SCOTTSDALE, AZ – While facing unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) received a grant from Fiesta Bowl Charities that will continue to provide a legacy of Leadership workshops to coaches, student-athletes, teachers, and parents across the State of Arizona.

Sports ultimately teach us our greatest lessons in life and provide a springboard to excel both in the classroom and in life. The goal is to reinforce positive behaviors at all levels of youth sports by delivering character education resources so that every child can become the best competitor and person that he or she can be. Specifically, partnerships with middle & high schools, as well as underserved youth organizations and Public Parks & Recreation programs across the State of Arizona will create a Development Zone, utilizing a combination of in-person and Zoom workshops. It is widely known from research that when kids are allowed to participate in athletics through a Development Zone, they are more likely to stick with their sport. This provides a broader impact to the student beyond athletic endeavors.

“There is no greater example of the amazing impact that Fiesta Bowl Charities has in the community than with PCA in Arizona,” said PCA Executive Director Rich Tomey. “PCA and Fiesta Bowl Charities share a common mission that focuses on enhancing the lives of Arizonans through sports and having fun while doing so. In our ever-changing world, we’ve endured a shortfall in donations due to COVID-19 and this grant is needed more than ever.”

Positive Coaching Alliance of Arizona was among 44 nonprofit organizations across the state of Arizona that benefitted from Fiesta Bowl Charities grant funding in the 2020-21 season. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and various community events throughout the year, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted $16 million in charitable giving the last five years alone.

“We are committed to enhancing the lives of Arizonans and by supporting the Positive Coaching Alliance and their amazing grassroots efforts, we are collectively making a meaningful difference,” said Patrick Barkley, Chair of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors. “Giving back to the Arizona community has been core to the Fiesta Bowl mission since we were founded 50 years ago, from our Board of Directors to Yellow Jacket Committee, volunteers and staff.”

 “The last year has been incredibly challenging for us all and that is why it is very important that the Fiesta Bowl still deliver these necessary funds to PCA-Arizona,” said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy. “The heroes are nonprofits like PCA across Arizona who use these funds to improve people’s lives, right where they need it. We are part of this community and it’s our mission to give back to the community.”

Quick facts about Fiesta Bowl Charities:

• $5.5 million given in charitable giving for 2020-21 season
• 44 nonprofits benefit from Fiesta Bowl Charities’ grant cycle in 2020-21
• $16 million in charitable giving over last five years
• $21 million in charitable giving over last 10 years
• $3.7 million granted through Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers in program’s first five years
• Fiesta Bowl gives more in annual charitable giving than any college bowl organization
• More than 1 million people served in 2020-21
• 3,723,570 meals served in 2020-21
• 50,000 PPE face masks distributed in 2020-21

ABOUT POSITIVE COACHING ALLIANCE

As a catalyst for a positive youth sports culture, Positive Coaching Alliance provides research-based training and resources for coaches, parents, athletes, and leaders to ensure a positive youth development experience for ALL kids, in all communities across the U.S., through sports. PCA ensures sports are ‘done right’ with programming that is research-based and designed to have impact at three levels in a youth sports organization or school:

• YOUTH experience improved life skills and character development.
• COACHES become more positive and increase their focus on using sports to teach life lessons.
• YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS see their cultures become more positive and everyone involved has more fun.

PCA believes that all youth can benefit from a positive, inclusive sports culture that develops social and emotional skills, molds character, and prepares them for competition and life. In more than two decades of work, PCA expanded from a small local nonprofit to a strong, nationwide organization that provides programming in all 50 states, reaching thousands of organizations around the country and positively impacting millions of youth athletes every year. PCA has now partnered with roughly 3,500 schools and youth sports organizations nationwide to deliver more than 20,000 live group workshops, reaching over 20 million youth.

ABOUT FIESTA BOWL

Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaBowl.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on Twitter and Instagram.