FUSD Foundation News & Updates
OneAZ Credit Union Invests $20,000 in Flagstaff’s Educators with FUSD Legacy Grant
PHOENIX (February 1, 2024) – OneAZ Credit Union is thrilled to announce a major investment in Flagstaff’s teachers and students with a $20,000 Legacy Grant to the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation. This grant represents OneAZ commitment to driving future excellence and education in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona.
“OneAZ is extremely proud to support the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation and all teachers in Flagstaff who are shaping the lives of students every day,” said Brandon Michaels, OneAZ Community Foundation President and President & CEO of OneAZ Credit Union. “At OneAZ, we understand that education is the cornerstone of progress. It empowers individuals, nurtures their talents, and equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to overcome challenges and create positive change. We are excited to join FUSD on this journey in building a brighter future for Flagstaff.”
This Legacy Grant will provide funding for two major initiatives supporting Flagstaff teachers – the FUSD Foundation Microgrant Program and the FUSD Teachers’ Closet. The microgrant program awards grants to teachers who present innovative, original projects that provide a catalyst to enhance student learning. The Teachers’ Closet assists teachers serving Flagstaff’s 8,900 students in purchasing essential supplies like books, software and pens and pencils for their classrooms to complement the learning process. Typically, teachers spend an average of $750 of their own money on bolstering the educational material in their classrooms.
“The FUSD Foundation is honored and deeply appreciative of being chosen by OneAZ as a grant recipient for their 2023 Legacy Grant,” said Jennifer Grogan, FUSD Foundation Board President. “Without funding opportunities and community partners like OneAZ we can’t accomplish our goals, namely, to improve the learning experiences of students and provide enhanced programming in our district. We are forever in gratitude to being chosen as a recipient and can assure OneAZ that this investment into our public school community will have meaningful and long-lasting impact on student lives in Flagstaff.”
Since 2016, the OneAZ Community Foundation has provided over $1 million in grants and funding to Arizona nonprofit organizations through the Legacy Grant program and other donations.
Funding for the Legacy Grant program is made possible in large part due to OneAZ members’ debit card usage. Each time a member uses their OneAZ debit card for a purchase, OneAZ donates one-cent to the Foundation. This sustainable funding model allows OneAZ to equitably distribute donations to communities where our members live and work. This sustainable donation model truly reflects the credit union principle of “people helping people.”
For more information about OneAZ Credit Union’s Legacy Grant program and its ongoing community initiatives, please visit OneAZcu.com/Foundation.
About OneAZ Credit Union
OneAZ Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution serving over 185,000 members and over 11,000 businesses with 20 branch locations across Arizona. As a credit union with $3.4 billion in assets, OneAZ is owned by its members, who benefit from better rates, lower fees for service and improved technology. Since 1951, OneAZ has strived to help Arizonans meet their financial needs through a full suite of personal and business banking solutions. OneAZ’s mission is to truly improve the lives of its members, its associates, and the communities it serves. To learn more, visit OneAZcu.com. Insured by NCUA.
About the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation
Established in 2005, the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation enhances the educational experience of FUSD students with the help and support of alumni and community resources. The Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Leadership is provided by a volunteer board of directors made-up of dedicated community members. Since 2015, the Foundation has developed the Teacher Innovation Fund, the Micro Grant Fund, and Debbi Grogan Music Memorial Fund, and the Teacher’s Closet. Through these programs they’ve distributed nearly $105,000 and supported 90+ programs across the district.
FUSD Foundation is Flagstaff Blues and Brews’ Festival Charitable Partner for Second Year Fundraiser for the Debbi Grogan Memorial Music Fund
Flagstaff, AZ (March 28, 2023) – The FUSD Foundation (the Foundation) is once again the charitable partner to the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival this June 9th and 10th. After last year’s successful event, raising $22K+, the Foundation board of directors established a music fund in the name of the Festival’s founder, Debbi Grogan, who passed away. The Debbi Grogan Music Memorial Fund granted all of that money raised to FUSD music teachers and programs across the Fall of 2022.
In the case of the music fund, music teachers around the district applied for the grant money for very specific needs to enhance or improve their music programs within the schools. The foundation was able to have a broad array of impact this past school year. Examples include paying for much needed equipment at Mt. Elden Middle School and sending a Cromer Elementary 3rd grade class to the Flagstaff Symphony where they played the music the class created.
Jennifer Grogan, the new 2023 Foundation President and Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival owner and producer and Debbi’s daughter, shared “Last year we were thrilled to have raised over $22,000 and established the memorial fund in the name of my mom who built this festival. She loved music and the ability to enhance music education was a passion of hers. The Festival and the Foundation partnering together is the answer to expanding music programs within FUSD and we’re excited to do it again this year and raise even more money for our teachers and students.”
