs to ensure that Joy Bus progras are
supported long-term and the best possible product is being delivered to our patients.Partnerships with local
hospitals , care facilities, and case managers help to indentify community members who are in need of meal
support services and ensure that patients needs are met appropriately. The Joy Bus Diner operates on existing
partnerships with Crooked Sky Farms, Red Bird Chicken, Santa Monica Seafood, Molly Water, Kvaroy Arctic
Salmon, Wildflower Bread Company, Hayden Flour Mills, NexVeg, Happy Egg Co., Shamrock Foods, Arcadia
Meat Market, and Roastery of Cave Creek, among others. We will continue to seek out broadline distributors
and local retailer to suppor our operations.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes, but we will have to enage other funders to make up the shortfall.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
The Joy Bus Diner is a hybrid social enterprise that provides a reliable, state-certified commercial kitchen for
the preparation of our meals, a reliable income stream for The Joy Bus operations, and a central hub for the
gathering of community supporters and volunteers.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Our primary metric for measuring the success of our expansion will be the number of patients we are able to
serve. Secondarily, we will monitor the amount of food the pantry is able to supply, and the number of
students from cancer patient families who participate in the chef training program.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
None

The Meal Delivery Program will continue to be funded through private donations, grants, The Joy Bus Diner
revenue, and fundraising events in collaboration with community partners. In addition, the new restaurant
site is in a recently purchased small retail center that generates positive cashflow.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: January 2022-December 2023
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Site Purchase
$32,000
$1,618,000
$0
$1,650,000
2. Existing Conditions/Site work
$18,000
$562,000
$40,000
$620,000
3. New Construction
$27,000
$943,000
$0
$970,000
4. Construction Contingency
$4,000
$155,000
$0
$159,000
5. City Permits/Fees
$3,000
$147,000
$0
$150,000
6. Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment
$3,000
$27,000
$100,000
$130,000
7. Architect & Engineering Fees
$2,000
$0
$115,000
$117,000
8. Fully Equipped Delivery Van
$2,000
$98,000
$0
$100,000
9. Program Expansion
$3,000
$157,000
$0
$160,000
10. Fundraising Expense
$0
$421,000
$0
$421,000
11. Maintenance Endowment
$0
$323,000
$0
$323,000
12. Short Term Financing
$5,000
$245,000
$0
$250,000
13. Allowance for Pledge Shrinkage
$1,000
$59,000
$0
$60,000
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$100,000
$4,755,000
$255,000
$5,110,000

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Site Purchase-$1,650,000 – Actual cost of purchase agreement for property located at 10401 N. 32nd Street for 14,500
SF Retail Building and land.
2. Existing Conditions/Site work-$620,000 - Lump sum estimate for replace HVAC and exhaust, water and sewer
extension, grease trap, power update, gas line, fire suppression, fire alarm, replace roof, site work
3. New Construction -$970,000 – Diner interior/kitchen (4,100 SF @ $195 SF); Site Plan (25,000 SF @$6 SF); Store Front
replacement Lump sum estimate
4. Constructions Contingency-$159,000 – 10% of existing conditions and construction costs
5. City Permits/Fees-$150,000 – Lump sum estimate for building, site approval, offsite development fees
6. FF&E-$130,000 – Lump sum estimate for Furniture, Fixtures, Kitchen equipment and hood, signage
7. Architect & Engineering Fees-$117,000 – Lump sum estimate including site plan and legal
8. Fully Equipped Delivery Van-$100,000 – actual cost for van with hot and cold boxes
9. Program Expansion - $160,000 – includes annual fund support/staffing, additional drivers, job training/certification,
organic food pantry, and advocacy
10. Fundraising Expense-$421,000 – Counsel, admin support, marketing, donor recognition
11. Maintenance Endowment-$323,000 – 8% of Direct Expenses
12. Short Term Financing-$250,000 – Estimate until cash flow can be determined
13. Allowance for Pledge Shrinkage-$60,000 – Estimate at 1% of total project budget
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/7/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County

3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 E. Jefferson Street, Suite 960
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom/Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@Maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Ryan House

8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Tracy Leonard-Warner Title: Executive Director
10. Phone Number: 602-200-0767
11. Mailing Address: 110 W. Muhammad Ali Way, First Floor
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85013
13. Email Address: tleonardwarner@ryanhouse.org
Website Address: https://ryanhouse.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: End-of-Life Services for Children at Ryan House
15. Purpose of Grant: End-of-Life Services for Terminally-Ill Children
16. Priority Funding Area
Healthcare
17. Annual amount requested
$100,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$100,000
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Yes, Ryan House received a Capital Campaign grant of $500,000
awarded between 2008-2011; $100,000 awarded in 2014;
$50,000 awarded in 2017; $75,000 awarded in 2019, 2020, and
2021.
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

● Palliative and respite care that addresses the emotional, spiritual, and social needs of the
family.
● Continuity of care from diagnosis to end-of-life.
● Expert care provided by our prestigious care partners and highly trained staff.
● A loving community that offers ongoing support and compassion.

Ryan House was founded in 2004 by a young family whose son, Ryan, was diagnosed in 2002 with Spinal Muscular
Atrophy and given only a few months to live. Ryan House was modeled after Helen House in Oxford, England. The
Cottor family was referred to Helen House after their son was first diagnosed. Their experience made them realize
how essential the need for facility-based, family-centered respite, palliative, and end-of-life care was. The Cottors,
along with an incredible community of support, successfully opened the doors at Ryan House in 2010.
Ryan House was designed to deliver multiple adaptive modes of on-site care. Ryan House embraces all children and
families, as they navigate life-limiting or end-of-life journeys. Here, we are realizing both the philosophy and the practice
of pediatric palliative care. We are the only organization of our kind in the Southwest, and one of three in the country.
Our services are provided at no cost to families, with special workshops, programs, and services designed just for them.
Services offered include the following:
Respite Care: Respite is a gift of time; short-term overnight stays that help a family take breaks from the stress of 24/7
home care.

Pediatric Palliative Care: Palliative care aims to holistically identify and alleviate the physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and
emotional pain for both the child and the family, enhance quality of life, and minimize suffering.

Pediatric End-of-Life Care: Families with a child facing end-of-life receive supportive planning and compassionate care
consistent with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Grief and Bereavement Support: Ryan House offers Sibling Bridges of Support and Hope, family counseling through
various programs, a memorial wall, an annual community event to honor children who have died, and Treasured
Memories boxes to families that are filled with special keepsakes.

Life-Enhancing Therapeutic Activities: Certified child life specialists, certified music therapists, and trained volunteers
provide activities that address the isolation, pain, and fear children and siblings face with diagnosis and improve quality
of life.
The overall goal of Ryan House is to provide coordinated care and improve the quality of life for medically fragile
children and their families. Ryan House’s success has become a catalyst for change in pediatric palliative and hospice
care in Arizona and across the country. Ryan House families represent every ethnic group and have varying income
levels. When a family receives the news that their child has complex medical needs, their world is turned upside
down. Ryan House provides parents and families with a strong, caring support system during an unthinkable time.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with the supporting municipality including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Ryan House is applying again through Maricopa County. The majority of the families we serve (85%) reside in Maricopa
County. As the population in Maricopa County continues to grow and expand, so will the need for our services. In the
past, we have accepted Gila River Indian Community funds through the City of Scottsdale and Maricopa County. We
have also received CDBG funding several times through the City of Phoenix. Ryan House serves medically-complex
children throughout Maricopa County and Arizona. We are grateful for our relationship with the Maricopa County, as
well as our relationships with many cities throughout Arizona. We consistently seek to grow and strengthen our
relationships with all municipalities in the State of Arizona to improve the care we provide for children at end-of-life.
3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
Ryan House is seeking continued funding for our Pediatric End-of-Life Program in 2022-2023. Ryan House provides
hands-on care around the clock with our team of interdisciplinary medical doctors, registered nurses, certified nursing
assistants, child life specialists, social workers, chaplain, bereavement counselor, and volunteers. The Ryan House Care
Team provides comprehensive child- and-family-centric care. This program will continue to provide supportive planning
and care that is consistent with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards for each family served. We address the
emotional, spiritual, and social needs of the family while also providing relief of the symptoms, pain, and stress
associated with any serious illness. Sadly, most of our clients will not see their 20th birthday.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

In 2020, 838 children died in Arizona, an increase from the 777 deaths in 2019. The leading causes of death were
prematurity, congenital anomalies, motor vehicle crashes, poisonings, and firearm injuries. In 2021, we provided 41
children and families support at end-of-life. The End-of-Life program brings culturally-sensitive and quality-driven end-
of-life care to children and families that they need and deserve. Ryan House normalizes their life, offering an
opportunity to make friends and participate in activities not otherwise available to them. The Ryan House End-of-Life
program is the only in-facility pediatric end-of-life and hospice program of its kind in the State of Arizona. We also
provide bereavement care, which supports families in a number of ways, offering a personalized tile in Ryan House’s
Memorial Garden, a Treasured Memories bereavement box for families, support groups, and family counseling.

