AZCEND Gila River Indian Community Grant Briefing

Tribal Gaming Community Application Briefing:
Non-Profit Submission
Tribal Gaming Community Applying To
Gila River Indian Community
Name of the Non-profit Organization
AZCEND
Does the Non-profit Organization have IRS Tax-Exempt Status?
Yes
Contact Information
Shelley Nelson
grants@azcend.org
(480) 963-1423
Application Priority Areas
Health Care
Title of the Project
AZCEND's Drive to Deliver Vehicle Replacement
Amount Intended to Request
$183,000
Purpose of the Grant
To replace three vehicles that currently limit service delivery, the project expands
AZCENDs capacity to respond to rising community needs and maximizes the return on
the investment in public health, food security, and housing stability.
AZCENDs hunger relief and homeless shelter programs serve more than 16,000 East
Valley residents each year, but our ability to meet this demand is strained by aging
vehicles that are costly to maintain, frequently out of service, and in some cases no
longer safe. Reliable transportation is essential to moving food efficiently through the
local food system to our Food Bank, ensuring seniors and adults with disabilities receive
nutritious meals and social connection at Senior Centers, and helping emergency
shelter clients access next steps. Grant funds would replace three vehicles central to
daily operations but currently restricting our efficiency, capacity, and reach. Funds will
be used for each vehicle price including tax, title, license, registration, and branding.
Project Summary
The Drive to Deliver project will replace three essential vehicles to restore lost capacity,
improve efficiency, and strengthen service delivery across AZCENDs core programs:


A 15-passenger shuttle to reconnect seniors and adults with disabilities to Senior
Center programming and community outings after the decommissioning of a
2008 vehicle cut transportation capacity in half;

A  temperature-controlled Ford Transit to safely recover and transport food,
replacing an unreliable 2013 model and filling a critical gap between large box
trucks and staff vehicles while supporting food recovery, senior meal delivery,
and cost savings;

And a 4-passenger sedan to provide consistent, liability-free transportation for
shelter clients accessing housing, medical, employment, and case management
services, as well as for donor site visits that strengthen philanthropic
relationships.
Together, these vehicle replacements will reduce service disruptions and maintenance
costs while expanding safe, reliable access to food, services, social connection, and
stability for low-income seniors, adults with disabilities, individuals experiencing food
insecurity, and people experiencing homelessness throughout the Chandler area.
Impact on the City of Chandler
A temperature-controlled Ford Transit will strengthen hunger relief efforts by enabling
safe, frequent recovery of fresh food contributing to the distribution of more than one
million pounds of food annually and improving food quality for over 15,000 Food Bank
participants, many of whom reside in Chandler.
The Drive to Deliver project will generate measurable, long-term benefits for Chandler
residents while strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of essential human
services. The project will double transportation capacity for older adults and adults with
disabilities, increasing access to congregate meals, social connection, and Senior
Center programming that support healthy aging and reduce isolation.
A dedicated sedan will ensure reliable transportation for shelter clients accessing
medical care, employment services, and housing appointments critical steps toward
stability that reduce reliance on emergency systems. Collectively, these investments
reduce service disruptions, lower operating costs, and ensure consistent, dignified
access to essential services. The project advances the City of Chandlers goals related
to community resilience, sustainability, and quality of life, delivering lasting benefits to
residents across generations.
Address of Non-profit Organization the City of Chandler will Send the Tribal
Community Grant Payment
AZCEND
P.O. Box 591
Chandler, Arizona. 85244
Contact Name for Receipt of Payment

Trinity Donovan