Ortiz Family Foundation Supports the following Arizona Charities in 2009:
Best Buddies
March is Mental Retardation Awareness Month; it is also celebrated among our friends as Best Buddies Month. The Ortiz Family Foundation will sponsor the March 2008 celebration, “Buddywood”, an event dedicated to creating awareness about the miracles the Best Buddies program creates everyday. We are also this years sponsors of their student’s 2nd Annual Dodgeball Tournament.
Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
The Best Buddies Goal…People with intellectual disabilities are one of the most undervalued populations in the world. As such, children with intellectual disabilities often grow up experiencing a life of rejection and isolation. This leads to emotional problems, including depression, lack of self-worth and loneliness. Developing friendships with those who are not disabled is critical to a successful transition out of segregation and into a world that celebrates their inclusion. As a result of their experience with Best Buddies, they have an increased sense of self worth, which leads to securing successful jobs, learning how to ride public transportation, living independently in their homes, falling in love and making long term friendships. Best Buddies is the only program of its kind and has not been successfully duplicated by any other organization on a national level.
Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) was formed in 1982 in order to promote the game of baseball, raise money for charity, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images and protect the dignity of the game through former players. A non-profit organization, the MLBPAA establishes a place where a player’s drive for excellence and achievement on the field can continue long after they take their last steps off the professional diamond.
Charitable programs hosted by the MLBPAA include, the charitable Swing with the Legends golf series, it has raised over $6 million, benefiting dozens of charities. Organized at some of the country’s premier golf courses, the Swing with the Legends golf series provides a weekend of fun for participants while benefiting those less fortunate. In addition to the golf series the MLBPAA provides, at absolutely no expense to children or their parents, the Legends for Youth clinic series. The Legends for Youth baseball clinics combine former Major Leaguers and youth participants on the diamond, giving children an opportunity to acquire life skills and baseball fundamentals from some of baseballs brightest past stars.
Sunshine Acres Children’s Home
The Ortiz Family Foundation has selected Sunshine Acres Children’s Home to benefit from our O.F.F to School Field Day Program in 2008. The Ortiz Family Foundation is proud to have the opportunity to take all of Sunshine Acres children on a back-to-school shopping spree!
The Sun Shine Acres Mission: Is to provide a loving, wholesome, Christian home for children who are separated from their parents, and to help them establish long-term relationships with stable parental figures. Sunshine Acres is a Home and we treat the children as our own. We always welcome visits from former children and their families, as our greatest joy is hearing of their success in life.
The Central Arizona Blue Star Moms Group
The Central Arizona Blue Star Moms Group Chapter will be matching groups, individuals, businesses (Angels) who would like to adopt active Arizona military service members who need help with airfare coming home as part of their “On Angel’s Wings” program. The Ortiz Family Foundation is supporting Arizona service men and women through the “On Angel’s Wings” program, helping bring soldiers home to their families.
“We are mothers who now have, or have had, children honorably serving in the military. We are a non-profit service organization supporting each other and our children while promoting patriotism. The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. is a non-partisan, non-political organization. We do not support any political candidate, nor do we endorse any religious organization. The military represents all aspects of America as does our organization.” ~ Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
There are many soldiers stationed on Bases far from home facing the dilemma of extremely expensive airfares in order to spend time with their families during leave dates. Congress has asked air carriers to give military fare to all active duty personnel but it is not required of them. Military personnel do not have the advantage of flexible leave dates or enough advance notice to get the same deals offered to the average citizen. Many soldiers will pay in excess of $1000 to return home. When considering the income of a solider, many have no option of spending leave with family and friends. The Central Arizona Blue Star Moms Group are currently trying to work with Arizona based airlines or any other airlines that are willing to give Arizona military personnel low or discounted airfare. The Central Arizona Blue Star Moms Group is a 501 (c) 3 organization, donations are tax deductible.
