PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation today announced the 2023-24 Devin Booker Starting Five grants which will fund two basketball court renovations and three learning centers. The grants complete Booker’s $2.5 million pledge announced in 2019 which has funded 25 grants to support the local community and positively impact children and families in need across Arizona.
“Devin is passionate about giving back to the Phoenix community and his Starting Five program demonstrates his commitment to support nonprofits here in Arizona and continues to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and families throughout the Valley,” said Sarah Krahenbuhl, executive director of Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation.
Two Phoenix parks, including Central Park and Palomino Park, managed by City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, will each receive funds to renovate a basketball court featuring a Devin Booker Starting Five mural painted by local artists.
The grants will extend into the classroom with the creation of learning centers at three nonprofits in the Valley.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley – Ed Robson Family Branch: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley provides a safe, positive and fun environment for children after school and in summer. The grant will be used to build an esports room with video games and technology at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley – Ed Robson Family Branch.
- Child Crisis Arizona: Child Crisis Arizona offers emergency shelter and residential care for children and youth from birth to 21 and offers foster care and adoption services, early education as well communitywide parenting classes, workshops, support groups and more. The grant will build a literacy and learning lab at Child Crisis Arizona to promote healthy child development and improve access to community resources.
- Neighborhood Ministries: Neighborhood Ministries is a hub of community activity, providing a safe place for youth to engage in sports, activities and the arts. The grant will allow Neighborhood Ministries to revamp their leadership room which will offer a learning lab space for youth to develop leadership qualities through education assistance, mentorship, workforce development programming and life skills training.
Court renovations and development of the learning centers will begin in the fall.
To commemorate the 2023-24 Devin Booker Starting Five grant recipients, Booker and Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation will team up with an artist to create a limited-edition apparel line available in the 2024-25 NBA season.
This year’s Devin Booker Starting Five grant follows the recent announcement of Booker’s role as a Jr. Mercury Legacy League All-Star Ambassador to expand scholarships to young female athletes participating in YMCA youth basketball leagues across the Valley.