Social Impact & Volunteering

Freeport-McMoRan Gives Over $500,000 in Grants to Arizona Communities

Nov 11, 2014 7:45 AM ET
Campaign: Freeport-McMoRan: Communities & People
Dee Weaver (right), a member of the Freeport-McMoRan grant committee, presents a check for $64,000 to Sahuarita High School teacher Travis Goeden to fund math and science programming, as Richard Ducote (left), Freeport McMoRan's community affairs manager, looks on.

Freeport-McMoRan awarded grants totaling $577,700 to the Green Valley/Sahuarita community in Arizona.

Recipients were selected by the Green Valley/Sahuarita Community Investment Fund (CIF), overseen by a committee of community leaders assembled by the Freeport-McMoRan Community Partnership Panel, to identify and address community needs in health care, education, environment, economic development and transportation with positive, sustainable solutions.

CIF was established in 2010, as part of Freeport's objectives to empower communities to develop and identify projects that would help ensure their self-sufficiency beyond the presence of Freeport operations.

The 2014 grant recipients are:

• Town of Sahuarita: $92,100

The grant will help develop "The Biz Hub" in Sahuarita Town Hall to support businesses, foster business development and encourage entrepreneurship with a one-stop business connection center.

• Green Valley Gardeners: $116,000

Funding will cover the new Desert Meadows Park in Green Valley, converting a little-used four-acre plot into a thriving garden that will beautify the area, enhance community engagement, facilitate youth vocational training and help supply fresh vegetables to the local food bank.

• La Posada at Park Centre: $97,275

Expansion of Los Ninos del Valle preschool, bringing outdoor classroom learning activities to children and increase capacity for quality daycare in the area.

• Sahuarita Unified School District: $64,000

Continuation of the Math and Science Success program focusing on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects.

• The Green Valley Community Foundation: $60,000

Funds to provide a continuation of the program to help control buffelgrass, the dangerous and highly flammable invasive grass in common areas of Green Valley.

• The University of Arizona Foundation/Water Resources Research Center: $22,000

Funds to help Arizona Water 101 and expand the Arizona Water Festival and workshop activities for students and adults, promoting understanding of critical water management and policy issues.

• Compass Health Care: $31,325

Funds will help provide integrated health services through Pasadera Integrated Care, to area residents including mental health services to low-income families.

• The University of Arizona Foundation/ Santa Rita Experimental Range: $65,000

The grant will support development of hands-on, science-based programs for local educators, community members and youth, including teacher training, centered on the Experimental Range.

• Renewal Center Inc.: $30,000

Funds will help build capacity for increased access to quality mental health and counseling services while also integrating needed technological infrastructure for the organization.

For more information about Freeport-McMoRan's community investments and programs, go to Freeportinmycommunity.com. Also see http://www.fcx.com/sd/community/comm_invest.htm

Please see the 2013 Working Toward Sustainable Development Report for more information on all of their social, economic and environmental efforts.