Faith, Football and Two Fifitas 

Brothers Build a Foundation for Tucson’s Youth

By Steve Rivera

Faith, football and a foundation for young people − Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita and his brother, Dash, have brought all that to Tucson with the First Down Faith Foundation, a Tucson-based nonprofit.

Who better to lead an effort to help young people than Noah Fifita, the Pied Piper of players and people who is in the discussion for best football player ever at Arizona. He broke the record for career passing yards in the Sept. 19 game against Northern Illinois. And let’s not forget his brother/teammate/partner in the nonprofit, Dash, who has come on the scene this year as a freshman linebacker.

“To play the game you love at this level with your best friend, and the same guy you’ve grown up playing this game with, is once-in-a-lifetime,” said Dash. “Add to that being able to share a foundation and attempt to inspire this next generation with a stronger and deeper understanding of who God is and to see/know anything is possible when you believe in him.

“That’s how we were raised − to know that all things are possible through God − so to see this foundation my brother started grow as big as it has, it was more than a blessing to come and join him in running it. I most definitely will continue it here in Tucson and, God willing, promote this foundation and our beliefs as far as we can alongside my brother.”

The two established the nonprofit in 2025 to give back to the community – while sharing their faith – in a community they have grown to love. After all, they are Southern California natives.

And this is from a quarterback who could have left for any one of a number of programs during this era of enrich-yourself NIL deals.

“I love Tucson, it goes back to that,” Noah said of why he’s still at UA and in Southern Arizona. “The community embraced me and my family and there’s a belief that we can leave a legacy that Arizona football has never done. 

“We’ve been a basketball school for so long, and I’ve been fighting for five years to change that narrative. It’s my last opportunity to do so.”

At least his name – and the foundation – could help people keep the Fifita name in the memories of many. 

It’s a foundation to help serve youth, through mentorship opportunities, youth camps, faith-based speaking engagements, and partnerships with local organizations and schools.

Fifita has funded the foundation with his earnings as a Wildcat and has brought on local businesses to help.

The idea all started from a moment when Noah needed that faith to get through something big − a loss to Arizona State.

“The idea had been brewing for a little bit, but it was after that loss,” Noah said. “It was a nasty beating and I was embarrassed.”

So, from “one of the lowest points in my life,” he said, “this idea of a nonprofit became my purpose.”

He’s gone from winning games – which he has one more season to do – to helping people, however possible, through faith-based opportunities. Just recently he was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works team – the top 22 finalists will be named in September – for students who are committed to community service, academics and athletics. As part of that, he’s held football camps, helped with the Tohono O’odham Nation to put on the Generations of Faith & Strength Celebration, and served at the Gospel Resue Mission.”

“The goal and purpose are simple,” Noah said. “It’s to use my platform, using the gifts and my abilities that God gave me to spread the gospel and to point others to Jesus Christ. I believe that’s my purpose and why God put me on a Division-1 football stage – to glorify him and to point people to him. 

Through the foundation the Fifita brothers “work directly with young people and families, creating space for candid conversations about faith, life and personal growth while encouraging strong values, building confidence, and providing guidance rooted in faith and personal responsibility,” the foundation says.

To date, they have had more than 330 hours of community service with another 3,600 community members impacted. 

It’s his “feel for people” that makes him special beyond football, UA coach Brent Brennan said.

“I think what he’s doing is awesome because he’s using his platform to help other people,” Brennan said. “That’s the neat part of him. That’s what makes him special. I don’t think every starting quarterback does it.”

For information on the foundation and to donate, visit firstdownfaithfoundation.org.

Photo courtesy First Down Faith Foundation