Empire Cat
Whiteman Foundation Focusing on the health, education and well-being of children

The Whiteman Foundation is a non-profit organization created in 1961 and named for Edna Rider Whiteman, mother of Empire Southwest founder Jack Whiteman. It was co-founded by C.O. Whiteman, Jack’s father, and serves as the philanthropic arm of Empire Southwest.

Empire commits at least 2% of its pre-tax earnings to the Foundation each year. Grants are considered by invitation only.

 

Mission

The Foundation is guided by the belief that businesses have a fundamental responsibility to create a better social and physical environment in the communities from which their prosperity flows. To this end, The Whiteman Foundation is committed to supporting:

  • the arts
  • the humanities
  • social and health services
  • the environment
  • the principles of democracy, and especially
  • the education and enrichment of our young people.

 

Our support is in the form of grants to qualified (professional) non-profit organizations working within these fields of concern.

 

Geographical Focus

The Foundation works primarily with projects and organizations in the greater Phoenix area. Funding is also considered for organizations in Arizona and California communities that have Empire operations or resident employees.

 

Governing Board

The Foundation is operated by the Whiteman family and governed by family members and long-time family friends.

 

Grant Program

The Foundation’s funding emphasis has evolved over the past forty years, but the focus has always been on children. Three generations of the Whiteman family have invested in child-related organizations and causes. The Foundation’s current focus is on early childhood brain development: funding research and implementing proven neuroscience findings related to early childhood brain development and nurture.

 

Other organizations and projects which have benefited in recent years include:

  • Childsplay
  • Actors Theatre of Phoenix
  • Arizona Museum for Youth Friends
  • Desert Botanical Garden
  • Mesa United Way
  • The Phoenix Symphony
  • MARC Center
  • Foundation for Blind Children
  • ASU Foundation (Cancer Research Institute)
  • Child Crisis Center of East Valley

 

For more information on the Whiteman Foundation, contact Molly Trivers, Executive Director, at (480) 633-4413.