The Finer Properties of the Valley of the Sun

The Finer Properties of the Valley of the Sun

Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers gives $1M in grants

Five Scottsdale teachers awarded
$2,500 grants following 2022 ‘Draft Day’

Staff Reports | Digital Free Press

Fiesta Bowl Charities granted 400 teachers — including five Scottsdale teachers — with $2,500 each through the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP.

The grant dollars were spread throughout Arizona with 72 cities and towns represented amongst the 400 teachers selected, according to a press release.

Nearly 212,000 students across 321 schools and 95 districts are anticipated to be positively impacted by grant dollars with this year’s group combining for more than 5,300 years of experience in the classroom.

Looking for a full list of Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers winners? Go here.

Recipients included those teaching fine art to science, both gifted and special education, and languages and life skills amongst a diverse group of subjects. The 400 wishes granted will benefit teachers who will aim to enrich the lives of their students through technology improvements, addition of educational programs and fitness equipment, the release states.

Through the program, here are the classroom grants provided to Scottsdale and north Phoenix teachers:

  • Lydia MacKay, a speech therapist at Sequoya Elementary in Scottsdale, will purchase new iPads for students.
  • Mary MacKay, an English teacher at Sunrise Middle School in Scottsdale, will purchase tables for the classroom.
  • Christine Nobley, an English teacher at Desert Shadows Middle School in Scottsdale, will provide new books for the classroom.
  • Merissa Remus, a chemistry, psychology and neuroscience teacher at BASIS Scottsdale, will purchase new science laboratory equipment.
  • Melanie Townley, a special education teacher at Desert Sun Academy in Scottsdale, will provide flexible seating and desks for students.


This year’s $1 million total donation brings the Wishes for Teachers’ seven-year cumulative grant total to $5.7 million awarded to 1,600 teachers, impacting more than 700,000 students across Arizona. (File Photos/DigitalFreePress.com)

Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers

“Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers is one of the most impactful teacher support programs in Arizona donating $1 million dollars to benefit thousands of Arizona students,” said Randal Norton, Fiesta Bowl Board chair, in a press release.

“Adding to the excitement this year is the return of our in-person Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP which further enhances the experience for our recipients. Teachers are truly selfless individuals who help shape the futures of our students here in Arizona and we are proud to play a part in supporting our teachers to do more in the classroom for the leaders of tomorrow.”

This year’s $1 million total donation brings the Wishes for Teachers’ seven-year cumulative grant total to $5.7 million awarded to 1,600 teachers, impacting more than 700,000 students across Arizona, representatives of the philanthropic effort report.

“Palo Verde is excited and humbled to be part of such an incredible program that invests in teachers who are inspiring tomorrow’s leaders both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Kory Raftery, manager of external affairs at Palo Verde. “One of our principles at Palo Verde is putting people first and Wishes for Teachers allows us to partner with an organization that supports some of the most important people in our communities.”

Created in 2016, the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers program grants classroom wishes to Arizona teachers. Public and charter school K-12 teachers across the state are invited to apply each fall with the recipients verified and selected by a random drawing during the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by Salt River Project (SRP).

“Providing teachers with the tools and resources they need benefits Arizona’s children. Partnering with the Fiesta Bowl on the Wishes for Teachers campaign is one of the many ways SRP supports teachers,” said Andrea Moreno, program manager of SRP Community Stewardship.

“I’m honored to share that from 2021 to 2022, SRP provided $1.4 million in classroom grants, teacher workshops and materials,” she said. “Our future workforce relies on the support that we provide to educators and nonprofit organizations today.”

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