In addition to being the Festivals’ charitable partner, the Foundation Board members are seeking new ways to supplement all their programs including the music fund and the micro-grant fund which is focused on all innovative programs proposed through the grant application system. Help from outside sources can help increase the amount of money raised for FUSD educators and students as well as enhance the projects in terms of longevity of certain programs and how many student lives that can be positively changed.
If you’re a local business owner who would be interested in learning more about the types of projects and programs that are often funded through the foundation’s grant program, contact [email protected]. We invite anyone to join us at the Festival on Friday June 9th and Saturday June 10th and help support music programs in our public schools. Tickets can be purchased here: https://flagstaffblues.com.
FUSD Foundation Raises 20K With Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival and Establishes New Memorial Fund Focused on Music Education
Flagstaff, AZ (October 21, 2022) – Through the charitable partnership with the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival this past June, the FUSD Foundation raised nearly $22,000 over the course of the two-day festival. During the event, they also raffled off an electric guitar signed by all the bands on each day. So two guitars, two raffles, and a lot of additional money raised for the Flagstaff Unified School District.
The funds raised from the festival will be awarded to teachers to help enhance music education for students, under a newly established fund called the Debbi Grogan Memorial Fund. Debbi Grogan, a longtime Flagstaff resident, was a music visionary and launched the Flagstaff Blues & Brews Festival in 2013 along with her partner and daughter, Jennifer Grogan. The fund was named in her honor as sadly she lost her battle with cancer several years ago. However, Jennifer has carried on her mother’s love of the blues and her investment in the festival. The foundation is proud to be a part of the festival and to launch this new memorial fund.
In addition to this new fund focused on music, the foundation also offers a micro-grant program that was implemented for the first time in Fall 2021. It delivered nearly $8,000 in micro-grant monies to 17 different projects and programs. To date, the foundation has distributed over $11,000 to music fund applicants and has a healthy pipeline of new submissions to review and hopefully fund. Board members are always seeking new ways to supplement their grant program. Securing additional funding from outside sources can help increase the amount of money raised for FUSD educators and students.
Mandy Metzger, FUSD Foundation President, shared “Our teachers provide leadership, inspiration and opportunity for students across Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD), and often during tough times as seen the past several years. We’re excited to present this new music fund and continue the micro-grant program for a second year. The micro-grant geared to assist teachers with funding for small, creative ideas which build unique learning opportunities for their students. There are far more deserving teachers than funds available. So it’s our hope the community will join the FUSD Foundation’s challenge to support small ideas which can open large doors for our youth.”
The board is now working on creating meaningful partnerships with local businesses and organizations who have aligned interests with initiatives that might be funded from either the music memorial fund or the micro-grant program. Through these partnerships, the foundation will be able to enhance the projects in terms of longevity of certain programs and how many student lives that can be positively changed.
If you’re a local business owner who would be interested in learning more about the types of projects and programs that are often funded through the foundation’s grant program, contact [email protected].
If you have any questions about the FUSD Foundation overall, including the new Debbi Grogan Memorial Fund or the micro-grant program, or would like to schedule an interview, contact Heather Pierce at 602-421-1899 or [email protected].
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Established in 2005, the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation enhances the educational experience of FUSD students with the help and support of alumni and community resources. The Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Leadership is provided by a volunteer board of directors made-up of dedicated community members. Since 2015, the Foundation has overseen the Teacher Innovation Fund which supports excellence in teaching through grants awarded for innovative, original projects that motivate students, improve the learning process, and are not provided for in school budgets.
Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival and Flagstaff Unified School District Team Up Again to Raise Money for Music Education in Flagstaff Schools
The Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival is back for their 9th year and for the second year in a row, the Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) Foundation (the Foundation) is once again the charitable partner to the Festival. The Festival takes place this June 9th and 10th at the Continental Driving Range in Flagstaff.
After a two year hiatus due to the global Covid pandemic, the Festival made its comeback to the Flagstaff area and for blues fans to enjoy live music again. Also it was a big year for the Foundation to make a comeback as their official charitable partner to raise money for the FUSD school district. And boy oh boy was it. They raised over $22,000 thanks to the generosity of the festival’s attendees and the proceeds from alcohol sales from the two-day long festival. The 501(c)3 Foundation was established in 2005, and since 2016, through the help of our fundraising, has raised nearly $105,000, impacting students in 15 schools and 90 different programs.
As a result of this incredible fundraising event and opportunity to showcase the Foundation and its impact on Flagstaff public schools, its teachers and especially its students, the Foundations’ board decided to establish a new grant fund. This fund was named after the Festival’s founder, Debbi Grogan, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. The Debbi Grogan Music Memorial Fund distributed all of that money raised, to FUSD music teachers and programs across the Fall of 2022. It truly changed the lives of so many of Flagstaff’s music education students.