During these uncertain times, we are here for our families and our community, just like we have been for the last 12
years. Ryan House remains open (and has remained open throughout the entire pandemic) to help keep our medically
fragile children with life-limiting conditions out of the hospital to assist in not overwhelming the healthcare system.

Our Memorial Garden now displays over 465 individualized hand-crafted ceramic tiles to honor Ryan House children
who have passed away since 2012. The funding from Gila River Indian Community will continue to provide critically
needed care to medically fragile children nearing end-of-life and their families as they navigate the unimaginable.
4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
The Ryan House program satisfies the Gila River Indian Community’s “Healthcare” funding area by providing world-class
healthcare for children with life-limiting and terminal conditions. While at Ryan House, our interdisciplinary Care Team
assumes full medical care of each child throughout their stay, extending unique opportunities to maximize functioning,
relieve pain, and significantly increase their quality of life. Without Ryan House, children would suffer, medical costs for
families and the community would significantly increase, and families would not have the support they need and
deserve throughout the journey of their child’s illness and passing.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
For children facing end-of-life in Arizona, Ryan House is the only place that provides inpatient pediatric end-of-life
and hospice care for medically fragile children – there is nowhere else to turn. The diagnosis of a terminal illness in a
child is devastating for all involved: parents, kinship caregivers, family members, and the children themselves, as they
grieve for the life they had planned for their child and believed they would have. The journey is most often long, lonely,
and devastatingly sad. It is difficult to acknowledge that a child is dying and will not live a normal lifespan. At Ryan
House, our home-like environment provides a safe and comfortable place for families to be embraced by our Care Team
while they endure the unbearable.

Ryan House serves diverse, medically complex children, ages birth to 18, and their families of all cultures, income
levels, and family sizes each year. When a family receives the devastating news that their child is facing a life-limiting or
terminal diagnosis, Ryan House is here to deliver world-class life-enhancing services and compassionate support, so
families can concentrate on being families and creating cherished memories. Our dedicated team cares for the entire
family to help them remain intact, and even thrive. Prematurity was the most common cause of death for neonates
(infants less than 28 days old) while suffocation was the common cause of death among infants 28 days to less than 1
year of age. The accidental injury death rate increased 31% from 2019 to 2020. The three most common causes of

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

accidental death were motor vehicle crashes, poisoning, and suffocation. A child protective services history with the
family, substance use and poverty were the most common risk factors for accidental deaths. The motor vehicle crash
death rate increased 54% and the firearm injury mortality rate increased 41%. The most common risk factor contributing
to a firearm injury death was access to firearms, with 86% of firearm injury deaths involving a handgun, and the child’s
parent as the owner accounted for 25% of the firearm injury deaths.

Natural deaths are due to medical conditions that cause significant functional impairment and are diagnosed by medical
professionals to be irreversible and terminal. Some are diagnosed with cancer, and some have suffered tragic accidents
or are brought to Ryan House almost immediately after birth with undiagnosed genetic conditions.

In 2020, the Maricopa Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) (as reported in their 2020 Annual Report) investigated the
deaths of 237 children (people under the age of 18 years) including 57 infants (children under the age of 1 year). The
pediatric ME Case rate rose 12%. Forty-six percent (46%) were in adolescent children (ages 13-17 years), a 48% count
increase from the prior year.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
The End-of-Life Care program at Ryan House is a continuing program. Yes, GRIC has previously funded this project.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The End-of-Life Care program at Ryan House is ongoing; it takes place and serves medically-complex children facing
end-of-life 365 days a year. End-of-Life care for children begins when the child enters Ryan House, and ends after each
child’s passing. We also provide bereavement services to help families through the grieving process, including: sibling
support, anticipatory grief support, an annual community event to honor passed children, bereavement boxes to
families that are filled with special keepsakes, and Enduring Ties, a group counseling session that is offered twice
monthly. Once a family is a part of Ryan House, they are always a part of Ryan House. Grant funds would be used during
a one-year time period.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Ryan House uses a collaborative, team approach to program and care delivery and operates in partnership with
Hospice of the Valley to provide a full circle of care to children and families beyond its walls. Shared facilities and
operations enable both organizations to benefit from considerable cost savings, allowing more funds to be spent on
direct services.

