Arizona Lottery Gives Back More than $44 Million to Vulnerable Residents Last Year
PHOENIX, AZ (January 3, 2023) – January is National Poverty Awareness Month and while poverty is a complex socioeconomic issue, the Arizona Lottery remains committed to making a positive impact. Poverty manifests itself in a variety of ways, including hunger and malnutrition, inadequate access to education and other basic services. Proceeds from ticket sales fund programs and services focused on addressing the root causes of poverty, with $44 million given back to Arizona's most vulnerable populations in fiscal year 2023.
“Giving back to communities statewide in support of a better quality of life for all Arizonans is at the heart of the Lottery’s mission,” said Arizona Lottery CEO Alec Thomson. “Lottery revenue provides vital funding for programs and services that help some of our state’s most vulnerable populations, including Arizonans experiencing poverty and homelessness.”
Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars from Arizona Lottery ticket sales go to programs and organizations doing good in four key areas including health and human services and economic and business development. The Arizona Lottery focuses on partnerships and collaborative efforts to assist in lifting fellow neighbors, family members, and friends out of poverty so they can live independent, sustainable lives in their communities.
In honor of National Poverty in America Awareness Month, the Lottery recognizes some of our partners who are making a difference in the fight to end poverty. Some notable partnerships include:
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
By state law, this Arizona Supreme Court program receives 30% of unclaimed prize money to train and certify volunteers to advocate for foster children in the court system to help each child find a safe, permanent, and nurturing home. Last fiscal year CASA received $6.9 million from the Arizona Lottery.
Healthy AZ (AHEC)
Last fiscal year alone, AHEC received over $5.6 million from the Arizona Lottery. AHEC focuses on developing statewide professional healthcare education programs, focused on primary care and access in rural and underserved communities, improving the supply, quality, diversity and distribution of the healthcare professionals.
Arizona Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (WIC)
WIC received $1.4 million from the Arizona Lottery in fiscal year 2023. WIC uses these Lottery dollars to provide nutrition education and breastfeeding support services, food and referrals to health and social services to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and nutritionally at-risk children from birth to under the age of five.
Local Transportation Assistance Fund II (Mass Transit)
Up to $23 million per year from the Arizona Lottery goes to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), along with monies from the Vehicle License Tax (VLT), to help counties, cities, and towns maintain and improve their public transportation programs.
For more information on the Arizona Lottery's initiatives for the public benefit, please visit www.ArizonaLottery.com.
