Helios Education Foundation: News

College Preparatory Academy Helps Create A College-Going Culture In Globe, Miami and San Carlos.

(Phoenix, AZ) - Oct 5, 2009. Helios Education Foundation and Signal Peak Community Foundation are working to prepare students for postsecondary education success and the 21st century workforce through the Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy (SGC-CPA). Although the SGC-CPA is located in Globe, AZ, this unique partnership serves as a regional resource for students, teachers, parents and the school districts in the communities of Globe, Miami, San Carlos and at Holy Angels School.

With recent data on graduation and attrition rates as well as statistics on declining college applications and lower than average success rates in Globe, Miami and San Carlos, the CPA is focused on creating a college-going culture in those communities through academic enrichment and career exploration. CPA programs are aimed at K-12 students. The academy’s initiatives all work together to ensure that students are academically, financially and socially prepared for postsecondary education.

“Helios Education Foundation’s investments continue to support initiatives across the education continuum, including programs like the Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy, which has the ultimate goal of creating opportunities for students to achieve postsecondary education success,” said Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “It is so important for us to partner with initiatives that foster a college going culture and provide guidance and resources not only for students, but parents, teachers and the whole community.”

The CPA is engaging students and connecting the dots with existing strategies that have a proven track record of success. Through regional programming, students in the 2nd and 3rd grades in the Globe and San Carlos school districts are participating in the MAC-Ro program created through the Rodel Foundation. This program supplements the district’s math curriculum in order to ensure complete coverage of the Arizona State Standards in mathematics.

The top 30 percent of students in the 3rd and 4th grades in all three school districts will also have an opportunity to participate in hands-on, motivational activities and simulations that will help them develop their verbal, nonverbal and quantitative cognitive skills. Additionally, the top 30 percent of teacher recommended students in the 5th through 8th grades will have the opportunity to participate in the CPA magnet program, which ties career exploration with the program’s curriculum.

“The Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy is an educational innovation. With the full support of all three public school districts and Holy Angels School, we have the opportunity to make a positive impact on student’s goals and aspirations early on and help them chart a course for success,” said Dean of the Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy, Tamara Glinski.

High school students can also take advantage of Advance Placement programming across all three school districts with a focus on academic preparedness and increased student performance on college entrance exams. Students also receive college counseling, support on college readiness, including academic, social and financial advice as well as advice on career opportunities. In addition, the Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy aims to impact the entire high school populations by offering regional college readiness activities such as a Postsecondary Education Fair on November 3 and a Financial Aid Night on November 9 in partnership with the County School Superintendent, Gila County Schools Superintendant, Dr. Linda O’Dell.

“With the help of Helios I believe we are making a difference in the lives of the young people of our entire community. The College Preparatory Academy is that shining example of cooperation among multiple districts, communities, organizations and educators to make that difference in the education of our young people and ensure their academic success. As a business owner and President of Signal Peak I am proud of what we have accomplished in a short time and I know we are making the future brighter for our kids and our community,” said Board President of Signal Peak Community Foundation Mickie Nye.

The CPA will be implementing its research-based plans over the next 18 months with the goal of helping students become better prepared for postsecondary education.

About College Preparatory Academy
The Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy promotes and prepares students for postsecondary opportunities and 21st century workforce skills, focusing on three core values: Character, Performance and Achievement. Serving three public school districts in Globe, San Carlos and Miami in addition to Holy Angels School, the Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy provides programming for students in Kindergarten through 12th grades. The primary focus of programming in grades K-8 focuses on academic enrichment and career exploration, while high school programming ensures students are academically, financially and socially prepared to enter higher education institutions. For more information call 928-402-6075.

About Signal Peak Community Foundation
Signal Peak Community Foundation’s mission is to provide hope and create possibility and purpose for children, adults and elderly by educating those we serve, enriching the lives of citizens with programs and activities and to strengthen families in our common community, from San Carlos through Globe to Miami. In all of this Signal Peak Community Foundation will serve humbly and with hospitality as the heart of the community for generations to come. Signal Peak Community Foundation values the communities’ youth and as such is a local community based education foundation charged with the growth and development of the Southern Gila County College Preparatory Academy and its mission and goals.

