To eliminate the stress of holiday shopping for West Valley teachers who have been stretched thin during the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Valley Mavericks Foundation distributed 930 turkeys and all the fixings.

With the Goodyear Police Department directing traffic through the Bay Equity Home Loans parking lot at 14419 W. McDowell Road in Goodyear, foundation volunteers treated teachers to coffee and breakfast during the COVID-compliant Nov. 21 Turkeys for Teachers event. 

“It started when my daughter went back to school and we both saw that the teachers were struggling and feeling the pain of this pandemic more than ever. We thought that we needed to do something to say thank you to all the teachers for what they do for the students in the community,” said Bay Equity owner Kevin Grampp, a Mavericks member who created the event.

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“We created a Go Fund Me page and I committed to matching up to $5,000 personally,” he said. “My family tree is jam-packed with school teachers and this personally means a lot to me. The Turkey for Teachers event was designed to give back to our teachers, who are the real heroes in our community during this pandemic.”

Once Mr. Grampp’s personal $10,000 goal was reached, Bay Equity Home Loans donated an additional $5,000, and other sponsors continued to donate, bringing the overall total to $17,500.

When he saw the total, resident David Kohen called Mr. Grampp and told him, “I want you to hit $20,000 count me in to cover it!” That was the magic number the Mavericks needed to ensure all 930 teachers who requested a turkey would have one on Thanksgiving. Volunteers even delivered to those quarantined at home.

In addition to Bay Equity Home Loans, event contributors included Off the Hook Meat Shop in Goodyear, the Goodyear Police Foundation, Palm Valley Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Goodyear, The Wright Team in Litchfield Park, Meese Khan LLP in Goodyear, and members of the Mavericks and the community at large.

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For more information on the foundation and its projects, visit westvalleymavericksfoundation.org.