News & Events
Our Latest News
Huge Thanks to the Graesser Foundation at Tucson Foundations for Their Generous Gift of $25,000!
We were honored this past December with an incredibly generous gift of $25,000 awarded by the Graesser Foundation, administered by Tucson Foundations. The grant will be used for CGT’s general operations, setting the stage for what will be a transformative chapter in our organization’s history and that builds on a comprehensive organizational assessment just completed by Evan Mendelson Consulting, also funded by Tucson Foundations.
The assessment evaluated CGT’s (1)General Operations and Administrative Management, (2)Diversity, Partnerships and Collaboration, (3)Board Governance, (4)Financial Viability, and (5)Resource Development, and provides the basis for developing a set of clearly defined actionable items and timeline for CGT’s continued growth and maturation this year.
The Board and staff of CGT express our deepest thanks and appreciation to Tucson Foundations for their continued investment in our organization, and for their commitment to fostering a strong, vibrant and effective nonprofit community in Tucson.
Thank you Pima County Fleet Services Administration
A huge “Thank You!” to Pima County Fleet Services Administration for the donation of a 2009 Ford Ranger pickup truck to Community Gardens of Tucson. Special thanks to Fleet Services staff Ray Ochotorena, Bob Charlton, and Cecilia Murch for their help throughout the transfer process.
Now, instead of our staff having to use their own vehicles to haul compost, mulch, garden waste, tools, and other items to our community gardens, they can do it safely and efficiently in our very own truck!
Thank you all for seeing the value in CGT’s mission, programs, and commitment to making Tucson a better place to live!
Fry's Donates $15,000 to Help Fight Food Insecurity
The donation check was presented during a community gardening revitalization event at CGT’s Pio Decimo Garden.
Watch the news story on KOLD TV!
Thanks to this $15,000 grant from The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger |Zero Waste Foundation we will be able to reach two important goals:
Thank you to the Tucson Foundations
Deepest thanks to the Tucson Foundations, directed by the Lohse Family, for funding this year’s license renewal to Catchafire, provided through the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. Catchafire offers worldwide access to professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to nonprofits. With help from a Catchafire expert we were able to create our new website, do a comprehensive review and revision of our Vision, Mission and Values statements, and benefit from expert advice about a wide range of issues.
The Tucson Foundation‘s partnership with the CFSA will strengthen not only CGT’s programs but those of Tucson’s entire nonprofit sector.
CGT awarded National AARP Community Challenge Grant
We’re one of 6 AZ organizations and 244 in the country to receive this award! Funding will go to our Blue Moon Community Garden to strengthen infrastructure, provide new programming, and increase outreach to Tucson House residents to build their local food knowledge and participation in Blue Moon Community Garden. Watch a video about the AARP Community Grants.
See the Full List of Our Supporting Organizations
We are very grateful to our supporting organizations! Please see our full aknowledgements here!
Thank you to the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
Our deepest thanks and heartfelt appreciation to the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation for their generous financial support to establish our Garden Literacy Project. CGT will use these funds to establish a Garden Literacy Program to connect students and teachers in their daily classroom activities to the garden. Students will learn where food comes from, how to grow it, and find joy while doing it! We’ll also create pollinator gardens for kids to learn the importance of biodiversity and natural habitats. Thanks for investing in our children’s future!
Thank you Sundt Foundation!
Community Gardens of Tucson extends its deepest appreciation and gratitude to the SUNDT Foundation for their recent grant of $2,500! These funds will be used to provide gardening scholarships to families who lack the financial means to actively garden with us and grow fresh, healthy food for the table. It is because of caring and compassionate business allies, such as the Foundation, that we are able to deliver on our mission and provide healthy gardens in communities across the City of Tucson. Thanks again for the philanthropic spirit of the SUNDT Foundation, whose commitment to investing in Tucson’s nonprofit sector is so very critical in our collective efforts to make the world a better place!
Thanks to Desert Garden Club’s Adopt A Garden Sponsorship!
The Desert Garden Club of Tucson has done it again … becoming a sponsor of CGT’s Adopt A Garden Program. The Club’s recent generous grant of $1,000 will increase our impact throughout Tucson by providing greater neighborhood gardening opportunities for individuals and families who want to grow fresh, healthy, and nutritious food for the table. Established in 2021, the Adopt A Garden program provides opportunties for local organizations to help defray our operating costs for items such as compost, fencing, raised beds, mulch, seeds and starts, dripline irrigation, and tools.
It is because of caring organizations, such as the Desert Garden Club, that help us to make a difference by providing healthy gardens in communities across the City of Tucson. Thank you again for your exemplary philanthropic spirit and the impact it will have for our important work.
Thank you Whole Kids Foundation
Our deepest thanks and heartfelt appreciation to the Whole Kids Foundation for their generous support of our Edible Educational Garden Project conducted in partnership with Mary Meredith K-12 School. This project will help us develop an exciting, innovative and sustainable learning space for the school’s students, creating a “learning garden” and a gardening curriculum for teachers and students to expand their learning experiences in a safe and welcoming gardening environment.
Purchase these beautiful cards and support CGT
Artist Sandy Smith, also a CGT gardener, has designed greeting cards from images she has taken in our gardens that show the beauty that desert gardens offer. 50% of each sale is being contributed back to CGT so your purchases directly help CGT’s bottom line, in addition to giving you great gifts or cards to send to others.
You can purchase these cards ($15/package – 6 cards/envelopes) at the following places throughout Tucson:
Thank you to Costco Wholesale!
Our deepest thanks for awarding CGT a $50.00 gift card to Costco Wholesale. Your generous financial support will underwrite a portion of the costs of our Annual Members meeting that will be held later this year to honor our volunteers and to celebrate the important work and service that CGT provides our community. We appreciate your support!