Leading Nonprofit will Occupy the 14,000-Square-Foot Graham Building
Valley of the Sun United Way will relocate its headquarters to the revitalized Park Central development in the heart of Phoenix, establishing a new collaborative space designed to serve as an asset for the community at large.
The nonprofit will take over the entirety of the Graham Building at Park Central, a space about half the size of its current offices to reduce its footprint and expenses, create a more efficient work environment and utilize Park Central’s common areas and meeting spaces.
The new offices at Park Central will place Valley of the Sun United Way at the center of one of Phoenix’s most dynamic mixed-use redevelopment projects. By moving into this vibrant hub, the organization aims to create an environment that encourages cross-sector partnerships, fosters innovation, and brings people together to address the most pressing issues facing Maricopa County.
“United Way has always been about connecting people and resources to drive impact,” said Carla Vargas Jasa president and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. “As we celebrate our 100th year while focusing on meeting the moment of today, it’s important to us to be centrally located, and more connected and accessible to many of our partners. Our new home at Park Central is more than an office — it’s a vibrant campus where we can bring community leaders, donors, nonprofit partners, businesses and volunteers to create solutions that impact lives and strengthen our community.”
Valley of the Sun United Way’s new home, the Graham Building, is named after the Graham family. As a young broker with Coldwell Banker, Bill Graham first leased space at Park Central in the mall’s early days. His son, John Graham, is a leader in Valley development and serves on the boards of several non-profits, including Valley of the Sun United Way. Park Central is also significant in United Way’s history as the place where the success of its annual fundraising campaign was celebrated with a large community “thermometer” for many years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Valley of the Sun United Way to Park Central,” said Sharon Harper, Chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies, the co-developer of the project. “United Way’s mission of bringing people together to solve community challenges aligns perfectly with Park Central’s vision as a place where innovation, collaboration, and impact come to life. Their presence will not only enhance this campus but will also create a tremendous resource for the entire community.”
Park Central, originally opened as Arizona’s first major shopping mall in 1957, has undergone a major transformation to become a modern-day campus for business, healthcare, education, and culture. Today, it is home to institutions like Creighton University’s Health Sciences Campus, Dignity Health, Barrow Neurological Institute, Artlink and many other innovative tenants and community focused organizations.
“Valley of the Sun United Way is an ideal addition to Park Central,” said Steve Lindley, Chief Operating Officer of Holualoa Companies, the co-developer of the project. “Their new collaborative space will bring even more energy to Park Central, creating opportunities for partnerships and community engagement that benefit all of Phoenix. We’re proud to help provide a home where their important work can continue to grow and thrive.”
United Way’s move to Park Central is made possible by the provision of “low-bono” services by several contractors and partners, including Gensler for architectural services, JLL , The Coppola Cheney Group, Goodmans, Immedia and others.
Valley of the Sun United Way partners with more than 23,000 donors, 8,461 volunteers, 500 corporate partners and hundreds of grassroots, nonprofit and school partners to create impact in the areas of housing and homelessness, health, education and workforce development so everyone in the Valley thrives.
Plaza Companies and Tucson’s Holualoa Companies have teamed up to redevelop Park Central, once the city’s first large-scale shopping mall, into a vibrant nearly 500,000-square-foot bustling community destination ideal for playing, working, congregating, and celebrating the arts.
The new Park Central includes 500,000 square feet of Class A creative office and retail space available for lease with the ability to accommodate tenants ranging from 3,500 square feet to more than 100,000 square feet in size. It features exclusive tenant patios, on-site restaurants and amenities, a stunning mid-century modern design, 15- to 25-foot ceilings, convenient bike path and light rail access and ample parking. For more information on the project, visit www.parkcentralphoenix.com.
