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Wishes for Teachers
In its sixth year, the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program granted classroom wishes to 400 teachers across the state of Arizona – twice as many as previous years. Each teacher received a $2,500 grant for a total of $1 million to purchase resources and materials that made their classroom wishes come true.
• 5,311 total years teaching • 227,232 students impacted • 63 different cities & towns selected • 296 different schools selected • 83 school districts & 60 charter schools represented • 122 colleges & universities represented from teacher alma maters
JEFF MESHEY, PRESIDENT & CEO, DESERT FINANCIAL
“They may not wear capes, but teachers are real-life superheroes. They give tirelessly to their students and Wishes for Teachers is our opportunity to reward them for their efforts. Desert Financial was founded by teachers— we continue their legacy for Wishes for Teachers, in partnership with Fiesta Bowl Charities. Teachers often pay for school supplies out of their own pockets, so there’s no greater way to express our gratitude than by granting their classroom wishes.” EMILY MCCALL, PHOENIX CODING ACADEMY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEACHER
“This program has given my students the tools to study the environment. We have been able to look at the ecosystem in our local park more as real scientists than just students. It is so important that the students have the chance to see even small patches of land as ecosystems, and the tools I received thanks to this program really have helped us make those important connections.”
