Thunderbirds Charities donates $100,000 to expand services for young children with disabilities

Southwest Human Development to expand ADAPT Shop, open family resource center

Following the Waste Management Phoenix Open championship, Southwest Human Development, Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development, is proud to announce that Thunderbirds Charities has donated $100,000 to support the nonprofit’s ADAPT Shop program.

The ADAPT Shop is a unique facility where parents can bring their young children with disabilities to receive customized products and support devices. A physical therapist works with each family in their home or at the ADAPT Shop to determine what equipment would be most helpful – such as custom foam seating and mobile scooters – and products are then designed and built based on the child’s individual needs.

Children who can benefit from the ADAPT Shop include those with cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, Down syndrome, seizure disorders and a variety of other conditions.

Since opening in 2011, the ADAPT Shop has helped more than 200 young children who have disabilities that keep them from being able to fully participate in everyday activities at home, with their friends and at school.

“As Thunderbirds, we work hard all year planning and executing the Waste Management Phoenix Open,” said Thunderbirds Big Chief Tom Altieri. “The real satisfaction, though, comes from the ability to give back to so many great organizations such as Southwest Human Development for their ADAPT Shop. It makes everything we do feel so worthwhile.”

To learn more about Southwest Human Development, call 602.266.5976 or visit www.swhd.org.

For more information on the Thunderbirds or the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open, call the Thunderbirds office at 602.870.0163 or visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.