Arizona Cardinals Donate Funding to Gila River Fire Dept.

December 3, 2022

Kyle Knox

Managing Editor

On, Sunday, Nov. 27, Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill presented a check for $5,000 to Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and GRFD Chief Kathy Garcia during a pregame ceremony between the Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.

The donation will support the GRFD’s new year-long Firefighters Apprenticeship Program for youth.

“We feel very honored and privileged to have this partnership in place for the Cardinals to help support our work,” said GRFD Chief Garcia. “I want to send a huge thank you to the Community, The Arizona Cardinals, and our Gila River Resorts & Casinos.”

This donation is made possible through the long-time partnership between the Gila River Resorts & Casinos and the Arizona Cardinals. In addition to monetary donations to the Community, the Arizona Cardinals continue to host flag football camps for Community youth throughout the year. 

“This partnership with the Cardinals organization speaks volumes, they are always willing to partner and collaborate with our Community,” said Gov. Lewis. “This partnership didn’t happen overnight, it took years from providing football camps to help enrich our youth to donations like today, this partnership brings so much benefit to our Community and I’m proud to see what it has become.”

Lt. Gov. Monica Antone also attended the game and said, “I want to share my appreciation to the Bidwell’s, they have been a partner of the Community since the nineties. They’re always willing to support our youth, public safety, and Community through yearly contributions, we all greatly appreciate everything they do for us.” 

The presentation ceremony was aired during the game for everyone in attendance, including the 300 Community members that were invited to attend. 

In addition to the donation the pregame programming featured the Haskell Osife-Antone American Legion Post 51. Before the game, Post 51 presented the colors for all during the singing of the National Anthem.