In 2023, The Saguaros (formerly Scottsdale Active 20/30 Club) granted more than $1.7 million to nearly 30 children’s charities in Arizona. This year, The Saguaros have a goal of raising $2 million. Here Vicente Teran, the organization’s vice president of marketing, discusses The Saguaros’ upcoming fundraising events and how it differentiates itself from other Valley nonprofits.
What is the mission of The Saguaros? The mission of The Saguaros is to raise funds to help local children in need by hosting larger-than-life fundraising events that combine five-star service and top-tier fun.
What prompted the start of the nonprofit? The organization was originally started as the Scottsdale Active 20/30 Club in 1987. In 2022, the nonprofit rebranded to The Saguaros and become an independent organization with the same mission of serving Arizona’s children. The Saguaros is comprised of philanthropic leaders between the ages of 20 and 39.
What is the greatest reward in being involved with The Saguaros? We are so fortunate that we have the opportunity to raise millions of dollars for Arizona children’s charities and have great time doing so. Our membership includes driven professionals who work hard to raise funds all year long. We also love the many opportunities to volunteer with our nonprofit charity partners, helping to serve as role models and to instill an appreciation of giving back with the kids we work with.
What is the biggest challenge the nonprofit faces? We know there are so many incredible nonprofits to get involved with and donate to, so our challenge is to continue to differentiate ourselves through our signature events. Fortunately, through our deep history of philanthropy in the Valley, we have gained dedicated supporters – both members and others who fundraise on our behalf. Through this extended network, we have been able to make an impact on so many nonprofits that give kids an opportunity to succeed. Last year, we granted over $1.7 million to 27 children’s charities in Arizona.
What are your goals for the new year? Our primary goal this year is to raise $2 million to support kids in our community through our Niteflite and Olympiad fundraisers. We also aim to support our charity partners by helping them through event support, mentoring and volunteering.
How can readers help? There are a few ways to get involved. We invite FabAZ readers to participate in our Niteflite and Olympiad fundraisers, which are held every fall and spring. Donations to The Saguaros can be made at www.saguaros.com/donate. Interested in applying to join The Saguaros? We have membership info on the website.
Does the nonprofit have any events or fundraisers on the horizon? Yes! We have two signature fundraisers each year. Our Niteflite golf tournament and gala will take place in November at McCormick Ranch and the W Hotel. Our spring fundraiser, The Olympiad, is coming up in April. This event is the culmination of fundraising efforts from Brokers for Kids (teams of commercial real estate professionals) and Agents Benefiting Children (teams of residential real estate professionals). At The Olympiad event on April 19, all participating Olympiad teams will convene at Scottsdale Stadium for a field-day-style event that is a celebration of months of fundraising. The public is invited to purchase general admission tickets for $100 at www.saguaros.com. This includes admission to the beer garden with complimentary food and drinks, live music, games and the chance to be an Olympiad spectator. This is always a beautiful spring day in Arizona and a ton of fun, so we hope to see everyone there.