Educational Enrichment Foundation

Meet our Board Members 🍏

This month, we’re proud to spotlight our Board Treasurer, Jon Bialis!

With a background in finance and investment management, Jon has brought thoughtful leadership and strategic insight to EEF for the past two years. He first connected with our work through a friend at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and quickly became passionate about supporting opportunities for TUSD students.

One of Jon’s favorite EEF initiatives is our large-scale technology lab projects, helping create innovative learning spaces that prepare students for the future through hands-on experiences and expanded access to technology 💻✨ Beyond technology initiatives, Jon has also supported our Shoe Shopping parties and basic needs programs, helping ensure students have the resources they need to succeed.

Thank you, Jon, for your dedication and leadership on our board. We are grateful for your commitment to Tucson’s students!

Our final shoe shopping trip of the school year was one to remember! 👟✨

Back in April, students from Borton Magnet School, Wakefield Middle School, and Roskruge Bilingual Magnet K-8 had the opportunity to pick out brand-new shoes thanks to the incredible generosity of Sonia and Herb McReynolds, Million Air, Dr. Lori Levine and Gary Benna, and Louis Hollingsworth. 💚

Thank you to our sponsors for helping students walk into the future with confidence, comfort, and joy. Your support makes a lasting difference for students!

We want to hear from YOU! ✨

As EEF looks toward the future, we’re inviting our community to help shape the conversation. Whether you’re a supporter, educator, parent, student, or community member, your perspective matters.

Please take a moment to complete our short survey:
🔗 https://buff.ly/HkSZDfx

Thank you for being part of our mission to support students and educators across Tucson.

This week, Executive Director and UHS alumna Drisana Ross was honored to return to her alma mater, University High School, to present college scholarship awards to two outstanding students!

Celebrating their achievements and bright futures is one of the best parts of this work, and we are proud to support them as they take their next steps into higher education.

Congratulations, Ruby and Violetta, we’re so proud of your accomplishments and excited for what’s next! 🎓️ 🍏

Last week our Programs Coordinator, Sam Deustua, had the honor of presenting several EEF College Scholarship awards to Pueblo students Alek Figueroa and Fernando Armenta, two outstanding recipients with bright futures. ✨

Congratulations, Alek and Fernando! We’re proud to invest in the next generation and can’t wait to see what you accomplish next. 🎓🍏

Our final Evelyn Jay Award surprise took place at the end of Teacher Appreciation Week last week, and we were thrilled to celebrate Whitmore teacher Gaby Kunk! 🌟

A longtime recipient of EEF Classroom Grants, Gaby consistently goes above and beyond to create meaningful learning experiences for her students. Her students also created many of our beautiful tree center pieces for our luncheon this past fall.

Gaby’s dedication, creativity, and unwavering commitment to putting students first make her an exceptional educator and a truly deserving recipient of the 2026 Evelyn Jay Award, Honorable Mention!

Congratulations, Gaby! 🍎👏

Yesterday, we had the joy of surprising one of our 2026 Evelyn Jay Award recipients during her retirement celebration during Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎

Victoria Campbell of Mission View Elementary School received the 1st Place Evelyn Jay Award after more than 25 years of inspiring young readers and shaping generations of students. Mission View felt like home from the moment she arrived, and her impact runs so deep that she has now taught the children of some of her former students.

In honor of the beloved Evelyn Jay, this award recognizes TUSD K–3 educators who foster a love of reading and lifelong learning in their classrooms. Seeing the love and appreciation surrounding Victoria was a beautiful reminder of the lasting difference great teachers make.

Stay tuned as we continue celebrating more incredible educators this week! 🍏

Today, we were honored to surprise one of our 2026 Evelyn Jay Award recipients on Teacher Appreciation Day!

Christina Holbrook at Davidson Elementary inspires her young learners to love reading, planting the seeds for future success. In honor of the beloved Evelyn Jay, this award is given each year to TUSD K–3 educators who do just that, and you could feel how deserving she is through the excitement of her students.

Stay tuned to see who else we surprise this week!
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Happy Administrative Professionals Day to our Administrative Specialist, Sallie!

Your sense of humor keeps us grounded, and the countless behind-the-scenes details you manage keep everything running smoothly. So much of what we do is possible because of you, even if it’s not always seen.

We are grateful for you today and every day.
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