Ryan House also partners with hospitals, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and other Arizona organizations that
serve children with life-limiting and terminal conditions, such as Make-A-Wish Arizona. These partnerships ensure that
the unique and individualized needs of Ryan House children and families are met. Make-A-Wish Arizona and Ryan House
also refer clients to one another for services; Ryan House children qualify for wishes, and some of the children served by
Make-A-Wish Arizona qualify for stays at Ryan House. Furthermore, our Medical Director leads the palliative care
program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and is a highly-regarded specialist in the emerging field of pediatric palliative
care.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
If partial funding was received for this project, Ryan House would still be able to implement our project, but may have to
turn away children and families when funding becomes unavailable.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Ryan House uses an aggressive fundraising program that includes corporate and foundation grants, individual
donations, workplace giving campaigns, third-party events, and three signature special events. Our organization remains
fiscally-sound, and our fundraising program continues to grow each year. As a part of our efforts to diversify revenue
sources, our Reimbursement Committee and committed Board of Directors continue to work with state lawmakers and
insurance industry experts to advocate for Ryan House services.
Ryan House continues to offset expenses by increasing volunteer staff support and in-kind donations of goods and
services. Unfortunately, the amount of funding received affects the number of children and families served. It is a sad
reality that the number of children and families in need of our care continues to grow.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
Ryan House documents progress and results through case management files, medical records, feedback from
children and siblings, qualitative testimonials given by parents and caregivers, staff observation, and anonymous parent
surveys. In our most recent program evaluation, success of this program and the positive effects of services on children
and their families were indicated through anonymous parent/guardian surveys.
Results/Outcomes showed that:
● 100% of families would recommend Ryan House to a friend or colleague.
● 96% of families are able to participate in activities that are meaningful to them.
● 95% of families of children participating in the program experienced improved family dynamics
and quality of life.
● 95% of families feel connected to a community of support.
We anticipate that the outcomes for this grant will be similar to the ones outlined above.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Ryan House received the following funding for our Child Life Program from:
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation: 2021: $15,000: 2020: $7,000 / 2019: $15,000 / 2018: $15,000.

Ryan House has applied for, and received, funding from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community,
specifically for our Sponsor-A-Stay Respite Program for the last 5 years. Awards are as follows:
2021: $125,000/ 2020: $125,000 / 2019: $125,000 / 2018: $125,000/ 2017: $125,000

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: 10/01/2021 to 09/30/2022
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Program Staff Salaries/ERE
$100,000
$170,945
$0
$270,945
2. Contract Staff
$0
$9,984
$0
$9,984
3. Office Expenses
$0
$869
$0
$869
4. Insurance / License Expenses
$0
$1,769
$0
$1,769
5. Facility Costs
$0
$869
$0
$869
6. Technology Costs
$0
$2,228
$0
$2,228
7. Employee Relations
$0
$1,679
$0
$1,679
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$100,000
$188,343
$0
$288,343

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Program Staff Salaries / ERE: This line totals $245,945, and includes a portion of the cost of our Certified Nursing
Assistant, Nursing Staff, and Child Life Specialits and their employee-related expenses.
2. Contract Staff: This line item totals $9,984 and includes a portion of the cost of our staff contracts.
3. Office Expenses: This line item totals $869 and is a portion of our office supplies.
4. Insurance/License Expenses: This line totals $1,769 and includes a portion of our insurance and license costs.
5. Facilities: This line totals $869 and is our program allocation for facility costs.
6. Employee Relations: This line item is $1,679 and is our program allocation for employee recognition.
7. Technology Costs: This line item totals $2,228 and is our program allocation for technology costs.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
Review  Approval - Amount $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 2/11/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: County of Maricopa
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Chairman Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson, 10th Floor
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: mc12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Million Dollar Teacher Project
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Rock Rockett Title: Volunteer
10. Phone Number: 630.258.2211
11. Mailing Address: 2942 N 24th St, #211
12. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85016
13. Email Address: lloyd@mdtproject.org
Website Address: www.mdtproject.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Title 1 Tech
15. Purpose of Grant: Provide funds to purchase and distribute laptops, Chromebooks, & hot spots to students of
Title I schools.
16. Priority Funding Area
Education
17. Annual amount requested
$25,000.00
18. Number of years that funding is requested
2 years
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$50,000.00
20. Has your organization received past funding
from GRIC? If yes, list each year and amount
Click here to enter text.
21. Geographic area served
Phoenix metro area

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

Recognition, Compensation and Support are the three pillars for developing community-centered,
grassroots approaches to push the needle forward in the teaching profession, schools and the education
system.

We accelerated our efforts to provide students proper technology devices to enable their remote
learning and in-classroom learning as schools began using virtual instruction due to the COVID-
19. Obtaining and distributing computers, laptops and hotspots is a major initiative of ours now
while we try to level the playing field and reduce the impact of income inequality for all students
in K-12 grades across the Phoenix metro area.
2. To determine eligibility for this grant, if the applying organization is non-municipal or a non-profit 501c, please
describe your relationship with Arizona municipalities including past and present support, whether through
partnerships, collaborations, in-kind contributions, grants, tax-based funding or other. Describe the supporting
municipality’s role in this project. If the applying organization is a municipality or a municipal sub-division please
enter the text “Not applicable” and go to item 3.
Since 2016 we have partnered with Title I School Districts across the valley that are serving low income
communities in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Gilbert and the Tolleson areas to assist them in improving their
teacher retention and recruitment efforts. These districts are Scottsdale Unified, Kyrene, Gilbert Unified,
Osborn, Phoenix Elementary, Phoenix Union, Alhambra Elementary, Tolleson Elementary and Union
Elementary.
Title I refers to schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families, and they
can be found in both urban and rural communities throughout the United States. In Arizona alone

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

there are currently over 1300 Title I schools working to meet the academic needs of children in low-
income communities.
In 2017 we partnered with the Mayor of Phoenix’s office to proclaim November ‘Thank A Teacher Month’ in
the City of Phoenix and in 2018 we partnered with the Governor of Arizona’s office to proclaim November
‘Thank A Teacher Month’ for the entire state of Arizona.

3. Describe the proposed project and your plan to implement.
We propose to purchase as many laptops or Chromebooks as possible to meet the needs of about 11,000
students in Arizona. We have established relationships with Title 1 schools to determine this need and have
applications for our equipment from 42 different Title 1 schools. To date, we have distributed 500+
computers to students in 9 different Title 1 Schools. These donations to students are very warmly received
and the parents, students and educators are all extremely appreciative of our efforts to equip them for
remote learning and bridge the digital divide for lower income families.

We have applications for laptops or internet hotspots from 42 different school districts and we wish to serve
as many of those as we possibly can. With the amount we have applied for we can serve approximately 150
students each year, thereby delivering internet access to them to continue their learning.

Schools and number of students served to date:
Students served thus far:
534

2020/21
Synergy - 55
Adams El - 5
Kings Ridge -50
Firestation 22 - 15
Open Doors Community School- 50
Hope College and Career Readiness- 10 hotspots
Premiere High School - 50 desktops
Wigwam Middle School - 86
Imagine School: Bell Canyon - 60
Midtown Primary School - 36 laptops, 10 Hotspots
Bologna - 67 laptops
ACYR- 50 laptops & 20 hotspots
Solano - 50 laptops

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

Here is our process from start to finish:

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
Education
When schools were closed to in person instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the digital
divide was exposed regarding how wide the gap really is. The lack of computer devices and internet
access is well known in rural communities but there are large pockets in central Phoenix that also do
not have internet access. We work with schools and technology providers to identify the students in
need. We then get laptops, Chromebooks, and internet hotspots delivered to the schools for
distribution to these students. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an issue for us and we need
to continue supporting students and schools with means to give them all equal access to remote
learning and in-classroom learning for lower income students.

5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

Needs to be addressed – 11,000 students in Arizona without technology devices or internet access to
continue their education remotely or in-classroom. These students are falling behind and unable to get equal
instruction as they don’t have the tools equal to other more well-equipped students.

Target Population – 11,000 students in Title I schools in Arizona who don’t have the means to consistently
and reliably access the internet for remote learning, doing homework in their homes, or in-classroom
projects.

Number of People to be Served – We propose that as a result of this grant funding, we can serve about 150
students per year for each year of the grant funding period
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?
This is a continuing program as Million Dollar Teacher Project started Title 1 Tech as an offshoot of the work
that we are already doing to support teachers and their work in Title I schools. We have partnered with
iHeart radio through their local affiliate, Mix 96.9, Cricket Wirelss, and other businesses to help fund the
project or donate devices that can be refurbished and put to work for disadvantaged students.

