Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Business News

Desert Financial Credit Union seeks teacher applicants for annual Adopt-A-Teacher program

More than 30 kindergarten through 12th grade teachers will each receive between $500 and $1,500 in school supplies. In total, the local credit union will award $45,000 to Arizona educators. In 2023, Desert Financial gave back more than $150,000 to educators throughout Arizona through its Teacher Appreciation program.
Queen Creek Sun Times Staff

Desert Financial Credit Union seeks applicants for its fifth annual Adopt-A-Teacher program. More than 30 kindergarten through 12th grade teachers will each receive between $500 and $1,500 in school supplies. In total, the local credit union will award $45,000 to Arizona educators. 

In 2023, Desert Financial gave back more than $150,000 to educators throughout Arizona through its Teacher Appreciation program.

“More than 85 years ago, a group of teachers founded Desert Financial, and we have been supporting educators ever since,” said Carlissa Wright, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and executive director of Desert Financial Foundation. “Supporting Arizona’s teachers is not only integral to our mission but paramount for fostering a thriving community.”

Applying for the funds is easy. Teachers can visit DesertFinancial.com/AdoptATeacher from Monday, Aug. 5 through Monday, Aug. 19 to submit an application, which will require their name, school, district and a short description of how they plan to use the funds. Funding preference will be given to items or programs that will last for many years and impact many students.

K-12 teachers at schools in the following counties are eligible to apply: Cochise, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Mohave, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai or Yuma counties. Applicants do not need to be a Desert Financial Credit Union member. Priority selection will be provided to teachers at Title I schools.

Winners from previous years used Adopt-A-Teacher funds to purchase items like a robotics table that provides students with a workstation for STEM projects, manipulatives for math classes, science equipment, anatomy models, and electric circuit and current kits.

“This opportunity will provide my students with quality items that will benefit them in their learning endeavors,” said Peggy Lewis, K-2 special education teacher at Cholla Elementary School in Casa Grande, when she was awarded a Desert Financial Adopt-A-Teacher grant in 2023. “I will be able to design hands-on classroom instruction, provide social learning opportunities and give the students motivation to interact with the curriculum.”

This year’s winners will be announced Tuesday, Sept. 3.

To learn more or to apply for the Adopt-A-Teacher program, visit DesertFinancial.com/AdoptATeacher.