SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (December 2, 2025) – Fiesta Sports Foundation teamed up with DICK'S Sporting Goods and Fighter Country Foundation for a festive shopping spree with 50 children from Luke Air Force Base who have an active-duty, deployed parent.
In the ninth annual Operation Santa partnership with Fighter Country Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Luke Air Force Base community, each child received a $300 DICK'S Sporting Goods gift card to spend at the House of Sport location in Glendale. Fiesta Sports Foundation staff and volunteers accompanied the children to assist them in their shopping spree event, including dinner and holiday activities.
"Operation Santa is one of our most meaningful holiday traditions, all about bringing joy to families who serve and sacrifice for our country," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Chief Impact Officer Kristina Chumpol. "Seeing these children light up as they pick out gifts, knowing their deployed parent can't be with them during the holidays, reminds us why this partnership with Fighter Country Foundation and DICK'S Sporting Goods is so important. These Luke Air Force Base families give so much to our country, and it's an honor to give back and celebrate them."
Since its inception in 2006, Fighter Country Foundation has been the primary support and advocacy group for families at Luke Air Force Base.
"Our partnership with Fiesta Sports Foundation goes back decades," said Ron Sites, president & CEO of Fighter Country Foundation. "It extends from the Fiesta Bowl Parade, where hundreds of airmen and FCF representatives hand out flags along the parade route, to Fiesta Sports Foundation providing a new football field to Luke Air Force Base, volunteering to support our Back to School Bash, and ultimately our favorite event of the year – Operation Santa. We always love working with the Foundation because our relationship leads to more robust programming, which enhances the quality of life at Luke Air Force Base."
DICK'S Sporting Goods' contribution aims to alleviate financial burdens and support those who serve by allowing children to select their own holiday gifts.
ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring
pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable resources to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on Twitter.
ABOUT FIGHTER COUNTRY FOUNDATION
Business and community leaders in Maricopa County founded Fighter Country Partnership (1993) and Fighter Country Foundation (2006) to support the Men, Women, Families and Mission of Luke Air Force Base. We believe that quality of life for the Luke community is vital to the success of Luke's ongoing mission. In addition to community advocacy, Fighter Country supports the base community through programs in Morale and Well-Being, Culture and Tradition, and Mission Sustainability. Fighter Country Foundation played a pivotal role in the effort to retain Luke Air Force Base during difficult economic times. Fighter Country is certainly one of, if not the most successful military base community support organization in the United States.
ABOUT DICK'S SPORTING GOODS
DICK'S Sporting Goods creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams.
Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DICK'S is a leading omni-channel retailer and an iconic brand in sport and culture. Its banners include DICK'S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone! in addition to the experiential retail concepts DICK'S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center. As owner and operator of the Foot Locker business, including the Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos banners, DICK'S serves the global sneaker community across 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, plus a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. DICK'S also owns and operates GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping.
Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, DICK'S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK'S business, corporate giving and employment opportunities can be found on dicks.com, investors.dicks.com, sportsmatter.org, dickssportinggoods.jobs and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.
