Heroes of Education Celebrates Education and the Arts
Over $250,000 Raised
On November 16, 2023, more than 450 friends gathered at Phoenix Art Museum for Heroes of Education, an event honoring champions of Education Mark Gaspers, Wells Fargo and Dr. Sian Proctor as well as ten college heroes representing each of the Maricopa Community Colleges. The evening, which celebrated arts and education, featured performances by student musical groups from across the District and an art show and auction in which students were able to sell their pieces. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and sponsors, over $278,000 was raised in cash, media and in-kind gifts, in support of scholarships and emergency fund needs.
Check out this video to see the impact the Foundation has on our students, colleges and community and why support of Heroes of Education is so important. Photos are available here and coverage of the event by our Media Sponsor Frontdoors, can be found here.
Enjoy a Free Gift from One of Our Media Partners
Frontdoors Media is proud to partner with Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation and excited to offer our subscribers a complimentary digital subscription to Frontdoors Magazine as well as their weekly newsletters, Join Us! and The Knock.
Frontdoors is the premier source of information — and inspiration — for those who strive to make the Valley of the Sun a better place to live. So, take advantage of this offer to not only stay informed, but also foster a deeper connection within your community.
Don’t miss out — click here to sign up and start receiving the latest community stories directly in your inbox. Join us in celebrating the spirit of community connection!
With 2023 coming to a close, we are asking for your assitance in helping our students who need support the most as many Maricopa Community College students are in need of the resources that will keep them in school and allow them to reach their educational dreams.
Please consider making a contribution to the funds that directly fulfill student needs and directly support our upcoming campaign EmpowerED for Student Success, a District-wide effort designed to help students overcome financial roadblocks to attain a college degree, earn a good wage and boost the state’s workforce availability:
- The Food Assistance Fund ensures that no student will have to worry about where their next meal will come from.
- The Emergency Fund pays the rent, the electric bill, transportation and other necessities, so that our students most in need can remain in school.
- The Greatest Need Fund ensures that Wi-Fi, technology, school supplies and other items are available to students to meet their academic needs.
- The Scholarship Fund allows students to pay for tuition and books and to fulfill their educational dreams.
Thanks to generous donors like you, we were able to provide over $7.6 million last year in scholarships, emergency and basic needs support to 6,632 students. This year, we intend to help even more. Learn more at mcccdf.org/students-in-need.
PRISM Scholarship Supports PC Nursing Student
Before Victor started his nursing degree program at Phoenix College (PC) this fall, he spent the spring looking for scholarships. “I couldn’t find anything, and then I came across the Equality Maricopa PRISM Scholarship Fund. I applied and, thankfully, was awarded the 
scholarship.”
With a full-time job in the medical field for six years, Victor’s colleagues inspired him to pursue nursing. “I found a love for patient care. I felt it was a calling to give back to the LGBT community that has helped support me for so many years.” Two aspects of the Phoenix College Nursing Program particularly appealed to Victor. First, he chose PC because of the educational environment. “It’s so welcoming. We are all like one big family in class. I’m in cohort B, and I look forward to the next two years with my cohort.” But he also noted the importance of safety. “I wanted to come to an institution where I felt safe and free to express my personality.”
One of the most significant barriers to Victor’s return to school was financial. To attend school full-time, he had to shift to part-time work and needed to find resources that would help. Victor is using the PRISM scholarship to help “with transportation, books and food resources,” he said. Victor’s employer also supported his return to school. “They went to great lengths to accommodate my school schedule,” he said. “Since my work is in the medical field and my degree is in nursing, they were willing to keep me on as a part-time employee and will transfer my title to RN once I receive my degree and become licensed.”
Read the full story, here. If you’d like to support students like Victor, please visit click here.
Spicker and Hughey Named Valley Leadership’s
Man and Woman of the Year
Brian Spicker, our President and CEO and Angela Hughey, co-founder and President of ONE Community and ONE Community Foundation, have been honored as Valley Leadership’s 74th Man and Woman of the Year. A ceremony celebrating them, alongside many of Arizona’s leaders, was held on November 28th, at Paradise Valley Country Club.
Brian is an award winning and innovative leader with a reputation for directing transformational programs and initiatives for Arizona based organizations and has been at the helm of the Foundation (MCCF) since 2019. Brian led MCCF through the pandemic by bolstering student emergency and basic need funds and secured additional support for programs and scholarships. He has nurtured relationships, elevating the Foundation’s presence as a fundraising leader and high performing non-profit organization for several years.
Brian’s expertise in the evaluation and implementation of community-wide data driven campaigns that support strategic partnerships that drive revenue, change policy and aid in the development of human services are evident in his previous positions. During his 17 years at Valley of the Sun United Way, he had exceptional success leading teams through large-scale fundraising initiatives and programs and at Body Positive, an HIV/AIDS Resource and Research Center, Spicker’s role as Board Chair and then Executive Director, was to develop and provide alternative therapies as well as expand clinical trials, building the largest community-based HIV clinical trials program in the West.
Check out this video to learn more about Brian’s leadership journey.
End of Year Giving Reflects Positively on Tax Bills
The holiday season allows us to reflect on the many ways we are grateful. Grateful for
our well-being, families, friends and the impact that education has on our community. December is also a time that many people consider their 2023 tax obligations as there are several ways to show gratitude and positively impact education, as well as your 2023 tax bill:
Gift of Stock: Giving highly appreciated assets like stock will provide you with the same tax deduction as a cash gift, and it can provide tax benefits on the capital gains tax. Allowing your generosity to do more.
Gift from IRA: If you are over 70.5, you can give directly from your IRA to causes you care about. It can satisfy your RMD requirements and save you taxes. Also, an IRA will be taxed to your heirs, so it is often the best asset to give in life.
Gifts that Provide Income: If you would like to learn more about Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, or Pooled Income Funds, please reach out to us and we will be happy to help you and your advisors determine the best tool for your situation.
Please contact Judy Sanchez, Chief Development Officer, Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation at [email protected].
Used Vehicle Donations Make Educational Dreams Come True
The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, in partnership with Flexco Fleet Services is providing a vehicle donation program, giving you another way to make a charitable gift and help students along the way. Your old car may have seen “better days” but when you donate it to the Foundation, you will have a direct impact on students and receive a 100% tax deductible donation. This is a convenient alternative to selling or trading in your old vehicle and Flexco will do all the work! To learn more, or if you have a vehicle you would like to donate, please contact Janet Smail at Flexco Fleet Services at [email protected] or fill out the vehicle donation form, here.
