Helios Education Foundation

We are honored to support Florida Philanthropic Network’s work to advocate for and communicate the importance of the census and civic participation to all Floridians.

Through generous support from the Helios Education Foundation and Census Equity Initiative, FPN completed a recent grant cycle to fund organizations working to raise awareness of the 2030 Census and Civic Engagement initiatives in hard-to-count communities.

Organizations awarded were all previous Florida Counts grantees and will participate in the Florida Counts Learning cohort. A total of $75,000 was distributed to 15 organizations. A special thanks to Sabeen Perwaiz of the Florida Nonprofit Alliance for joining the evaluation team.

We were honored to welcome a delegation of Florida leaders to the Helios Education Campus in Phoenix this week to explore the ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence 🤝

Thank you to the representatives of the University of Florida, UF Lastinger Center for Learning, Northeast Florida Education Consortium, Flagler Schools, and Florida Chamber Foundation for travelling across the country to learn how we use data to drive positive change and improve outcomes for students.

Special thanks to our ASU Helios Decision Center partners: Kyle Bowen, Jacqueline Smith, Whitney Marsh and Rebecca McKay.

Accelerated students arrive to college as first-time freshmen while holding sophomore- or junior-level credits 🏫

Our latest report with FSU Anne's College explores accelerated students' unique postsecondary education experience and how institutions can continue evolving to help them thrive.

LEARN MORE ➡️ https://ow.ly/vrxT50Z4SYN

"This is an initiative with positive dividends. Now we have an opportunity to help these students do even better.” - SVP Dr. Paul Perrault 🏫

Our latest research explores how accelerated students experience college differently from traditional first-year students, according to interviews with students at four public universities in Florida.

Learn more via Tampa Bay Times ✏️ https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2026/05/22/teens-entering-florida-colleges-with-credits-need-more-support-report-says/

The Story Project is not just about distributing books—it's about building community 📚

We're honored to be a long-time supporter of Make Way for Books and thrilled to see them receive recognition for this incredible program reaching hundreds of Arizona educators and young children each year.

Tucson childcare providers find professional development in Spanish For many childcare providers in Tucson, getting better at their job means learning in a language that is not their own.

Through various Helios-supported efforts over the years, the YUHSD was able to overhaul its curriculum and build a college-going culture 🎓

This work has not only helped increase graduation rates among high school students in Arizona border communities, but they are also showing higher FAFSA completion and college-going rates than the state average.

ABC15 Arizona worked with the ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence on this story: https://ow.ly/kpmn50Z2RLT

San Luis High School Sidewinders

🏫📰 We sat down with Inside Higher Ed to discuss our latest research exploring how accelerated students experience college differently from traditional first-year students.

You can read the full article here ➡️ https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/academic-life/2026/05/20/dual-enrollment-students-need-more-support

NEW RESEARCH 🏫 As students who pursue accelerated coursework in high school arrive on college campuses with many credits already completed, their experiences may vary from more traditional students.

Our new research brief, developed in partnership with FSU Anne's College, explores how accelerated students across Florida experience college, and how institutions can continue evolving to help them thrive.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT ➡️ https://helios.org/research/accelerated-florida-student-perspectives-report/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=flresearch&utm_campaign=acceleratedpathways

CONGRATULATIONS to the 2026 Helios Ready Now Yuma Scholars! 🎉

"These students have already shown what’s possible when young people are surrounded by strong support systems and high expectations. We are proud to help remove financial barriers so they can continue pursuing their education and career goals." -Paul J. Luna 🎓

Learn more: https://ow.ly/JxWX50Z1eSf

The eighth year of the Helios Education Foundation Ready Now Yuma Scholars program is in the books.

Congratulations to
Adamariz Fernandez, Cibola High School, University of Arizona
Joshua Olan Lopez, Gila Ridge High School, Arizona State University
Genesis Cardenas, Kofa High School, Oregon Institute of Technology
Valeria Gutierrez, San Luis High School, University of Arizona
Evolhet Bonillas Valtierra, Vista High School, Northern Arizona University (Yuma)
Kimberly Flores, Yuma High School, Arizona State University

MORE: https://www.yumaunion.org/departments/communications/news-details/~board/yuma-union-high-school-district-news/post/helios-education-foundation-and-yuhsd-reveal-class-of-2026-ready-now-yuma-scholarship-recipients

SURPRISES: https://youtu.be/7OEXtz2MDzk

We're thrilled to support Be A Leader Foundation's ASPIRE8 Initiative ensuring that 8th grade students moving onto high school can thrive academically and personally 🎒

We’re honored to share that Helios Education Foundation has awarded Be A Leader Foundation a transformative three-year investment to launch the ASPIRE8 Initiative!

ASPIRE8 will help Arizona students build college awareness, confidence, and pathways to postsecondary success starting in 8th grade through collaboration with students, families, and schools!