Teacher Quest Tampa Bay Celebrates Successful First Year

The Teacher Quest Tampa Bay Pilot Program successfully completed its first year by placing seven secondary teachers at select companies. The Helios Education Foundation and Florida’s Technological Research and Development Authority are partnering in this 3-year collaborative project to provide unique, six-week employment opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for secondary school teachers in the Tampa Bay Area. The initiative creates a necessary, relevant, progressive link between education and the business community.

Recruitment for 2010 is now underway in the fields of aerospace/defense, biotechnology, energy, engineering, finance, information technology, high-tech manufacturing and the maritime industry. Businesses will benefit by integrating motivated professionals into their workforce who are screened, hired, and paid as temporary employees of TRDA.

“Shaping the workforce of tomorrow begins today in our classrooms, with our teachers,” said Diane Matthews, Director of Education for TRDA. “Educators are often faced with the challenge of how to spark student interest in math, science and technology, and this program addresses this challenge by giving teachers the edge they need to truly inspire students and better prepare them for their future careers.”

Teachers worked this summer as scientists, software specialists, database technology advisors, maritime interns, 3-D modeling/product marketing assistants and purchasing/planner analysts, absorbing technical know-how and on-the-job experience that will follow them back to the classroom to energize and motivate their students. By gaining real-life experience in the corporate environment, these teachers will bring a relevant, fresh, forward-thinking perspective, as well as career information, to their students.

“I was fortunate to work for a defense contractor in supply chain management and interfaced with some brilliant engineering minds,” said Doug Haskitt, teacher at Clearwater Intermediate School. “This was a great learning opportunity and a win-win situation, and I was even able to obtain a program mini-grant for my solar model car project. I strongly recommend this program for teachers and prospective businesses!”

In turn, six Tampa Bay businesses gained a cost-effective turn-key way to bring a skilled temporary employee to their company with a fresh perspective and a unique set of skills. The 2009 business sponsors included Alliant Techsystems, Inc., Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, Inc., Engraving Systems Support, Inc., HSA Engineers & Scientists, The International Propeller Club of the US - Port of Tampa, and Raytheon Network Centric Systems.

“The teacher brought a refreshing diversity of thought to our environment and is clearly energized to carry our message of promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics back into the classroom,” said Steve Park, Director of Program Engineering at Raytheon Network Centric Systems. “I look forward to participating again next year.”

To commemorate the success of the program’s inaugural year, teachers and their business sponsors, school principals, school district representatives, as well as prospective business partners, attended a recognition luncheon at the Marshall Student Center at the University of South Florida. The teachers presented their Action Plans, outlining the lessons they developed during their summer work experience, and agreed that students are eager for motivating activities that link math and science to the workplace.

“Helios Education Foundation believes that education changes lives, but research shows us that middle school students are not getting the connection between what’s happening in the classroom and how that applies to the real world,” said Foundation president and CEO Paul Luna. “Teacher Quest Tampa Bay is helping make that connection very real for teachers first, and that will ultimately help connect the dots for students as well.”

TRDA will continue its efforts to include key industry sectors vital to the economic growth in the Tampa Bay Area. For more information on how your company can provide a work experience for a teacher next summer, contact Diane Matthews at 866.263.9564, Ext. 106 or at dmatthews@trda.org.

Newly Elected Roig Brings History and Expertise to Helios Education Foundation Board of Directors

PHOENIX, AZ — Helios Education Foundation recently the election of Jane Roig as the newest addition to its eight-member board of directors. Ms. Roig’s impressive professional background includes executive management, community leadership and consulting expertise within the education arena. As a former executive of Southwest Student Services Corporation, Helios’ predecessor, she has a long-standing commitment to increasing access to postsecondary education and was a key player in the creation of the Foundation.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Ms. Roig’s talent and expertise to join our board of directors,” comments Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “She was integral in making Helios a reality and shares our commitment to creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education.”

