Overview of the Southern Arizona Sports Foundation: With the inception of Spring Training activities at Kino Sports Complex, a group of community volunteers gathered to create a foundation that could help promote and manage the efforts of the Kino Sports Complex for Major League Baseball's Spring Training at Tucson Electric Park, while also giving back needed dollars to at-risk youth crime prevention and educational programs in Pima County. In 2003, a non-profit foundation was granted its 501(c)(3) IRS status and the Southern Arizona Sports Foundation was formed.

The Purpose of the Southern Arizona Sports Foundation is to:

• support educational programs and crime prevention programs for at risk youth;
• provide support for the Pima County Stadium District;
• and promote Major League Spring Training Baseball in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

Each year the Arizona Diamondbacks have graciously partnered on a charity game, donating all ticket proceeds to the Southern Arizona Sports Foundation. These funds, along with results of additional fundraising on the part of the Foundation will be granted annually to programs that help youth in our community.

Focus: To recognize and support programs that aim to create positive life changes for youth at-risk by promoting child welfare, non-profit education and crime prevention organizations.

1. Child Welfare: Child welfare in the state of Arizona is one of the leading issues and one of its greatest challenges.
2. Education: Education is the cornerstone of any healthy community. It is necessary and forthright for foundations of all kinds to support educational initiatives, private and public elementary and high schools, as well as higher education.

The Southern Arizona Sports Foundation will look to support the advancement of proven educational initiatives in the communities it serves through direct giving or targeted grants.