SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (March 31, 2026) – In honor of the sixth annual Fiesta Sports Foundation Kindness Arizona initiative, Governor Katie Hobbs officially proclaimed the week of March 23-27, 2026 "Kindness Arizona Week," recognizing the Foundation's sixth year of statewide community service. Over five days, Fiesta Sports Foundation Board of Directors, Yellow Jackets, Ambassadors, staff and volunteers completed eight service projects and events, delivering acts of kindness and community impact across the Valley, Tucson and Rio Verde.

"Kindness comes in all forms, whether as a grand gesture or, more often than not, a simple act that makes a huge difference in another person's day or life," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "In our sixth year, Kindness Arizona has continued to grow in reach and statewide impact – a testament to the extraordinary partners, volunteers and community members who made it possible once again."

This year's Kindness Arizona caravan spanned the Phoenix metro and beyond, including stops in Guadalupe, Rio Verde, Tucson and communities in between. Fiesta Sports Foundation staff, volunteers and partners came together for projects ranging from packing meals and painting murals to cleaning up Arizona's natural spaces, supporting schools and helping rescue animals.

Kindness Arizona kicked off on March 23 with a record-breaking meal packing event at St. Mary's Food Bank in partnership with Swire Coca-Cola, bringing together more than 100 volunteers to combat food insecurity across Arizona. The team packaged 4,184 meal boxes, each feeding a family of four for a full week, after Governor Hobbs' official proclamation of Kindness Arizona Week was delivered at the kickoff event.

"When Fiesta Sports Foundation asked us to help kick off Kindness Arizona Week, we didn't hesitate. Food insecurity is one of the biggest challenges facing Arizona families, and our team showed up ready to work," said Kelly Fajardo of Swire Coca-Cola's public affairs team. "Packing 4,184 meal boxes alongside more than 100 volunteers at St. Mary's Food Bank — that's what being part of this community is all about."

Monday evening, the caravan continued at Ability360's Sports & Fitness Center in Phoenix, where volunteers helped clean and polish wheelchair football equipment before joining athletes on the field for a friendly scrimmage. On Tuesday, March 24, the Foundation headed south to Tucson, partnering with Ben's Bells to install a "Be Kind" mural at Cragin Elementary School, a Title 1 school. Wednesday, March 25 featured two stops – a Verde River Clean-Up in Tonto National Forest in the morning and a teen resume and interview workshop at Alhambra High School in the afternoon in partnership with the Be A Leader Foundation.

 On Thursday, March 26, volunteers supported Ri's Coffee, a nonprofit café in west Phoenix that provides meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities, before hosting a Kindness & Conservation Carnival for youth at the Thunderbirds Guadalupe Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley in partnership with SRP and the Town of Guadalupe.

"Volunteering and community engagement have been part of SRP's culture for more than 120 years. Working hand in hand with children from the Boys & Girls Club and Fiesta Sports Foundation volunteers to transform everyday objects into meaningful, conservation-focused art was truly uplifting," said Michelle Speer, Senior Community Engagement Manager at SRP. "These young children are already invested in their community, and by sharing information about sustainability, water conservation and recycling, we can help strengthen their skills and support their continued growth as stewards of this community. Projects like this strengthen community spaces and show the impact we can make when we come together."

The caravan concluded Friday, March 27, with a Rescue Dog Play Day at the Arizona Humane Society, giving shelter dogs time outdoors and visibility to increase their chances of finding a forever home.

Started in 2021, Kindness Arizona originated to serve Arizonans coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inaugural year, Fiesta Sports Foundation has supported organizations, schools and individuals with more than 50 stops across the Phoenix metro area and in Flagstaff, Prescott, Tucson, Payson, Navajo Nation and Cottonwood. Activities have included financial donations to nonprofits, teacher lounge renovations, park cleanups, equipment donations, meal deliveries, mural installations, workforce development workshops, random acts of kindness and more.
 
2026 Fiesta Sports Foundation Kindness Arizona Week Recap:

March 23:
Kindness Kickoff: Record-Breaking Meal Packing – St. Mary's Food Bank in partnership with Swire Coca-Cola (Phoenix)
Huddle for Kindness: Wheelchair Football Service Project – Ability360 (Phoenix)

March 24:
Be Kind Mural – Ben's Bells and Cragin Elementary School (Tucson)

March 25:
Verde River Clean-Up – Tonto National Forest (Rio Verde)
Teen Resume and Interview Workshop – Alhambra High School and Be A Leader Foundation (Phoenix)

March 26:
Cups of Kindness – Ri's Coffee (Phoenix)
Kindness & Conservation Carnival – Town of Guadalupe in partnership with SRP (Guadalupe)

March 27:
Rescue Dog Play Day – Arizona Humane Society (Laveen)

This year, Kindness Arizona extended beyond the caravan. Fiesta Sports Foundation invited all Arizonans to join the movement by logging their own acts of kindness through an interactive tracker at FiestaSportsFoundation.org/Kindness. Whether it was dropping off meals for a neighbor, volunteering at a local nonprofit or simply holding the door open for a stranger, every act counted. Arizonans from across the state participated by logging nearly 500 acts of kindness.  
 
ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been 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 to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.

ABOUT SWIRE COCA-COLA
With revenues of $3+BN, Swire Coca-Cola, USA produces, sells and distributes Coca-Cola and other beverages in 13 states across the American West. The company's territory includes parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Employing more than 8,000 associates, the company's headquarters is in Draper, Utah. Swire Coca-Cola, USA is part of JS&S (Beverages) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of John Swire & Sons Limited. For more information visit www.swirecc.com.

ABOUT SRP
SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest electricity provider in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, serving about 1.1 million customers. SRP provides water to about 2.5 million Valley residents, delivering 260 billion gallons of water (800,000 acre-feet) each year, and manages a 13,000-square-mile watershed that includes an extensive system of reservoirs, wells, irrigation laterals, and 131 miles of canals.