Arizona K-12 teachers have until November 18 to submit requests for classroom resources through the Fiesta Sports Foundation's Wishes for Teachers program. The foundation will randomly select 500 educators to receive grants of $2,500 each, contributing to a total distribution of $1.75 million.
This marks the eleventh year of the initiative, which the organization describes as the largest direct financial support program for educators in the state.
The foundation also announced its second year of the School Wishes program. Six Arizona schools will receive funding for campus-wide projects, with five schools awarded $50,000 and one school receiving $250,000. Since launching in 2016, the Wishes for Teachers program has provided over $9.7 million to more than 3,100 educators, benefiting over 1 million students, according to the foundation.
Kristina Chumpol, the foundation's chief of staff and chief impact officer, stated that the program aims to support teachers who go beyond their standard duties to address student needs. She noted that educators often pay for classroom materials out of pocket, and the foundation seeks to help them provide those resources.
Past grants have funded items such as classroom seating, art supplies, libraries, and STEM kits. April Lesher, an art teacher at Carol Rae Ranch Elementary School in Gilbert, received a grant last year to purchase materials for a student book project. Lesher used the funds to buy hardcover books and high-quality markers, allowing students to create illustrated picture books.
