Featured Projects
Great Hearts Academies, Phoenix, Arizona
Great Hearts Academies is one of the largest and highly regarded nonprofit charter school networks in the United States, with 28 academies across Arizona and Texas serving 14,000 students. In early 2011, Trivium Preparatory Academy (7-12) and Archway Trivium (K-6) opened in Goodyear. Within two years it became clear that enrollment would soon outpace capacity. A new campus was approved on nearby property on Bullard Avenue, and major construction began in late 2014.
To be fully outfitted, the new campus still needed $1 million in athletic facilities, field lights and bleachers, classroom and library amenities, stage lights and audio systems. With a long history of work with Great Hearts going back to 2006, Powers Young & Company was called in to conduct a short campaign to secure the necessary funding and establish an ongoing culture of philanthropy. The successful effort concluded in June 2015 in time to celebrate Trivium’s inaugural school year in the new and complete campus.
Upward for Children and Families, Phoenix, Arizona
Founded in 1958, Upward for Children and Families serves special needs and severely medically fragile children and young adults from pre K through 22. Unfortunately, they were forced do so in 40-year old modular facilities originally meant as temporary. Powers Young was hired to help enlarge and strengthen the board, raise community awareness, the direct a campaign to add 20,000 square feet of new construction to the former Jungle Park Zoo site.
After Board Development and Marketing & Communication Task Forces were established, additional board members were enlisted, and a new marketing plan was put in place with a new look and a new web and social media presence. The Raising Children Upward campaign was formally launched in August 2013. The second and final phase of the expansion was completed in the summer of 2016 in time for the 2016/17 school year. The $4.4 million campaign will be substantially concluded by 2017.
Arizona Center for Nature Conservation - Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, Arizona
In 2008, the Phoenix Zoo formally launched launched its first ever site-wide improvement project, the $20 million A World Class Zoo for a World Class City campaign. The following week, financial markets around the world contracted, signaling the onset of “The Great Recession,” the worst financial crisis in three generations. With some key lead gifts already committed, Zoo leadership took a deep breath and elected to continue.
The campaign would fund critical infrastructure, new exhibits for the Orangutan, Komodo dragon and Sumatran tiger; a new entry oasis and facilities for the Zoo’s administrative staff and 400 volunteers; funds to support the Zoo’s worldwide conservation mission; and a $2 million endowment fund to help offset added facility maintenance expenses.
In 2010, Powers Young was asked to provide counsel and management to help finish the campaign. With the application of sound fundraising principals and hard work, campaign volunteers and staff leadership were rewarded in 2013, when the campaign officially concluded with $23 million in hand. In 2015, the Zoo celebrated the grand opening of the final project funded by the campaign, Isle of the Tiger.
