Arizona's largest annual teacher financial support initiative will increase its impact by 25%, as the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program will donate more money than ever to Arizona teachers for use in their classrooms.
Now in its eighth year, the program will provide grants to 500 teachers, for a total of $1.25 million in donations.
Applications are open for all Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers through 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. Teachers simply fill out the online application at WishesForTeachers.org, detailing the teacher's school or classroom need and how the $2,500 grant would be implemented.
"The Fiesta Bowl Organization is deeply committed to Arizona teachers and their vital role in developing our future citizens, workforce, civic, community and business leaders. We are pleased to increase our support and provide funding to 500 teachers for supplemental resources to aid their students," said Fiesta Bowl executive director and CEO Erik Moses. "The Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program means so much to teachers, who often spend money out of their own pockets to enhance their classrooms and to best serve their students. It's important that we celebrate, honor and support teachers for all they give to Arizona's students."
Created in 2016, the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program grants classroom wishes to K-12 public and charter school teachers across the state of Arizona. The Fiesta Bowl organization saw that many teachers spent their own money to enhance their classroom experience and developed a program to aid teachers in bolstering their classrooms.
In its seven years, Wishes for Teachers has granted $5.7 million to 1,600 Arizona teachers, impacting more than 700,000 students across the state.
"The Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program is directly in line with one of our core principles: succeed together," said Kory Raftery, external affairs manager at Palo Verde. "We are excited to partner with like-minded community leaders to ensure that our kiddos get the most out of their time in the classroom and our teachers have the necessary resources to make a lifelong impact."
Over the past seven years, wishes have ranged from new computers and technology for classrooms to special education sensory and manipulative materials, vision testing and glasses for students, robotics, new libraries, classroom makeovers, laundry machines and everything in between.
Through a virtual and in-person Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP experience in early November, local community heroes and celebrities will select teachers at random and personally notify each of the 500 teachers who will receive a grant.
Fast Facts about Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers:
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500 teachers will receive a $2,500 grant, totaling $1,250,000
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Applications close at 5 p.m. on September 29 via WishesForTeachers.org
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$5.7 million granted over the last seven years to 1,600 teachers through Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers
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More than 700,000 students at more than 500 schools across the state have been impacted through Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers over the last seven years
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In 2022, 321 schools from 95 school districts, 72 different cities/town and 71 charter schools were represented
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Open to Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers
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College Football Playoff Foundation has been a financial and supporting partner in all seven years of the program.
