Fiesta Bowl tour to bring kindness across Arizona in lieu of parade

PHOENIX – Due to ongoing restrictions and concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fiesta Bowl has canceled its parade planned for April.

Instead, the Fiesta Bowl has replaced it with another event that is believed to be equally as special and possibly more fitting this year.

Continuing the spirit of the parade, the Fiesta Bowl Organization and Desert Financial Credit Union have announced a statewide traveling tour called “Kindness Arizona.”

The new project is a re-imagination of this past season’s Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade to bring community impact across the state.

“We feel bad we could not provide that service of producing a parade for Arizona,” Mike Nealy, executive director of the Fiesta Bowl, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday. “This is not a replacement, but this is something to give back to Arizona.”

The tour will hit the road for five days beginning March 22. It will make 25 stops through the Phoenix Metro, Flagstaff, Prescott and Tucson areas.

“We’re going to surprise some teachers with a makeover of the teachers’ lounges, we’re going to bring items of need for students and families,” Nealy said, adding the traveling tour might also bring services.

The efforts will include funds to schools and community groups, revitalizing facilities, donating hygiene kits and performing random acts of kindness in every location to surprise people in need.

Instead of staging their annual event that typically attracts thousands, “Kindness Arizona” is focused on celebrating the goodness of the community and supporting youth, educators, and front-line workers.

“It’s always a good time to do good things for people and we’ve all had a tough time this last year,” Nealy said. “So if we can spread a little more kindness and be a part of that, that’s what we’re looking to do.”

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