In its annual tradition to honor, support and celebrate Arizona’s educators, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted 500 teachers – including six Scottsdale teachers – with $2,500 each during the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP, for a total of $1.25 million.

In its eighth year, the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program increased its giving by 25% to Arizona K-12 public and charter schoolteachers. The funding will positively impact more than 220,000 students across 73 cities and towns statewide, with 368 different schools receiving grant awards.

Through the program, these classroom wishes being granted to Scottsdale teachers:

• Jessica Pollicino, a special education teacher at Black Mountain Elementary in Scottsdale, will purchase a class set of iPads to encourage creativity and collaboration for their students.
• Mickey Rich, an art teacher at Sequoya Elementary School in Scottsdale, will purchase art supplies for their classroom.
• Stefanie Brick, an art teacher at Black Mountain Elementary in Scottsdale, will upgrade the technology in their classroom. 
• Karen Cuculic, a special education teacher at Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary in Scottsdale, will purchase resources including flexible seating and manipulatives for their students.
• Helene Diamond, a math teacher at Desert Shadows Middle School in Scottsdale, will install a water station in their school. 
• Amber Jarosz, a special education teacher at Sunrise Middle School in Scottsdale, will purchase sensory resources for their students.

This season’s 500 granted wishes will fulfill requests from teachers in the areas of agricultural studies, arts, math, physical education and wellness, science and special needs. The grants will provide needed resources such as new reading materials, classroom makeovers, educational events and programs and much more. 

“Educating the next generation is a responsibility shared by our entire community and spearheaded by our teachers and other educational professionals,”said Fiesta Bowl Executive Director and CEO Erik Moses. “We are thrilled to provide needed funding to Arizona’s teachers and educators through the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP as part of our commitment to honor, celebrate and support teachers.”

Over the eight years of the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers, the program has awarded approximately $7 million to more than 2,100 educators, impacting more than 920,000 students statewide. 

Established in 2016, the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers initiative grants classroom wishes to Arizona teachers in K-12 public and charter schools, who often pull spend their own money for classroom materials and activities. Recipients of the grants are invited to attend the Guaranteed Rate Bowl where they are honored on the field in a halftime presentation and to march in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe. 

“SRP is proud to be part of the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers event which makes a positive impact on teachers and students,” said Andrea Moreno, Senior Community Stewardship Representative at SRP. “This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to support education and the overall community. SRP provides $1.4 million annually to education initiatives, grants and partnerships throughout Arizona, in addition to providing free training and resources to educators throughout the state.”