Foundation donates $500K to Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona

PHOENIX — A Valley-based nonprofit organization which works with abused children to turn their trauma into strength and courage through the arts received a $500,000 donation on Monday.

The donation came from the Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, which will donate half of the sum in 2021 and 2022, according to a press release.

The funds will go toward helping Free Arts reimagine their programming, focusing on virtual opportunities that expand accessibility to the foundation’s programming, according to the release,.

“It will allow us to continue to adapt our programs to serve children safely, while also allowing us to focus on the future and how Free Arts needs to grow and change in the coming years to best serve the community,” Free Arts Executive Director Alicia Sutton Campbell said in the release.

Free Arts also wants to use the funding to increase the diversity, equity and inclusion of their programs so they can reach as many children in the area as possible, the release said.

The nonprofit organization currently serves more than 6,000 children, according to the release.

Renee Parsons said that both she and her husband believe that art can be a transformative release for those suffering from trauma, which is why the couple wanted to help the organization in their endeavors.

“Art can be a very powerful outlet for expressing ourselves and dealing with complicated emotions,” Parsons said in the release. “Free Arts is offering children and young adults the ability to harness that power for healing and growth.”

The donating foundation was founded by golf club manufacturer PXG’s founder and CEO, Bob Parsons and his wife Renee.

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