Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers Increases Giving to Record $1.5 Million to State’s Educators
(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Sept. 2, 2025) – The Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers program – Arizona’s largest direct support initiative for teachers – returns for its 10th year with a record total of $1.5 million in funding to directly benefit classrooms across the state.
This year’s increased program funding will support a record 540 Arizona teachers, each receiving a $2,500 grant to bring a classroom wish to life. Past program wishes have included robotics kits, musical instruments, adaptive learning tools, classroom libraries, athletic gear and a variety of other resources to enhance the learning experience for students.
Arizona K–12 public and charter school teachers are invited to complete a brief online application detailing their $2,500 classroom wish. Applications open Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, and close Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at 10 p.m. MST. Applications may be found at www.WishesForTeachers.org.
“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers, we are proud to recognize a decade of honoring, supporting and celebrating Arizona’s educators,” said Fiesta Sports Foundation Chief Impact Officer Kristina Chumpol. “The increased funding is part of our unwavering commitment to turn wishes into reality and empower teachers, enrich classrooms and foster brighter futures for students.”
Since launching in 2016, Wishes for Teachers has awarded more than $8.2 million to over 2,600 educators statewide, positively impacting more than one million students. In 2024 alone, the program supported educators in 84 cities, 108 school districts and 79 charter schools, reaching more than 230,000 students.
This educational support is a cornerstone of the Fiesta Sports Foundation’s mission to deliver charitable resources that benefit Arizona communities through youth, sports and education.
Wishes for Teachers was created in response to the Foundation recognizing that many teachers often pay out-of-pocket to improve their classrooms and help enrich learning for students.
Recipients will be chosen at random and notified as part of Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP on Nov. 18. All grant recipients become part of the Fiesta Sports Foundation family and are invited to participate in community events throughout the year.
For more information, visit www.WishesForTeachers.org.
ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram
