GRIC receives donation from the Phoenix Suns during MCT

Emma Hughes
Gila River Indian News

The Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation presented the Gila River Indian Community with a $10,000 grant for youth athletics on Friday, March 15, during the 60th annual Mul-Chu-Tha Fair & Rodeo (MCT). This grant is intended to support the development of sports facilities, training programs, and equipment for youth.

As part of their commitment to honoring and recognizing tribal communities, representatives from the foundation joined the GRIC for the MCT Community Day events, where they presented the check to Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and Lt. Gov. Regina Antone.

“We’re here giving back and making sure we’re connecting with all of you,” said Shawn Martinez, senior director of live presentation for the Phoenix Suns.

Gov. Lewis thanked the foundation for the grant and highlighted the Suns commitment to tribes with their on-going ORIGINATIV games, an initiative that began in 2022, by the Phoenix Suns to recognize all 22 tribes in the state.

Community members were taken by surprise as the Suns gorilla mascot arrived, hyping up the crowd and waving a turquoise Suns flag. Suns dancers and representatives accompanied him, all wearing the City Edition uniform, which debuted as part of ORIGINATIV.

The crowd received Suns merchandise and one lucky youth was presented with a turquoise basketball signed by Suns players. Gov. Lewis was also presented with a custom Suns jersey.

The Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation distributes more than $2.5 million annually to hundreds of local and diverse communities throughout the state, impacting more than 400,000 children. Since its inception, the foundation has donated over $43 million to state organizations focusing on basketball-inspired programs.

The ORIGINATIV games has made a lasting impact on Indigenous communities in the state and worldwide. It focuses on providing resources and support to tribal communities through basketball-inspired programs, contributing to the development of sports infrastructure, and promoting cultural exchange.

The Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury foundation continues to use basketball as a platform to provide meaningful resources and support to strengthen and bring together diverse communities across the state.