Thunderbirds Charities donation helps expand busy pediatric Emergency Department

Waiting area at Banner Children’s at Desert will bear the Thunderbirds Charities name

7/8/2025

Thunderbirds Charities recently made a $450,000 charitable gift to the Banner Health Foundation to help expand the pediatric area of Arizona’s busiest Emergency Department at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa. Their gift will help build out the pediatric waiting room, support design and management costs, and purchase furnishings and fixtures. The goal of the expansion is to create a safe care environment for pediatric and adult patients as well as caregivers, optimize patient flow, ensure timely care, and improve the patient experience at this high-volume medical facility, which sees more than 75,000 adults and more than 30,000 kids each year.

“Creating a separate space for pediatric patients, young siblings and parents visiting the ED is critical to providing a comforting environment. In doing so, we make families comfortable and remove the potential for exposure to adult emergency encounters, which can be distressing for children,” says Laura Robertson, CEO for Banner Desert Medical Center. “We are so grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for recognizing this important need and generously helping to complete the project.”

When complete, the new Emergency Department will be 4,100 square feet larger with separate waiting areas for pediatric and adult patients, two pediatric triage rooms, 15 pediatric treatment rooms, four ‘quick look’ rooms and six spaces for those awaiting test results. Additionally, the remodeled interior will include four adult triage rooms, 15 adult ‘fast track’ rooms, five ‘quick look’ rooms, and 20 spaces for adults awaiting test results. The project also includes a reconfigured patient driveway in front of the Emergency Department, which serves as the front door to the hospital campus.

The new pediatric waiting area will be named in honor of Thunderbirds Charities to recognize this generous gift.

“We are honored to support Banner Desert Medical Center with the expansion of the pediatric Emergency Department space. We have such a great history with Banner Health Foundation and this demonstrates our commitment to our most vulnerable children and their families in a time of critical need,” said Matt Mooney, president of Thunderbirds Charities, which has granted more than $200 million to Arizona nonprofits since its inception 39 years ago. “The expanded Emergency Department will relieve stress for kids, families, and our valued care providers for many years to come,” he added.