We have not previously received GRIC funding
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
The timeline is flexible, but here is our preferred timeline:
1. November, 2022 - Receive funding.
2. November-December, 2022 - Contact school administrators in Title 1 schools to confirm the need in
terms of number of devices, hotspots, etc.
3. January, 2023 – Use funding to purchase devices and refurbish any donated devices.
4. February-May, 2023 - Set up times to deliver the equipment to the schools and insure that the Principals
and the Technology Team at each school are able to accept the devices and put them to good use for
qualified students.
5. September, 2023 - Follow up with the schools to determine that the devices are all in good working order
and that the students are able to use them for remote and in-classroom learning.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Lights Camera Discover – a non-profit organization that provides a loaned executive and partners with Title I
Tech to submit grant applications.
Mathew & Priscilla – radio hosts on iHeart affiliate Mix 96.9 to generate awareness of the need and means
their audience members can participate.
iHeart Radio – through their local affiliate station, Mix 96.9, provide valuable communications over the
airwaves and through social media channels to promote Title I Tech’s program.
Attollo Technology – loaned executive and donated equipment for refurbishing and use by the students.
Future Stars Inc. – a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for inner city youth to achieve their
goals of attending higher education through achievements in sports and technology. They provide a loaned
executive and partner with Title I Tech to submit grant applications
Rockett Healthcare, LLC – loaned executive and partner with Title I Tech to help generate funding.
AZ Strut – collecting used computers and refurbishing them for use by students in need for remote learning
WarriorsCode – non-profit organization helping Native American and minority youth to learn computer
coding and help us to swipe clean the laptops donated to Title 1 Tech.
Direct Carpet One – provided drop off sites at their stores for people and businesses to bring used computers
to donate so we can refurbish and repurpose them.
Valley of the Sun United Way – grant funding in 2021 to assist in closing the digital divide.
Innovation Care Partners – annual commitment to donate used computers for refurbishing.
Cricket Wireless – we qualified for a grant from them to provide 30 hotspots for students in need of
connectivity.
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
Yes, we can implement our plan with partial funding. It’s just a matter of how many disadvantaged students
can be served and how soon they can be assisted.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

Title I Tech is a part of the 501c3 organization, Million Dollar Teacher Project (MDTP). MDTP has ongoing
funding through various sources. Title I Tech has raised enough funds to distribute 500+ devices to
disadvantaged students and will continue doing that with funds raised over the radio airwaves, through
social media, private company funding, and through grant funding. MDTP’s annual budget is about $100,000.

11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
We document progress and results through our detailed record keeping of schools we have served, how
many devices distributed to each school, and plans for upcoming distributions. We also document and
communicate our progress over the radio airwaves via Mix 96.9, updates on the MDTP website and updates
through our social media channels.
As reported in our answer to question 3 above, we report on the schools served and number of computers
distributed.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
No funding from any other tribe.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

Project Budget
Budget Period: 2023-2024
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Purchase computers
$40,000
$40,000
$2,000
$82,000
2. Purchase hotspots for internet
access
$9,000
$2,000
$1,000
$12,000
3. Print stickers to go on each
computer
$500
$0
$0
$500
4. Contribution to rent/utilities at
MDTP and mileage reimbursement
for volunteers distributing
computers.
$500
$0
$0
$500
5. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$50,000
$42,000
$3,000
$95,000

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2021

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Purchase computers – Each year we hope to purchase of 200 laptops or Chromebooks at a cost of about $200-$250
each. Amount per computer may increase by next year.
2. Purchase hotspots for internet access – Each year we will purchase about 80 hotspots for students for about $50-$75
each which provides them internet service for a year. Not all students will need hotspots as their household may already
have internet access
3. Print stickers to go on each machine – Annual cost of $500 for sufficient stickers for hundreds of computers.
4. Contribution to rent & utilities at MDTP and mileage reimbursement for volunteers who distribute computers to the
schools – Annual cost to cover some office costs as Title I Tech grows and we need enough storage space for storing the
computers and hotspots until they are distributed to the schools and mileage reimbursement for travel costs incurred by
volunteers.
5. Click here to enter text.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

For Office Use Only:
Data Entry
Receipt
Evaluation
 Approval – Amount/Term $  Denial

Cover Sheet
Municipality Information
1. Date of Application: 1/25/2022 (NOTE: Click field or use up/down arrow keys to move among fields)
2. Name of City, Town or County: Maricopa County
3. Mayor (City or Town) or Board of Supervisor’s Chairman (County): Bill Gates
4. Mailing Address: 301 W. Jefferson Street, Suite 960
5. City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85003
6. Acknowledgement of Submission by Authorized Municipality Representative:
Typed Name/Title: Milka Doom, Financial Business Analyst
Email Address: MC12PercentGamingGrant@maricopa.gov
Signature:
Applicant Information
7. Department/Organization Name: Treasure House
8. Select Organization Type: 501c3 Non-Profit  If Non-profit please attach IRS Determination Letter
9. Application Contact Person: Ms. Lauri Tanner Title: CEO
10. Phone Number: 314-749-1186
11. Mailing Address: 7815 W. Aspera Blvd.
12. City: Glendale
State: Arizona
Zip Code: 85308
13. Email Address: lauri@treasurehouse.org
Website Address: www.treasurehouse.org
Project Information
14. Project Name: Employment & Life Skills Training Program for Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities (IDD)
15. Purpose of Grant: To support the continuation of the Employment & Life Skills Training Program for Young Adults
with IDD, which helps them to participate in their community, achieve independence, and realize their life purpose.
16. Priority Funding Area
Economic Development
17. Annual amount requested
$25,000
18. Number of years that funding is requested
1
19. Total amount requested (annual amount x
number of years)
$25,000
20. Has your organization received past
funding from GRIC? If yes, list each year and
amount
2021, $25,000
21. Geographic area served
Maricopa County

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

The Treasure House facility is located in Glendale; each resident has their own furnished one- bedroom
apartment with access to a greater community. Residents share a large commercial kitchen, lounge, game
room, patio, outdoor activities, and garden. Programs available for residents include, Fitness & Wellness, Art,
Employment Training and Life Skills, Resident Life skills, Workforce Development, and Work Collaborations.

