The Fiesta Bowl mascot calling and surprising 400 Arizona teachers, at the beginning of November, with wishes including classroom iPads and science class robots.

Submitted photo

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Seeking to enhance the lives of Arizonans through youth, sports and education, Fiesta Bowl Charities has opened its 2022-23 grant cycle application period now through 5 p.m. May 19.

Every year through the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl, year-round events and corporate partnerships, the Fiesta Bowl organization champions charitable giving to enhance nonprofit organizations that serve the Arizona community, according to a press release.

Arizona nonprofits are encouraged to submit applications immediately through the May 19 deadline and recipients will be honored at the Arizona Bank & Trust Fiesta Bowl Kickoff Luncheon presented by Caesars Sportsbook on Aug. 23.

“Since our inception more than 50 years ago, charitable giving has been at the center of the Fiesta Bowl’s mission,” said Fiesta Bowl Board Chair Randal Norton in a prepared statement.

“Arizona nonprofits work tirelessly to improve our state, help people in need and create meaningful and long-term impact. Past Fiesta Bowl Grant Cycle recipients have done amazing work and we are happy to help their impact grow further.”

Fiesta Bowl Charities offers funding in three levels:

• Spirit of the Fiesta Bowl Grant at $100,000;
• Touchdown Grant at $50,000; and
• Field Goal Grant at $25,000.

All proposals must provide services within the Fiesta Bowl’s core pillars of youth, sports and education, and all applicants must be an Arizona 501©(3) organization. Additionally, 100 percent of the organization’s project must serve residents within the Arizona geographic boundaries.

After the application period closes on May 31, a 32-person group of Board of Directors, Yellow Jacket Committee Members, Ambassadors and staff will begin the evaluation process.

Last season, Fiesta Bowl Charities selected 51 Arizona nonprofits to receive funding that served over 575,000 Arizonans, including an estimated 406,941 youth, the release states.

Also, The Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program will once again provide much-needed funding directly to teachers and their classrooms. Over the program’s first six years, a total of $4.7 million has been given to more than 1,200 teachers, impacting 500,000+ students throughout the state.