The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to give back.
Thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Bob’s Discount Furniture, MANA House was thoughtfully furnished with new furniture, décor, a television and reading and game areas. MANA House is a shelter for homeless veterans that provides community and resources to help them overcome the obstacles they face after serving.
In 2017, MANA House was the recipient of a Ken Kendrick Grand Slam Award grant, which was used to establish the Diamondbacks Home Plate Kitchen, a community dining area, at the facility.
The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation was established in 1997 before the team hit the field.
Its mission is to support three main areas of need: homelessness, indigent health care and children’s programs of all types, including education and youth baseball and softball field building and renovation, outreach programs and equipment. In addition, the foundation has created strategic programs that address the needs of our community including veterans, police, teachers, firefighters and first responders.
The organization coined the phrase “D-backs Give Back” in 2012, a simple and concise phrase to explain the dedication and combined giving of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. To date, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation have made charitable contributions totaling more than $75 million to nonprofit organizations and charitable programs across Arizona.
Of the $75 million total, $60 million has been distributed through the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. The majority of funds are raised through events and programs such as the annual Evening on the Diamond Gala, 50/50 Raffle, D-backs Celebrity Golf Classic, D-backs Race Against Cancer, Diamonds Back Field Building Program, License Plate Program, D-backs Authentics, Chase Field Tour Program, Mystery Ball, Online Auctions and major gifts from players and partners in our community.
The Program Grants and Ken Kendrick Grand Slam Awards application process occurs annually. Any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Arizona can apply. Grants are reviewed by a committee of Arizona Diamondbacks employees and the Executive Council, who score the applications and make recommendations to the Board. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation Board of Directors, a 13-member voting board composed of appointees from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Maricopa County, is responsible for approving all grant applications each year.
Since 2000, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation has built or refurbished 43 baseball and softball fields as part of the Mike Kennedy “Diamonds Back” Field Building Program representing a charitable investment of more than $10 million. In partnership with APS and a charitable gift from individual players, the program has allowed children from across the state to play baseball and softball at quality facilities. The fields generally feature new lights, an electronic scoreboard, new fencing and backstops, new irrigation and new grass and dirt.
The D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program was launched in the Spring of 2014, providing youth baseball and softball leagues across Arizona with high quality jerseys and caps at no cost. The program has significantly offset diminishing resources and has allowed participating leagues to reallocate funds toward equipment, registration fees and facility improvements. Each year, more than 55,000 participating youth baseball and softball players from over 120 different leagues receive these uniforms.
MANA House
Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation