How the Thunderbirds use the WM Phoenix Open to benefit the community

KTAR's Community Spotlight is focused on the Thunderbirds and the work done to benefit local charities through the WM Phoenix Open.

BY JEFF VINTON

Jan 5, 2026, 3:12 PM

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PHOENIX — Throughout the year, KTAR News 92.3 FM honors those who help local charities by turning the Community Spotlight on them.

The first spotlight of 2026 is focused on the Thunderbirds and the organization’s work to benefit local charities through one of the Valley’s biggest events, the WM Phoenix Open.

“We’ve raised over $226 million over the last 90 years that we’ve been doing this,” 2026 WM Phoenix Open Chairman Jason Eisenberg told Arizona’s Morning News on Monday. “Last year, we raised a record $18.1 million and we’ve steadily increased what we’ve been able to raise every year through various venues and various things we’ve done at the tournament.”

Last February’s tournament was the eighth time that “The People’s Open” raised more than $10 million. It also surpassed the $17.5 million raised for charity in 2024 and the $14.5 million raised in 2023, which were both records at the time.

Eisenberg said those accomplishments are due to the massive crowds the tournament draws.

“We are the No. 1-attended event on tour and we’ve really been able to do that because we have the greatest fans that continue to support us,” he said. “And by virtue of that, we’re able to support the community.”

What charities benefit from money raised by the Thunderbirds at the WM Phoenix Open?

In 1986, the Thunderbirds formed a non-profit organization called Thunderbirds Charities to distribute the funds raised during Phoenix Open week.

This past spring, Thunderbirds Charities gave out grants ranging from $5,000 to $700,000 to 50 Arizona charities, totaling more than $4 million.

The grantees varied from the Banner Health Foundation ($450,000 for the expansion of the emergency department at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa) to notMykid ($500,000 for a prevention, early-intervention and recovery support program for teens), Special Olympics Arizona ($400,000 for inclusive sports competitions).

Eisenberg added that the Thunderbirds work with nearly every hospital system in Arizona, including Valleywise Health and Phoenix Children’s, along with many others.

“But it’s everything from the big charity organizations down to things like we support every high school golf team in the state,” he said. “We support really every Little League. We’re not just the big hospital systems, we’re not just the big kind of charities. We try to touch everything, we try to really support every aspect of our community.”

The 2026 WM Phoenix Open will be held Feb. 2-8 at TPC Scottsdale.