Millions Raised For Charity Every Year at WM Phoenix Open

Curious to know where your ticket and concession dollars go at this volunteer-run, nonprofit Tournament? The Thunderbirds are happy to tell you.

Like most nonprofit organizations, the WM Phoenix Open had to scale back its charitable giving during the COVID pandemic. Though an impressive figure on its face, the $3,850,000 donated to Valley charities in 2021 by the Thunderbirds service club – which owns and manages the Tournament – was the lowest annual amount generated by the event over the last decade.

The good news: Thunderbird Charities was back to its old, eight-figure ways in 2022, raising more than $10 million during last February’s Tournament. 

“Our Arizona communities coming together to promote and rally behind this world-class event means so much to us and the hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations it supports,” says current Thunderbird “Big Chief” Michael Golding, who served as chairman of the 2022 WM Phoenix Open.

“We are extraordinarily proud of the $10 million raised for Arizona charities during a major bounce-back year for us, which positively shows the commitment and togetherness of WM and the PGA Tour, as well as our incredible fans, sponsors and volunteers.”

Notable recipients of the 2022 funding cycle include Hospice of the Valley, which used a $150,000 grant to help fund its new Dementia Care and Education Campus, a 3.2-acre facility in East Phoenix that will care for people living with all types and stages of dementia.

$176,104,790

Money raised by the tournament since 1932. More than $109 million of that sum has been raised since 2010, when WM was named title sponsor.

Other WMPO Charity Recipients

• $100,000
  USO Arizona: Local chapter of national org supports military members and their families.
• $50,000
  Homeless Youth Connection: Benefits social-services programs and outreach for homeless Valley youth.
• $20,000
  Treasure House: Living community for autistic and developmentally impaired young adults, founded by NFL legend Kurt Warner.