Boys Team Charity has been in the Valley since 2002 and serves a wide variety of nonprofits, including The Patsy Reeve Foundation, Feed My Starving Children, Fours Croft Foundation, Jaydie Lynn King Foundation, Miracle League of Arizona, MORIAH Cooperative, PACC911, Ryan House, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, St. Mary’s Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul and more.
The Biltmore Chapter was added in 2020 and currently has 139 teammates (boys). Each teammate is supported by one or two coaches (parents) for all philanthropy and league activities. Every year, the senior class chooses a charity to help with their senior project. This year, the 10 senior boys chose Welcome to America Project (WTAP). WTAP welcomes recently arrived refugees to Arizona with warm greetings and much-needed clothing and household goods, generously donated by the community. Over the last 20 years, WTAP has welcomed more than 15,000 refugees from over 40 different countries.
Recently, the boys spent a combined total of 100 hours planning and completing their project. They purchased and built 22 TV stands from IKEA. They then delivered the stands to WTAP, where they were distributed to families who have escaped refugee situations and recently arrived in Arizona. The boys also spent a Saturday helping families move into their new living situations.
“It feels pretty awesome,” said teammate James Chester. “We’re actually making a difference. When you help out refugees, you’re showing them that they matter, and that people care. It’s not just about giving stuff; it’s about making them feel like they belong here. And honestly, that’s pretty cool.”
A membership drive takes place in March and is open to boys entering seventh through eleventh grades. All prospective members can apply at www.boysteamcharity.org and need to have a current BTC member as a sponsor. All applicants must live in the ZIP codes for the Biltmore Central Chapter: 85012, 85013, 85014, 85016, 85020 and 85021.
