SAFFORD — More than $1.5 million is going into the local economies of Graham and Greenlee counties thanks to grant funding from United Way.
The United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties announced 18 programs and projects were funded in the final cycle of 2024, in the area of education, health and economic stability.
Funded projects in Cycle 4 include:
- Education
- $90,000 Fort Thomas Unified School District — Playgrounds for little learners
- $55,550 Incountry Vietnam Veterans Association — Mares Bluff Memorial Trail
- $40,000 Boys & Girls Club of the Gila Valley — Building Brighter Futures
- $38,356 Gila Watershed Partnership — SEAYLS Summer Program 2025
- $17,352 Duncan Elementary School — Pre K & Kindergarten Playground $15,000
- $15,000 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern AZ — Mentoring Program 24-25
- Health
- $200,000 Clifton Fire Department — Fire Truck
- $150,000 St Vincent de Paul — Shelter of Hope Pantry Truck & Building Renovation
- $137,637.63 Gila Valley Samaritan Home — Vehicle & Workforce Support
- $112,480 Town of Clifton — Fitness Court
- $84,080 Town of Clifton — Utilities Plan Assessment
- $75,000 Town of Clifton — Mural & Park Revitalization
- $33,724 Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition — Counseling in the Streets
- Economic Stability
- $187,500 Town of Clifton — Arizona & NM Train Depot
- $104,222 Town of Clifton — Arizona Copper Company Offices Rehab
- $100,568 City of Safford Regional Airport — Aircraft Rescue Fire Truck Equipment
- $80,000 Graham County Probation Department — Digital Radios
- $23,569.58 City of Safford — Special Event Tentage
United Way also announced five programs/projects and two event sponsorships were funded for the month of November.
- Programs/Projects
- $5,000 Morenci Lions Club — Greenlee County Christmas Project
- $5,000 Thatcher High School — ALL IN Initiative
- $4,923 Morenci Unified School District — Music Program:
- $3,731.11 Gila Valley Samaritan Home — Essential Meal Supplies
- $700 Fort Thomas Unified School District — Book Program
- Sponsorships
- $5,000.00 Matheson Music Foundation — Gila Valley Fiddle Contest & Festival
- $1,000.00 GFWC Woman’s Club of Safford — Sweetheart Dance
The United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties makes grants to nonprofit, educational and governmental organizations thanks to donations from Freeport-McMoRan and Freeport employees; employees of the City of Safford, Town of Thatcher and Graham County; and individual donors.
