Thiru Family Foundation’s 5-Year Commitment to Mission of Mercy Arizona
When entrepreneur and philanthropist Thiru Thangarathinam toured Mission of Mercy Arizona’s Chandler clinic, he witnessed something that immediately stood out: people receiving not only medical care, but also the knowledge and resources to take control of their health.
“It’s very simple,” he said. “I got to see firsthand how people are coming in, the treatment they’re getting, and the lack of awareness many people have that they even have diabetes.”
The visit inspired the Thiru Family Foundation to make a five-year commitment to Mission of Mercy’s diabetes education and management program, helping expand services beyond Chandler to additional MOM clinic locations.
For Thiru, the investment is about addressing one of the root causes of chronic illness before it leads to more serious health complications. “If somebody can control diabetes, there are so many other things they can prevent from happening in their life,” he said. “Awareness, education and resources are a good way to eliminate some of the root cause health issues people have.”
What impressed him most was Mission of Mercy’s comprehensive approach to care. “It’s one thing to tell people they have these issues, but it’s another thing to say, ‘Here’s what you need to do,’ show them how to do it, and provide the medications they need,” he said. “Many of these patients may not have the money to go to a pharmacy. That holistic approach is very, very impressive.”
Rather than making a one-time gift, Thiru chose a recurring five-year commitment totaling $100,000 because he understands the value of long-term planning. “I want to make sure this program can continue to expand,” he said. “Recurring support helps organizations plan, allocate resources and build sustainable programs. I hope others see the value of making longer-term commitments as well.”
Healthcare has become a central focus of the Thiru Family Foundation’s philanthropy, alongside investments in children’s services and mental health.
His goal is to support organizations that create lasting, measurable improvements in people’s lives. Looking ahead, Thiru hopes Mission of Mercy’s diabetes program reaches more underserved Arizonans with the knowledge and confidence to make healthier choices. “For me, success is creating awareness and teaching people the right behaviors,” he said. “When people take action based on what they learn, they live healthier lives and avoid many of the downstream issues that diabetes can cause.”
Ultimately, Thiru believes access to quality healthcare benefits not only individual patients, but entire communities. “When organizations like Mission of Mercy don’t exist, people end up in emergency rooms,” he said. “Programs like this help people before they reach that point. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and given a fair shot, regardless of their financial circumstances.”