The Treasure House model is based upon three principles forming a framework for residents to enjoy a
fulfilling life as follows: 1. Safety and Wellbeing - Residents experience reduced risks to their social and
emotional well-being, which supports increased preventative care and improves overall health outcomes. 2.
Independence - An ideal environment supports residents working towards their independent living goals. 3.
Community - Residents have opportunities to contribute within the Treasure House community and learn
skills to engage in the broader community around them.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

serve clients who work and volunteer at companies and organizations throughout Maricopa County.

3. Describe the proposed project, objectives, and your plan to implement.
New residents immediately enter the Employment & Life Skills Training Program, which assists them to
create a meaningful and actionable life plan, including employment and educational goals, community
engagement activities, and basic life skills training. The priority goal for residents is to obtain meaningful
(defined as long-term and at least minimum wage) employment and/or volunteer opportunities. Through a
variety of internships made possible by several local businesses in the community, residents participate in
experiential learning, training, and job placement education and activities.

Our approach is centered on the needs and interests of the young adults. The goals and programming are
determined by identifying their strengths, talents, and abilities and exploring the best ways to move ahead to
reach their goals and potential. Life Coaches work with residents to create a balance between a supportive
environment and restrictions, which may limit their growth and development. Residents meet with their Life
Coaches on an individual basis to set, monitor, and work towards achieving their goals. The Employment &
Life Skills Program consists of daily open entry activities that residents can join at any time. The evaluation
process is ongoing and client progress and goals (set and achieved) are tracked in case management files and
client survey results, and program modification are made as needed.

The overarching goal of Treasure House is to identify and remove barriers for our young adults with IDD, help
them realize their full potential, and provide support to achieve their goals including employment, life skills,
and activities. To provide job and volunteer opportunities for our residents, we partner with several local
businesses and nonprofits, including Amazon, the Arizona Humane Society, Banner Thunderbird Medical
Center, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Measureable outcomes include: 100% of residents experience increased quality of life through educational,
social, and employment opportunities; 100% of residents create a life plan, including
employment/educational goals and community engagement activities; and 80% of residents obtain
meaningful (defined as long-term/at least minimum wage) employment.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

4. Describe how the proposed project satisfies one or more of the priority funding areas identified by the Gila River
Indian Community.
The proposed Treasure House project satisifies the Economic Development funding area priority. The
Employment & Life Skills Training Program promotes and assists people with employment, job readiness, and
economic security in Maricopa County.
5. Identify the needs/problems to be addressed, target population and number of people to be served by the
project.
With over 40,000 young adults in Arizona living with IDD, such as autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy,
learning disorders, and Traumatic Brain Injury, strategies for support and social inclusion are desperately
needed (CDC 2021). In Glendale, 9.7% of the population have a disability and are under the age of 65 (U.S.
Census, 2021). Treasure House is the only facility in the City of Glendale that offers residential and
community support to individuals with IDD.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020 Maricopa County’s unemployment rate rose to
12.5%. COVID-19 has contributed to workforce concerns. Regardless of COVID-19, young adults with IDD
have a greater challenge finding employment. There is a significant gap in the employment rate for working-
age adults depending on disability status: 71.4% of adults without disabilities are employed, compared to
32.5% of adults with disabilities. For individuals with IDD, the gap is even wider: only 14.7% of adults with IDD
are employed (National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors, 2018).

Treasure House plays an instrumental role in addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) for our
residents. SDoH factors include where a person is born, grows up, works, lives, which may seem insignificant;
however, SDoH effectively determine a person’s health as well as the length and quality of their life.
According to the CDC, one-third of adults are obese, which can cause permanent health issues. People with
disabilities can face challenges eating and living a healthy lifestype because of lack of resources, healthy food
choices, and support. According to the World Health Organization (2020), health outcomes for people with
disabilities often depend on their community, social, and environmental circumstances.
6. Define the project as a new or continuing program. Has GRIC previously funded this project?

