Mr. Sarver called Secretary Duncan because he wanted to start an initiative at a Phoenix-
area high school similar with low graduation rates. This led Mr. Sarver to personally
create the “Suns Central” initiative at Central High School – 85% of students there are
racial minorities.
Through this project, Mr. Sarver spent a considerable amount of time
on campus, meeting with students, the principal of the school, and even leadership at
the district level. The Suns Central initiative has provided more than 200,000 hours of
tutoring and free Kaplan ACT Test prep. This has led into a sharp reduction in Central
High School’s dropout rate, the graduation rate increasing by 40%, and a doubling of
the percentage of students going on to attend college.
Suns Central also provides part-
time jobs at the arena for students and complimentary Suns and Mercury tickets to
encourage school attendance.
• Mr. Sarver also partnered with the BYU Sports Business Club in Arizona and the Ballard
Center for Social Impact to host a case competition to develop a robust diversity and
inclusion plan for the Suns so the organization can be on the cutting-edge of best
practices in DEI.
• Mr. Sarver has made accommodations regarding employees’ work schedules to empower
them to serve as poll workers during the 2020 elections. Mr. Sarver also organized Suns
players and led efforts to increase voting opportunities for underserved communities.
Mr. Sarver personally led calls to elected officials to have the old Suns arena in West
Phoenix approved as a designated voting precinct.
• Mr. Sarver led a $1 million grant aimed at community basketball court renovations in
resource-strapped localities throughout Arizona.
The grant brought renovations to fifty
different basketball courts, including the one at Neighborhood Ministries, which
provides community programs for under-resourced families and their children in
downtown Phoenix.
• For decades, Phoenix Suns Charities has worked to improve the lives of youth and their
families throughout the state of Arizona.
This involves creating and supporting
programs focusing on education, recreation, and health and human services.
See School Profile, PHOENIX PXU UNION HIGH SCH. DIST., https://www.pxu.org/central; Aaron Granillo, Phoenix Suns,
Central High School announce partnership, KTAR NEWS 92.3 FM (Sept. 7, 2012), https://ktar.com/story/63480/phoenix-
suns-central-high-school-announce-partnership/; Partnership with Phoenix Suns targets high school graduation rates, ARIZ. ST.
UNIV. (Jan. 23, 2013), https://news.asu.edu/content/partnership-phoenix-suns-targets-high-school-graduation-rates
Sharon Harper, My View: Why the Suns, Phoenix arena deal is good for the Valley, PHOENIX BUS. J. (Jan. 10, 2019),
https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2019/01/10/my-view-why-the-suns-phoenix-arena-deal-is-good.html; Alex
Silverman, Minding My Business With Suns Charities Exec Dir Sarah Krahenbuhl, STREET & SMITH’S SPORTS BUS. J. (Oct.
28, 2015), https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/10/28/People-and-Pop-Culture/MMB.aspx.
See n.9, supra.
Suns & Mercury Secure Madhouse As Voter Destination, NBA.COM (Sept. 2, 2020),
https://www.nba.com/suns/community/suns-mercury-secure-madhouse-voter-destination.
Tyler Drake, Suns, Mercury to utilize Madhouse on McDowell as a voting center, ARIZ. SPORTS 98.7 FM (Sept. 2, 2020),
https://arizonasports.com/story/2376703/suns-mercury-to-utilize-madhouse-on-mcdowell-as-a-voting-center/.
Suns announce $1 million grant to build, refurbish 50 basketball courts, ARIZ. SPORTS 98.7 FM (Sept. 20, 2017),
https://arizonasports.com/story/1249155/suns-sarver-announced-1-million-grant-build-50-valley-basketball-courts/.
See About Phoenix Suns Charities, NBA.COM, https://www.nba.com/suns/charities/about.