Penny & Robert Sarver Foundation to Host College Students at D.C. Black Caucus

PHOENIX – The HeroZona Foundation is excited to announce its 17th annual, invitation-only Arizona Delegation National Update Brunch, during the 51st Congressional Black Caucus from September 28 through October 2. The event, on Saturday, October 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will take place at Georgia Brown’s in Washington D.C. and will cover important topics related to Arizona, including the diversification of the state, economic impact and business development.

“After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we’re thrilled to be able to bring this momentous event back to Washington D.C.,” said Alan “AP” Powell, Chairman of AP & Associates – Strategic Alliances, U.S. Army Desert-Storm Veteran, and founder of HeroZona. “This brunch and the Black Caucus allows Arizona to keep moving forward in the right direction, and provides important updates for African-American communities in our state.”

In partnership with the Penny & Robert Sarver Charitable Foundation, HeroZona will also sponsor the attendance of ten local university students through the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals’ YP CoNEXT program. In addition to receiving an invitation to the brunch, the students will also get tours of the Capitol, the Pentagon and the National Museum of African American History and Culture guided by event panelists and current U.S. Representatives, Ruben Gallego and Greg Stanton. APS will also sponsor the students to attend the National Newspaper Publishers Association “Black Press of America” 2022 National Leadership Awards Reception.

“Giving the future generation of leaders an opportunity to experience history as it happens at the Black Caucus is something our foundation is thrilled to do,” said Robert Sarver. “The young men and women who will be in attendance are the ones who will continue to make Arizona better each day.”

“Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals is very excited to partner with HeroZona and the Sarver Charitable Foundation to take our mentees from our YP CoNext program on this once in a lifetime trip,” said Ashlee Atkins, GPULYP President. “This opportunity feeds into our mission to provide opportunities for personal and professional development around leadership, life skills and community involvement to aid in the transition from college students to high performing young professionals.”

“We are excited to be a part of this important trip that will enable some of our future leaders to get a strong glimpse of our government at work and an opportunity to interact with our elected officials there,” said Derrick Hall, Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO.

The event will be moderated by Arizona Commission of African American Affairs Executive Director Cloves C. Campbell Jr. The brunch was continuously supported by deceased member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona, Ed Pastor, and HeroZona has continued the tradition the last several years. It aims to bring together the Arizona Delegation, legislature, businesses and lobbyists to highlight opportunities offered in the state.

The event is supported by APS, SRP, Andrew & Amy Cohn, Sonoran Technology, Equality Health Foundation, the Art Hamilton Group, KDL Services, the Arizona Informant Foundation and more.

HeroZona Foundation has launched various community programs including Phoenix Tools 4 School, The Bridge Forum, Holiday Bike Giveaways, MLK Celebrating the Dream, Play It Forward: Engaging Our Youth Through the Arts, Veterans Reach to Teach, the HeroZona Forgotten Heroes Breakfast, the first Nielsen consumer report on veterans, the largest COVID-19 testing site for minorities and most recently, the Blue Zones Activate initiative, an effort to help make the Greater South Phoenix area a healthier and happier place to live, work, and thrive.

For more information about the foundation’s community program partnerships visit herozona.org or follow on Facebook.com/HeroZonaOrg.

About the HeroZona Foundation
The HeroZona Foundation is a non-profit organization that empowers Heroes in the community through entrepreneurship, employment, and education. The group works with veterans, first responders and those that bring social good to future generations and under-served communities. The foundation’s mission is to create opportunities for the brave men and women who serve their country, and community, every day. For more information, please visit HeroZona.org.