Thunderbirds make $400,000 donation to Phoenix Children’s Hospital

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Children’s Hospital unit that takes care of critically ill kids with heart conditions received a $400,000 donation courtesy of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The charity arm of The Thunderbirds, hosts of the Valley’s annual PGA event, presented the gift during a ceremony Thursday.

It was the second-largest donation The Thunderbirds have ever made to PCH, bringing their total contribution to the nationally acclaimed hospital to more than $2.6 million since 1985.

“We’re fortunate enough to host one of the best golf tournaments in the world, but these are the days we look forward to,” Chance Cozby, president of Thunderbirds Charities, said according to a press release.

“We’re honored to be a part of this project and celebrate this wonderful day, knowing that so many children and families will get such great treatment at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in the years to come.”

The money will be used to double the size of the facility’s cardiovascular intensive care unit and fund new, state-of-the-art equipment.

“Thanks to the generous contributions from our great friends at Thunderbirds Charities, the CVICU is able to double its number of beds, from 24 to 48,” Steve Schnall, senior vice president and chief development officer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, said in the release.

“The community will continue to feel the impact of these donations for years to come.”

Earlier in the week, Phoenix Children’s was cited in 10 out of 10 medical specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of best children’s hospitals.

The website ranked PCH as the 14th-best pediatric cardiology and heart surgery facility in the nation.

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