Jacquie McGregor, music teacher at Mt Elden Middle School expressed her gratitude for the funding that came into her school and six others in the district “Being able to apply and receive the grant money from the music memorial fund has benefited my students, and others across the district, in a myriad of ways. From equipment, to sheet music, to performance experiences, our students are truly growing as musicians thanks to the this amazing investment in their future. On behalf of all the music teachers across the district, we are extremely grateful. And there’s still more we can do to enhance the experiences for all music students within FUSD.”
In the case of the music fund, music teachers around the district applied for the grant money for very specific needs to enhance or improve their music programs within the schools. The foundation was able to have a broad array of impact this past school year. Examples include paying for much needed equipment at Mt. Elden Middle School and sending a Cromer Elementary 3rd grade class to the Flagstaff Symphony where they played the music the class created.
Jennifer Grogan, the new 2023 Foundation Board President and Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival owner and producer shared “Last year we were thrilled to have raised over $22,000 and establish the memorial fund in the name of my mom who built this festival. She loved music and the ability to enhance music education was a passion of hers. The Festival and the Foundation partnering together is the answer to expanding music programs within FUSD and we’re excited to do it again this year and raise even more money for our teachers and students.”
In addition to being the Festivals’ charitable partner, the Foundation Board members are seeking new ways to supplement all their programs including the music fund and the micro-grant fund which is focused on all innovative programs proposed through the grant application system. Help from outside sources, both individual and through partnerships with local businesses with aligned interests, can help increase the amount of money raised for FUSD educators and students. And it will enhance the projects in terms of longevity of certain programs and how many student lives that can be positively changed.
If you’re a business owner who would be interested in learning more about the types of projects and programs that are often funded through the foundation’s grant program, contact [email protected]. To learn more about the FUSD Foundation you can read about our history and programs overview online at www.fusdfoundation.org. Also follow us on our socials: LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
And mark your calendars for the Flagstaff Blues and Brews Festival on Friday June 9th and Saturday June 10th and help support music programs in our Flagstaff public schools. See the lineup and purchase tickets online: https://flagstaffblues.com.
Established in 2005, the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation enhances the educational experience of FUSD students with the help and support of alumni and community resources. The Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Leadership is provided by a volunteer board of directors made-up of dedicated community members. Since 2015, the Foundation has developed the Teacher Innovation Fund, the Micro Grant Fund, and Debbi Grogan Music Memorial Fund.
FUSD Foundation Switches Up Their Fundraising Initiatives for 2021-22 School Year
With New Micro-Grant Program
Flagstaff, AZ (November 29, 2021) – The FUSD Foundation board of directors made a decision to change up their teacher innovation fund that’s been in place since 2015. Historically the grants that were issued to FUSD educators ranged from $500-$2000. With the new micro-grant program, the grants will be up to $500. The reason for this change is so the foundation can have broader impact across the district and more students.
Funds are awarded for innovative, original projects that motivate students, improve the learning process, and are not provided for in school budgets. Board members are currently seeking new ways to supplement their teacher innovation program. Securing additional funding from outside sources can help increase the amount of money raised for FUSD educators and students.
Mandy Metzger, FUSD Foundation President shared “Our teachers provide leadership, inspiration and opportunity for students across Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD), and often during tough times as seen the past two years. We’re excited to present this new micro-grant program. It’s geared to assist teachers with funding for small, creative ideas which build unique learning opportunities for their students. There are far more deserving teachers than funds available. So it’s our hope the community will join the Foundation’s micro-grant challenge to support small ideas which can open large doors for our youth.”
The board is now working on creating meaningful partnerships with local businesses and organizations who have aligned interests with any initiatives that might be born from micro-grant program. Through these partnerships, the foundation will be able to enhance the projects in terms of longevity of certain programs and how many student lives that can be positively changed.
If you’re a local business owner who would be interested in learning more about the types of projects and programs that are often funded through the foundation’s grant program, contact [email protected].
If you have any questions about the FUSD Foundation overall, including the new micro-grant program, or would like to schedule an interview, contact Heather Pierce at 602-421-1899 or [email protected].
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Established in 2005, the Flagstaff Unified School District Foundation enhances the educational experience of FUSD students with the help and support of alumni and community resources. The Foundation is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Leadership is provided by a volunteer board of directors made-up of dedicated community members. Since 2015, the Foundation has overseen the Teacher Innovation Fund which supports excellence in teaching through grants awarded for innovative, original projects that motivate students, improve the learning process, and are not provided for in school budgets.