Blab Sports
Fiesta Sports Foundation Names Phoenix Childrens Hospital as Circle of Champions Partner
On September 10, 2026, the Fiesta Sports Foundation announced that Phoenix Children’s Hospital will become a founding partner of its new Circle of Champions program. The partnership, set to take shape this fall with naming rights to a signature Foundation event, aims to embed Phoenix Children’s into the Foundation’s year‑round community initiatives.
Circle of Champions differs from traditional sponsorships by tying a partner’s name to a specific event or program and weaving that partner into multiple Foundation activities. According to Erik Moses, Executive Director and CEO of the Foundation, the model focuses on collaborative outcomes rather than asset purchases. The program intends to give partners deeper engagement across the Foundation’s portfolio, including hospitality, youth sports, and educational outreach.
Phoenix Children’s has worked with the Foundation since 2011, contributing nearly $1 million in financial support for pediatric emergency and trauma care, inclusive play, and patient‑experience innovations. The long‑standing relationship also includes more than eleven years of Give‑A‑Thon support, hospital visits, participation in the Fiesta Bowl Parade, and other community efforts that benefit Arizona children and families.
Under the Circle of Champions framework, Phoenix Children’s will play a role in several key Foundation programs: the AED Assistance Program, the Wellness Forum, Wishes for Teachers, youth football and flag football initiatives, patient and family‑experience projects, and broader community engagement across the state. Hospital president John R. Nickens IV said the partnership would help the organization reach more children and families where they learn, play, and grow.
The Foundation has provided $35 million in charitable funding to Arizona communities over the past fifteen years, reaching all fifteen counties and 22 tribal communities. It serves more than one million Arizonans and impacts more than 600,000 youth annually through live sporting events and charitable programs focused on youth, sports, and education. The Circle of Champions model plugs partners directly into this platform, allowing them to contribute to community impact without creating separate programs. Naming rights for Phoenix Children’s signature event will be announced in the fall. Until then, the partnership remains in the planning stage, with both organizations preparing customized activations for the upcoming year. The Foundation’s website and social media channels will provide updates as the program moves forward.
Circle of Champions differs from traditional sponsorships by tying a partner’s name to a specific event or program and weaving that partner into multiple Foundation activities. According to Erik Moses, Executive Director and CEO of the Foundation, the model focuses on collaborative outcomes rather than asset purchases. The program intends to give partners deeper engagement across the Foundation’s portfolio, including hospitality, youth sports, and educational outreach.
Phoenix Children’s has worked with the Foundation since 2011, contributing nearly $1 million in financial support for pediatric emergency and trauma care, inclusive play, and patient‑experience innovations. The long‑standing relationship also includes more than eleven years of Give‑A‑Thon support, hospital visits, participation in the Fiesta Bowl Parade, and other community efforts that benefit Arizona children and families.
Under the Circle of Champions framework, Phoenix Children’s will play a role in several key Foundation programs: the AED Assistance Program, the Wellness Forum, Wishes for Teachers, youth football and flag football initiatives, patient and family‑experience projects, and broader community engagement across the state. Hospital president John R. Nickens IV said the partnership would help the organization reach more children and families where they learn, play, and grow.
The Foundation has provided $35 million in charitable funding to Arizona communities over the past fifteen years, reaching all fifteen counties and 22 tribal communities. It serves more than one million Arizonans and impacts more than 600,000 youth annually through live sporting events and charitable programs focused on youth, sports, and education. The Circle of Champions model plugs partners directly into this platform, allowing them to contribute to community impact without creating separate programs. Naming rights for Phoenix Children’s signature event will be announced in the fall. Until then, the partnership remains in the planning stage, with both organizations preparing customized activations for the upcoming year. The Foundation’s website and social media channels will provide updates as the program moves forward.
