Arizona Educators Receive Record $1.5 Million in Classroom Grants for Wishes for Teachers

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers initiative has donated the largest single distribution in program history, with $1.5 million in classroom wishes to 540 Arizona teachers.

Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers provides more dollars in direct teacher financial support than any program in Arizona. This year’s $2,500 classroom wishes went to 404 different schools, covering 142 school districts and 31 new cities. A full list of recipients can be found here.

The 540 wishes funded this year represent a wide spectrum of needs for Arizona teachers and schools, including athletic uniforms, campus sensory spaces, STEM and robotics tools, Native culture education materials, new musical instruments, mobile culinary carts, communication tools for inclusive play, campus gardens, art materials for students with impairments and more, supporting teachers who provide instruction in subjects from performing arts to dual-language education.

“Behind every unique classroom wish is an Arizona teacher with a vision to create a more meaningful learning experience for their students. Helping honor, support and celebrate our Arizona educators in every corner of the state has been the core of Wishes for Teachers for 10 years,” said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. “It takes a collective effort to provide resources that these teachers wouldn't otherwise have. Fiesta Sports Foundation is taking the lead and inviting others to come alongside us to support this important mission to provide teachers with resources that unlock potential and create transformative learning experiences.”

Fiesta Sports Foundation’s record investment comes at a critical time for Arizona’s education system. A recent Arizona Department of Education survey shows that more than 1,000 Arizona teachers have resigned since July, contributing to the more than 4,200 teaching vacancies statewide. Wishes for Teachers helps provide critical support and recognition to educators across Arizona, who regularly use their own money to provide enriching learning experiences for their students.

With the support of Palo Verde, Fiesta Sports Foundation has donated more than $9.7 million to Arizona classrooms over the 10 years of the Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers program, benefitting over 3,100 teachers and more than one million students.

“We’re grateful for the dedication and creativity Arizona teachers bring to their classrooms every day. These grants aim to remove barriers, provide resources students need to thrive and help educators turn their visions into reality,” said Jennifer Spina, Vice President, Palo Verde Generating Station. “This partnership reflects Palo Verde’s commitment to education and powering innovation and is a meaningful way to show our appreciation for the impact teachers make.”

In addition to granting 540 teachers’ wishes, Fiesta Sports Foundation this year provided three $50,000 wishes for schools, contributing to the 2025 Wishes for Teachers program’s record $1.5 million giving.

• STEM lab renovation for Arizona Desert Elementary School (Tolleson), sponsored by Amazon
• School library renovation at Washington Elementary School (Phoenix), sponsored by the College Football Playoff Foundation
• Multipurpose Room and Science Lab renovation for Challenger Middle School (Tucson)

"At SRP we recognize that teachers are essential in shaping the future of our state, "said Anita Taranago, manager of community engagement strategy at SRP. “Wishes for Teachers has been instrumental in supporting Arizona educators, and SRP proudly supports programs that create a better future for teachers, students and our community.”

Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP included celebrities, community partners and volunteers making surprise phone calls and notifications to the recipients, who are selected in a random drawing. In addition to the $2,500 classroom grants, recipients are invited to attend the Rate Bowl in December where they are honored on the field in a halftime presentation and to march in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe.