Arizona Cardinals Donates $5,000 to the Gila River Fire Dept.

October 6, 2023

Kyle Knox

Gila River Indian News

On Sunday, Sept. 24, the Arizona Cardinals hosted dozens of Community members for the annual Community Day game for the sold-out match against the Dallas Cowboys. The Arizona Cardinals organization made a $5,000 donation to the Gila River Indian Community’s Fire Department for their crisis response team and apprentice program. 

Before the game, Ira H. Hayes, American Legion Post 84 color guard, presented colors during the singing of the National Anthem as Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill presented the check to Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis on behalf of the Arizona Cardinals.

The ongoing partnership is one that Gov. Lewis appreciates greatly, and admires the direction of the Cardinals organization and owners, having provided numerous contributions to GRIC. Gov. Lewis cites the monetary donations, football camps for youth, and ticket donations for the day’s game serves as a true hallmark of the strong partnership GRIC maintains with the Arizona Cardinals. 

“This funding is going directly to our GRFD crisis response team that helps our Community when their going through a wide variety of crisis, it means a lot for the Cardinals to provide this support for something that’s going to make a big difference at critical times our people face,” said Gov. Lewis. 

Also in attendance was Lt. Gov. Monica Antone. “As our Community continues to grow our GRFD also needs to grow, so today’s donation will go a long way in securing equipment, training, and other needs to help our first responders. I can’t thank the Cardinals enough,” she said. 

“Our fire fighters and crisis response teams serve 365 days a year so I want to say thank you again to the Arizona Cardinals and our first responders for all that you do in keeping our Community safe,” said Lt. Gov. Antone.

Though  Dallas Cowboys fans packed  State Farm Stadium with blue, it was a good day for the Cardinals, who were victorious against the Cowboys, winning 28 to 16.  But, it was an even remarkably better day for the Community, benefiting from the monetary and ticket donations from the Arizona Cardinals.