News Release

The Patagonia Regional Community Fund grant cycle recently awarded 2024 grants totaling $53,800 to nonprofit organizations supporting the local community. The Patagonia Regional Community Fund (PRCF) is a collection of endowed funds housed at the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) and awarded by volunteer community reviewers. The Burton Family Foundation, a supporting organization of ACF, participates in the review process to offer additional support for these programs and projects. 

The organizations receiving funding offer services that benefit youth in the area through arts programming and education initiatives, senior services, community recreation, support of local families, help for this beautiful corner of the world, and increase access to information and education on key community issues. Specifically, grants were awarded to the following nine organizations for the stated purposes:

Desert Botanical Garden 

To conduct a survey of wells in the Sonoita-Elgin area to provide predictions about the future of groundwater resources and inform decisions on the sustainable use of groundwater for residential/business consumption and natural habitats.

Friends of Sonoita Creek 

To establish a groundwater level measurement program for Sonoita Creek and provide a local recreational amenity for the community and visitors by creating a virtual audio “Walking Tour” of the Cemetery Trail.

Patagonia Area Resource Alliance 

To host informational meetings in eastern Santa Cruz County to inform citizens about environmental risks associated with mining operations in the Patagonia Mountains, the agencies tasked with implementing relevant laws and regulations, relevant proposed legislation, and rule changes, and how to make their concerns heard by decision makers.

Patagonia Creative Arts Association 

To expand the Art Makers after- school mixed media art program by an additional day to address the need for more after school programming in the Patagonia area. Funds will pay for instructors, snacks, and other related program costs.

Patagonia Regional Aquatics Center 

To operate the heated Patagonia pool by training, certifying, and hiring twenty lifeguards of varying ages. They will also support ongoing programs like aerobics, lap, open swim, events, and new Resource Fridays.

Patagonia Regional Times

To develop an emergency SMS system for eastern Santa Cruz County, in English and Spanish, to ensure community members have access to information and updates about emergencies, such as severe weather, road closures, amber alerts, wildfires, evacuations, emergency shelters, or any other vital community information.

Patagonia Youth Enrichment Center 

To support the continuation of the Respectful Resource Room, a daily living resource room that offers toiletries, feminine products, socks, school supplies, and other needs that the youth may have, to ensure healthy habits and give them the support and self-confidence they need to feel successful.

Sky Islands Tourism Association

To support the final phase of a three-phase restoration of the Southern Pacific caboose that houses the Sky Islands Welcome Center in Patagonia. It involves public seating in an outdoor area called the “Patagonia Train Stop”. The seating will be ADA compliant.

Society for Bevel Intentions, Inc. DBA Mat Bevel Company: 

For its collaborative initiative with the Patagonia Public Library to offer The Universe Within STEAM world-building program to youth after school. Funding will provide a third teacher stipend as well as supplies and equipment for the region’s first public Maker Space.

These PRCF grants are awarded by committees of local volunteers who have the difficult task of deciding which projects to fund. The need regularly exceeds funds available for granting more than two to one, and often three to one. This year, applicants requested more than $100,000 in grants.

To learn how you can help support the Patagonia Regional Community Funds and local initiatives, visit www.azfoundation.org/Patagonia.Â