Freeport-McMoRan is pleased to announce the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation awarded $304,000 to five organizations as part of the 2019 Globe-Miami Community Investment Fund process.

The organizations will receive their monetary awards in June and will be recognized by members of the Community Investment Committee during visits to each recipient organization this summer.

“Working in collaboration with a range of committed community partners, we’re continuing to focus on empowering citizens through opportunities to acquire a broad range of skills, education and leadership to foster community resilience and transformation that leads to sustainability,” said Tracy Bame, president, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation. “Things like vocational skills and educational attainment not only lead to healthier, higher standards of living but also are transferable beyond mining into other areas of the economy, while broader leadership abilities support resilience and self-governance that enable thriving communities post-mining.”

The Globe-Miami CIF was established in 2013 to focus on programs and projects that help create sustainability and reduce dependency on any single industry. Eligible programs and projects include those in the areas of education, community and economic development, as well as health and wellness.

A committee comprised of community leaders, representing diverse organizations, and two Freeport-McMoRan Community Partnership Panel, a stakeholder engagement process established by Freeport-McMoRan in 2012 to foster open and ongoing dialogue with the community, allowing the company and the community to work together to develop thoughtful solutions that address community needs. Community Investment Funds were established to give leaders in communities where the company operates the opportunity to direct funds from the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation to address local priority issues.

Since the first dollars granted in 2013, the Globe-Miami Community Investment Fund has invested $1.9 million in locally identified projects affecting positive change in the community priority areas identified by CPP members.

The 2019 grant recipients are:

Cobre Valley Youth Club

Youth Club Renovations $49,000

The Cobre Valley Youth Club will renovate the Knights of Columbus building to ensure the safety and well-being of members and staff. The new location allows the club to expand services and membership, which ultimately results in an increase in positive attitudes, behaviors and academic advancement for the Globe and Miami youth who participate in programming.

Gila County

Globe-Miami Co-work Space and Incubator $150,000

The Michaelson building, a central building in downtown Globe, will be restored and used as a shared workspace, visitor center and business incubator. The space will integrate programming to support existing businesses and nurture future entrepreneurs in a central hub, increasing opportunities for business attraction and economic diversification.

Globe Unified School District
Stockyards Revitalization $60,000

Funds will be used to rebuild and repurpose the Globe Stockyards to provide an experiential learning space for community youth to increase equity in agricultural education including 4-H and FFA programs.

High Desert Middle School
Auditorium Lighting $20,000

The lighting in the High Desert Middle School auditorium will be updated, increasing the usability of the space and providing an additional asset for the local community by enhancing student and community exposure to performing arts.

Summer Youth Musical Theatre Program
Year of the Lion Project $25,000

The Summer Youth Musical Theatre Program will deepen arts engagement with local youth through a multi-faceted, communitywide, unique arts experience. Elementary school curriculum will fill gaps in arts education in local schools and teenage mentors will participate in a leadership development experience. The experiences will culminate in a performance of The Lion King that will serve to build social cohesion and pride of place.

For more information about Freeport-McMoRan community investments and programs, contact Robin Bradford at rbradfor@fmi.com or go to FreeportInMyCommunity.com.