Local First Arizona receives $90,000 from Thunderbirds Charities to support business education programs
PHOENIX (Oct. 2, 2024) — Thunderbirds Charities has awarded Local First Arizona $90,000 to support Spanish-speaking and Black entrepreneurs’ success.
The donation will go toward Local First’s business education programs Fuerza Local, Nivel Ejecutivo and We Rise.
Thunderbirds Charities has invested about $620,000 in the Local First programs since 2017.
Photos: Fuerza Local and We Rise
“Thunderbirds Charities has been a steadfast supporter of Local First Arizona’s business accelerators. This investment will empower many Black and Hispanic Arizonans to open and expand small businesses, create new jobs and drive a strong economy,” said Local First Arizona Founder & CEO Kimber Lanning.
The Fuerza Local Business Accelerator is a six-month training program for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs who want to level up their businesses. Nivel Ejecutivo is an advanced-level accelerator for Spanish-speaking owners and managers. We Rise Business Accelerator is a six-month training program for Black entrepreneurs.
Each course was created with experts from these communities to ensure culturally relevant curricula. Classes cover a wide range of topics such as business models, financial literacy, licensing, customer service and networking, paired with a savings program to integrate business owners into mainstream banking and build credit scores.
Since 2013, Fuerza Local’s Business Accelerator and Nivel Ejecutivo have graduated more than 1,100 entrepreneurs. The two programs have pumped more than $24 million new revenue into the economy and created more than 1,400 new jobs since 2021.
Nearly 100 entrepreneurs have graduated from the We Rise Business Accelerator since 2020.
The Thunderbirds donation will go toward recruitment, instructors, mentors and $1,000 matching checks that entrepreneurs receive when they graduate after saving $1,000 during the program to build their credit scores.
“Local First’s business training programs have made an impressive impact on aspiring entrepreneurs in our state, who are creating generational wealth for their families and economic vitality for their communities,” said George Thimsen, President of Thunderbirds Charities. “This grant is a testament to how deeply we believe in the work Local First is doing.”
About Local First Arizona
Established in 2003, Local First Arizona is a non-profit organization fiercely dedicated to driving inclusive community and economic development throughout Arizona. We have created a movement that champions a thriving and diverse economy, fostering community support and an unwavering sense of local pride and purpose in every Arizonan. Our work shapes the future of Arizona by advocating that every individual and community deserves the opportunity to thrive, and that entrepreneurship is at the core of any lasting economy. In rural, Tribal, suburban and urban communities across our great state, Local First is delivering resources to ensure a future focused on economic opportunity for all. Because our state is our story, localfirstaz.com.
About Thunderbirds Charities
Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the WM Phoenix Open. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 285 “life” members. For more information about The Thunderbirds or the 2024 WM Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com. For more information on the Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.
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