FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2019
SOUTH32 ANNOUNCES MILLION-DOLLAR BOOST FOR CHARITABLE FUND IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
South32 today announced added investments of US$2.5 million in the South32 Hermosa Community
Fund. The increase will mean that more non-profit groups in Santa Cruz County stand to benefit from
the fund for many years to come.
The South32 Hermosa Community Fund is held by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
(CFSA) and was established in May of this year to support non-profit groups working to improve
education, environment, health and welfare, recreation, civic enhancement, and arts, culture and history in the county.
Growth of the fund comes through a million-dollar matching agreement conceived in 2018 when South32 purchased Arizona Mining Inc. and, with it, the Hermosa Project, a mining development option near the Town of Patagonia. As a parting show of support for the communities around Hermosa, Richard Warke, the former Executive Chairman of Arizona Mining Inc., contributed $1 million to the fund on behalf of the former directors of the company. Gill Winckler, who served on the board for Arizona Mining, Inc., previously committed $250,000 to the fund. South32 has matched their combined donations, bringing the fund total to $2.5 million.
“The additional funding provided and matched by South32 can provide a meaningful uplift to charitable organizations in Santa Cruz County,” said Pat Risner, President of South32 Hermosa. “Every day is the right day to be a good neighbor, and it’s exciting to see this level of support early in the project’s life. It’s also exciting to have community input on how the funds should be directed, through the selection committee members.”
A committee of independent reviewers from the local community works with the CFSA and
representatives from South32 in awarding grants based on the community’s needs and priorities. The
committee recently convened to review the second round of grant applications. A total of six applications were received, from which the following grantees were selected:
- Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch of the National Audubon Society
- Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz
- Mat Bevel Company
- Patagonia Creative Arts Association/Tin Shed Theater
- Patagonia FFA Alumni and Supporters
- Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association Foundation, Inc.
The total amount of grants awarded this cycle was $57,200. The next grant cycle will open in January 2020. To learn more about the fund, visit the CFSA website or bit.ly/South32Fund.
About the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
Since 1980, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) has been a trusted philanthropic
partner helping individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits work together to create a stronger
community. These funding partnerships allow CFSA to improve the quality of life throughout the region by stewarding donor and community resources to create an equitable and vibrant community for all Southern Arizonans. To date, CFSA has awarded over $200 million in grants and scholarships to
nonprofits.
About South32
South32 is a globally diversified mining and metals company. We produce bauxite, alumina, aluminium,
energy and metallurgical coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead and zinc at our operations in Australia,
Southern Africa and South America. We are also the owner of the Hermosa Project a high-grade zinc,
lead and silver development option, and have several partnerships with junior explorers with a focus on base metals. Our purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people’s lives now and for generations to come, and to be trusted by our owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources.
Media Relations
Jenny Fiore (Local)
T +1 520 419 7689
E Jenny.Fiore@south32.net
Jenny White (National)
T +44 7900 046 758
E Jenny.White@south32.net