Meet a Billionaire Couple With Their Eyes on Arizona

Born in 1946 in Tuscon, Arturo "Arte" Moreno was drafted into the U.S. army and served a stint in Vietnam. Upon return, he attended University of Arizona and then started working sales for a local billboard company. In 1984, Moreno entered into a partnership deal with a billboard business in Phoenix called Outdoor Systems, and sold the company to Infinity Broadcasting for $8.7 billion in stock in 1999. 

With his wife, Carole, Moreno also owns the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and through the Angels Baseball Foundation, they've helped channel at least $4 million to various charities in Southern California. The Morenos also engage in philanthropy through the Moreno Family Foundation, which earmarks funds for sunny Southern California. However, grantmaking also focuses on the Valley of the Sun, as well as beyond Phoenix to the rest of the state. 

In a recent year, the Moreno Family Foundation gave away a little under $950,000. Grants tend to be under $30,000. As well, the foundation keeps a low-profile and does not appear to except unsolicited proposals. Carole Moreno is especially interested in nonprofits like Barrow Neurological Institute, Boys & Girls Clubs, UMOM family homeless shelters, American Heart Association and Fresh Start Women's Foundation.

The Morenos are also interested in scholarships and have supported University of AZ Hispanic Scholarship and Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation. It's worth noting that outside of Arizona, the Morenos support Hispanic Scholarship Fund in San Francisco.

Another area of interest is arts and culture, and the family has directed funds to support outfits like Arizona Science Center, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Symphony, and Queen Creek Performing Arts Center. 

For a complete overview of this funder's Arizona grantmaking, read our profile of the Moreno Family Foundation linked below. It's worth mentioning that Moreno's longtime business partner, William Levine, also gives in Arizona, and is a steady supporter of the Jewish community in the region. 

Related:Moreno Family Foundation: Arizona Grants