Phoenix (Sept. 16, 2025): Televerde Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides personal and professional development opportunities for incarcerated women, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities to support its PATHS Workforce Development Program. The funding will be used to provide essential supplies and materials that enhance program delivery and deepen impact.

“We believe every woman deserves a second chance and the tools to build a better life,” said Michelle Cirocco, executive director of Televerde Foundation. “Thanks to this grant from Thunderbirds Charities, we can give women what they need to take real steps forward—things like workbooks, coaching, and job training. It’s not just about getting a job; it’s about helping them believe in themselves again and create a future they’re proud of. Support like this really does change lives.”

The grant will directly support Televerde Foundation’s Arizona-based PATHS (Prepare, Achieve, and Transform for Healthy Success) Workforce Development Program, which serves women at the Arizona State Prison Complex – Perryville during and after incarceration. PATHS provides postsecondary education, industry-recognized certifications, job readiness training, mentorship, and reentry support. With this funding, the program will reach more than 125 women this year, equipping them to build brighter, more stable futures.

While this grant is focused on Arizona, PATHS is part of Televerde Foundation’s broader commitment to empowering incarcerated women across multiple states. This partnership represents a meaningful investment in reducing recidivism, disrupting cycles of poverty, and strengthening communities by helping justice-impacted women become leaders and role models in their families and beyond.

Since launching in March 2020, Televerde Foundation has served over 1,000 incarcerated women across Arizona, Indiana, and Florida. Of those, 602 have been released and 94% have secured employment, with an average starting wage of $36,800. Fewer than 1% have returned to prison. These outcomes demonstrate the life-changing power of education, workforce development, and mentorship in preparing women for lasting success after incarceration.

View the Televerde Foundation full impact report at televerdefoundation.org/impact.

Thunderbirds Charities is the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds, hosts of the WM Phoenix Open, dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in need across Arizona.

About Televerde Foundation
Televerde Foundation’s mission is to provide currently and formerly incarcerated women with the personal and professional development programs necessary to successfully join and advance in the global workforce. Our approach inspires creativity, imagination, self-confidence, and social skills while addressing issues that cause recidivism. We enable women to break the generational cycle of poverty and incarceration by becoming positive role models to change the lives of future generations and build stronger communities. Learn more: https://www.televerdefoundation.org/.