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Treasure House’s Employment Training and Life Skills Program is a continuing program. In 2021, Treasure
House was awarded $25,000 from GRIC for our Employment Training and Life Skills Program.
7. Provide a brief timeline including start and finish dates. Indicate if the timeline is flexible.
Project activities take place on an ongoing basis throughout the grant term. The timeline is flexible and funds
will be utilized by the end of the grant term.
8. Identify other organizations, partners or funders participating in the project and their roles.
Treasure House collaborates with local organizations by connecting residents to job opportunities that meet
their individual skill sets and interests. These organizations include: Inspira Arrowhead Senior Living
(healthcare), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (food industry), Harkins Threatres (hospitality), local school districts
(education), Arizona Humane Society (volunteer opportunities and animals), and Miller Barn (volunteer
opportunities and animals), and several other organizations. The owner of Miller Barn, Carole Miller, has said
“Treasure House volunteers help me a lot around the barn doing things that I would normally do all by
myself. Taking care of the land alone would often take me all day- now I can enjoy my afternoon because the
work is done.”
9. Would you be able to implement the proposed plan if your organization received partial funding for this project?
The Employment Training and Life Skills Program is ongoing and an important part of the Treasure House
mission. GRIC’s support is valued, and partial funding definitely would go toward educating and training more
young adults with IDD to reach their potential and gain more independence. At this time, we are at capacity
as expenses for residents continue to rise.
10. Describe your plan for project financial sustainability beyond the grant period. If this is a program/project
previously funded by the Gila River Indian Community describe efforts made towards the previously described
sustainability plan.
Funding sustainability for this program comes from our signature special event (Celebrity Game
Night), foundation and corporate grants, Board and individual donations, and program revenue.
Treasure House’s leadership and Board of Directors is committed to financial sustainability, which
is exemplified through their dedication to further our mission.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Our Board is comprised of 14 prominent business/community leaders and philanthropists who
generously donate, actively plan, and participate in fundraising events. In addition, our Advisory Board
has three members and we have created a Young Professionals Board for young adults, ages 21-40.
These young professionals mirror the age range of our residents and are actively involved in fundraising
efforts.
11. Describe your plan to document progress and results.
To document each client’s progress and goals (set and achieved), both case management files and client
surveys are tracked. Program modifications are made using client survey data as needed.
Evaluation efforts include measureable outcomes as follows: 100% of residents experience increased quality
of life through educational, social, and employment opportunities; 100% of residents will create a life plan,
including employment/educational goals and community engagement activities; and 80% of residents will
obtain meaningful (defined as long-term/at least minimum wage) employment.
12. Indicate any application to and/or awards made by a tribe other than the Gila River Indian Community for state
shared revenues for this and any other project for the past five (5) years. If this information is included in a
separate attachment, please indicate that here.
Treasure House applied to Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation in 2021 – that application was not funded.

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget
Budget Period: Jan 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022
For each budget item listed here please provide a narrative description on the following Project Budget Detail page.

Proposed Budget Expense
(list each budget item)
Amount
requested from
GRIC
Amount
requested or
secured from
other sources
In Kind
contributions
Total Budget
1. Insurance and Benefits
$0
$33,166
$0
$33,166
2. Salaries and Wages
$15,000
$196,926
$0
$211,926
3. Liability Insurance
$0
$2,500
$0
$2,500
4. Transportation
$4,000
$0
$0
$4,000
5. Program Supplies
$6,000
$5,000
$0
$11,000
6. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
7. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
8. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
9. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
10. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
11. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
12. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
13. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
14. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
15. Click here to enter text.
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total Budget
$25,000
$237,592
$0
$262,592

Gila River Indian Community Grant Application
Grant Cycle 2022

Project Budget Detail
Please provide a narrative description for each of the project budget items listed on the previous page. Include the
dollar figure and how it was derived.
1. Insurance and Benefits: $33,166 (Other Funds). Includes the insurance and benefits of two life coaches that provide
direct services for residents.
2. Salaries and Wages: $15,000 (Gila River Indian Community Funds), $196,926 (Other Funds). GRIC funds will pay for
.10% FTE of two Life Coach salaries.
3. Liability insurance: $2,500 (Other Funds). Includes the cost of Liability Insurance at Treasure House.
4. Transportation: $4,000 (Gila River Indian Community Funds). Transportation includes the cost of transporting
residents to work, volunteer activities, and community events.
5. Click here to enter text.
6. Click here to enter text.
7. Click here to enter text.
8. Click here to enter text.
9. Click here to enter text.
10. Click here to enter text.
11. Click here to enter text.
12. Click here to enter text.
13. Click here to enter text.
14. Click here to enter text.
15. Click here to enter text.
Other explanation: Click here to enter text.
To ensure a complete application and proper submission please refer to the Grant Application Instructions.