Primavera Foundation
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Our Story: The Primavera Foundation began in the early 1980’s as a response to the growing numbers of homeless individuals on the streets of Tucson.
Co-creating pathways out of poverty through outreach, housing, workforce development, comprehensive community development, and homeownership and financial education. In 1983 Gordon Packard and Nancy Bissell organized a large group of volunteers to begin the St. Martin’s Soup Kitchen. Their guiding principle was that every individual has intrinsic worth and deserves to be treated with respect and compassion. Shortly thereafter the neighborhood in which the Kitchen was located filed a lawsuit to shut the Kitchen down. The court challenge went all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court and St. Martin’s was ultimately ordered to close. From that experience Nancy and Gordon moved on to renovate Pueblo Court into supportive housing for the seriously mentally ill, and they raised money to build the Primavera Men’s Shelter which still provides shelter to up to 100 men each night, 365 days per year. Advocacy and social change are also at the forefront of Primavera’s work and mission. In 1988 Primavera worked with the Arizona Justice Institute to file a complaint with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) against Western Savings and MeraBank for alleged discriminatory lending practices. Both institutions agreed to provide $100 million for low-interest loans in designated low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in Tucson and Phoenix. Then, in 2008 Primavera worked with a group of organizations, including Arizonans for Responsible Lending and the Southwest Center for Economic Integrity, to defeat Proposition 200. Prop. 200 was a citizens’ ballot initiative that would have made charging triple digit interest rates on payday loans permanently legal in the state of Arizona. Although outspent by the payday loan industry 64-to-1, the initiative was defeated and the 2010 sunset provision on charging over 36% interest for payday loans went into effect. Primavera has expanded its services and advocacy work since 1983 to include: workforce development programs that help people return to work, develop job skills and provide special assistance to former prisoners; rental housing that provides stable, long-term and affordable solutions to the community’s lack of affordable, safe housing; financial education, homeownership workshops that help families work towards financial security; neighborhood revitalization programs that help neighborhoods become communities of choice; and proactive community engagement that provides communities with sustainable solutions to issues.
09/24/2026
🌵 We’ll see you at Catalina State Park! The Primavera Foundation will be there tabling at the Everyone Runs Catalina State Park 50-Year Trail Race & 5K Trail Run & Walk. 💜
Come say hi, learn more about Primavera’s work in our community, and connect with us while you’re there!
Ready to run or walk? 🏃♂️ Register and find more information here: https://www.aravaiparunning.com/catalina-50-year/
We hope to see you there!
An unforgettable evening at NEX! 🍽️✨
A huge thank you to Chef Raj, Chef Diana, and the entire NEX team for welcoming us and helping make our latest Primavera Cooks! dinner such a special night. We’re so grateful for your generosity, talent, and support of the Primavera Foundation. ❤️
Thank you to our apprentices, Cheryl and Nancy, and to everyone who joined us, shared a meal, and supported the work we do in our community.
Great food, great people, and an even greater purpose. 🥂✨
09/21/2026
Three dinners down, and we’re feeling so grateful! 🍽️✨
A huge thank you to the incredible chefs, restaurants, sponsors and diners who have made this year’s Primavera Cooks! dinners so special. Your support helps us continue our mission of co-creating pathways out of poverty in our community.❤️
One more dinner to go — and we can’t wait!
09/21/2026
🛠️ Need an extra hand with your next project? Primavera Works can help!
From landscaping and buffelgrass removal to water harvesting, gutter installation, and general labor, Primavera Works provides affordable staffing services for residential and business needs throughout Tucson.
✔️ Small jobs welcome
✔️ Hourly rates available
✔️ Custom quotes for every project
📞 Contact us for a free estimate: (520) 882-9668
Help us spread the word and support local workforce development! 🌵💪
09/18/2026
🏃♀️Everyone Runs Veterans Day Races!🏃♂️
Join us at Catalina State Park on Sunday, November 8 for a day of running, community, and supporting local veterans! All proceeds from the event will benefit Primavera Foundation’s Project Action for Veterans (PAV), helping provide critical support and services to veterans in our community.
💙 Your support makes a difference: Donations to Primavera Foundation will be matched by Everyone Runs!
📍 Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ
📅 Sunday, November 8
📞 (602) 346-0554
🌐https://www.everyoneruns.net/
Want to volunteer? Email [email protected] to get involved!
09/18/2026
Beat the heat with community care! A huge thank you to Denice Blake and John Blackwell for their generous donation, which funded new A/C units for the residents at Primavera’s men’s shelter.
Summers in Tucson are hot, but thanks to Denice, John, and supporters like you, our residents can stay safe, cool, and comfortable all season long.
Visit the link here to read more about their story! https://primavera.org/cool-relief-warm-hearts-how-denice-blake-and-john-blackwell-are-helping-our-shelter-residents-stay-cool-this-summer/
09/15/2026
Creating pathways to new opportunities. 💙
The Primavera Foundation was proud to participate in the 2026 Second Chance Job Fair, connecting individuals with a prior conviction to employers, community resources, and support services.
Our team joined the resource fair to share information about Primavera’s programs and services and help connect community members with resources that can support their next steps.
We’re proud to be part of a community that believes in second chances, new opportunities, and pathways forward. 🤝
09/11/2026
🚴 Ride for a cause!
We’re excited to announce that Primavera Foundation is a charity partner of the 43rd El Tour de Tucson! 🎉
Join thousands of riders on Saturday, November 21, 2026, for Tucson’s iconic cycling event and choose to ride and fundraise in support of Primavera.
Every mile can help co-create pathways to stability, opportunity and self-reliance for individuals and families in our community. ❤️
Ready to ride with us? Register for El Tour de Tucson and select Primavera Foundation as your charity partner!
🔗43rd El Tour de Tucson
09/09/2026
Looking for a fresh start and new employment opportunities? 💼
The Second Chance Tucson Reentry Job & Resource Fair is happening tomorrow, Thursday, September 10, at the Tucson Convention Center (TCC)!
This event connects individuals with a prior conviction to employers, community resources, and support services. The Primavera Foundation will be there in the resource fair section, with our staff representing our team and sharing information about our programs and services.
📍 Tucson Convention Center – Grand Lobby & Ballroom
🕐 Resource Fair: 12–4 p.m.
🕐 Job Fair: 1–4 p.m.
🅿️ Free parking in Lot B, off Granada
Come connect with employers, explore community resources, and take the next step toward your goals.
Learn more about the event at SecondChanceTucson.org.
We had such a great time at Agustin Kitchen for the second dinner of our Primavera Cooks! season. From delicious food to talented chefs and apprentices, it was a night made possible by the incredible Tucson community supporting Primavera.
But we’re not done yet! 👀 There are two more Primavera Cooks! events coming up:
📍 NEX Tucson — September 13
📍 The Carriage House with Chef’s Wilder and Hickey — November 2
Join us for an unforgettable meal while supporting Primavera’s work to provide housing, shelter and essential services to our community.
🎟️ Get your tickets through the link here! Primavera Cooks! https://primavera.org/primavera-cooks/
And stay tuned — more videos from Primavera Cooks! are coming soon! 👩🍳✨
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Administrative Offices, Jim & Vicki Click Training Center, 151 W. 40th Street
Tucson, AZ
85713
Opening Hours
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |