Some 400 teachers across Arizona — including more than a dozen from across Glendale — received money from the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program.

During the first days of November, in what has become an annual tradition to honor, support and celebrate Arizona’s teachers, the Fiesta Bowl Organization awarded $1 million to teachers through the program.

“(Teachers) give tirelessly to their students and Wishes for Teachers is our opportunity to reward them for their efforts,” Desert Financial president and CEO stated in a news release. “Desert Financial was founded by teachers — we continue their legacy by returning as the title partner for this year’s 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.”

Through a three-day Virtual Draft Day presented by Salt River Project (SRP), 400 teachers from K-12 schools were each given $2,500 to grant a wish in their classrooms. The winners were chosen based on a program in the fall wherein any Arizona K-12 teacher was able to fill out an online application detailing a school or classroom need. The wishes were then verified and selected by random drawing for teachers to receive a grant.

Over the six years of the program, Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers has granted $4.7 million to more than 1,200 Arizona teachers, impacting more than 500,000 children across the state.

This year, the 400 teachers represent 300 schools in 63 cities across the state, teaching more than 200,000 students in 84 districts over 75 subjects, from social studies to special education, literature to leadership, music to math. Through the program, here is just a sampling of Glendale classroom wishes being granted:

• Amanda Dismukes a technology teacher at Challenge Charter School, 5801 W. Greenbriar Drive, Glendale, will use the funds to provide tablets for students in their class.
• Kori Klein, a visual art teacher at Copper Canyon High School, 9126 W. Camelback Road, Glendale, will use the funds to purchase a new sound system to allow students to listen to music that inspire creative and artistic ideas for their projects.
• Bailey Williams, a 4th grade teacher at Copperwood Elementary, 11232 N. 65th Ave., Glendale, will use the funds to provide Chromebooks for the class.
• Sabrin Cole, an art teacher at Desert Garden Elementary School, 7020 W. Ocotillo Road, Glendale, will use the funds to purchase new art materials for the students.
• Douglas Bruce, a programming, robotics, and game design teacher at Desert Heights Preparatory Academy, 3540 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale, will use the funds to purchase robots and materials to engage students in hands-on investigation of STEM concepts.
• Julie Trent, a band and orchestra teacher at Glendale High School, 6216 W. Glendale Ave., will use the funds to purchase accessories to allow more students to have access to the musical instruments.
• Kenneth Bloomfield, a physical education teacher at Hillcrest Middle School, 22833 N. 71st Ave., Glendale, will use the funds to purchase additional equipment for P.E. class.
• Phuong Kieu, an integrated science teacher at Independence High School, 6602 N. 75th Ave., Glendale, will use the funds to purchase personal whiteboards for each student in class.
• Katie DeVito, a 3rd grade teacher at Legend Springs Elementary School, 21150 N. Arrowhead Loop Road, Glendale, will use the funds to provide new seating options for their students to promote a better learning environment.

Visit fiestabowl.org for more information or for a full list of granted wishes.

The Fiesta Bowl has been played in Glendale at State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, since 2007, and will be there again for a scheduled 11 a.m. kickoff on Saturday, Jan. 1.