Ms. Roig is the current president of Tri-R Consulting Group, LLC, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based firm specialized in nonprofit management and corporate development consulting. Prior to her role at Tri-R, Ms. Roig was the executive vice president and chief operating officer for Southwest Student Services Corporation, a multi-billion dollar student loan products and services company. Southwest was sold in 2004 to Sallie Mae. The proceeds from the sale were used to create the endowment for Helios Education Foundation. In her executive leadership role, Ms. Roig was part of the visionary management team that led the sale and transition from student loan provider to philanthropic organization.

"It is a privilege and an honor to be part of Helios Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to increasing student success across the entire education continuum,” said Ms. Roig. “I truly believe that our work in early childhood education, the transition years and postsecondary scholarships has the ability to change lives and strengthen communities.”

A passionate community volunteer, Ms. Roig currently serves as vice chair of the American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter, a member of the Arizona Science Center Board of Trustees as well as the Steering Committee for the Phoenix Art Museum’s annual black tie fundraiser. Her volunteer efforts to advance education include serving on the Arizona Board of Regent’s 2009 Making Opportunity Affordable – Lumina Foundation Grant Application Team which is focused on developing, promoting and implementing statewide practices that will increase the number of college graduates in Arizona, and serving as a Teach for America Challenge Grant volunteer.

In addition to Ms. Roig, Helios Education Foundation’s board of directors includes: Vince Roig, chairman; Paul J. Luna, president and CEO; Don Aripoli, Vice President for Student Affairs Emeritus and Director of Development at Missouri State University; Dr. Ioanna Morfessis a business and economic development executive and CEO of IO.INC; Tom Herndon, former Executive Director of the Florida State Board of Administration and chief of staff to two Florida Governors; Mark Fernandez is the Senior Vice President/Chief Sales Officer for the Tampa Bay Rays; Barbara Ralston, President and CEO of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation in Arizona and founder of Camelback Community Bank.

Helios Education Foundation Presents Opportunities — A Look at Our 2008/2009 Highlights

Helios Education Foundation was established in 2004 with the mission of enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. Each year, we take a retrospective look at the unique stories and interesting people we've come to know, and the ongoing partnerships we've developed as part of our commitment to change lives through education. Through our community investment process, we are working everyday to create new opportunities for students to succeed. And, as part of that process, we know how important and valuable it is to share information and ideas about education and about the initiatives that are having an impact in Arizona and Florida.

Is “Average” Good Enough for Arizonans When It Comes to Education?

When it comes to education in Arizona, there are signs that we are becoming complacent in our hopes and aspirations for what education can and should be. Last week’s Republic article even informed us that the demise of Arizona education may be overstated. So, instead of expecting Arizona’s education system to be a national model for quality education and to have our students leading the pack, we accept and often celebrate average achievement.

Experts on all sides of the education debate can argue a compelling a case in support of their position on test scores, rankings and the comparability of national and international benchmarks. Our schools are improving: dropout rates are going down and standards are getting more rigorous. But, even if we accept that we are closer to the middle than the bottom, the question for Arizonans remains, “Is that good enough?”

By national measures, our state, at best, is getting a “C” in education. If your children came home with all C’s on their report cards, would you accept it without question and not challenge them to study harder? If you were an employer with employees who were average workers, would you accept it as all they had to give? In looking for someone to fix your brakes, build your home or perform a surgery, you don’t seek average, you find the best.

As parents and employers and as a community, it’s our responsibility to provide the encouragement and support needed for all students to achieve higher standards, and even better, to excel. Even students who perform well in our schools can still struggle in work and college because they may not be adequately prepared to succeed. Isn’t it up to us to help them be more prepared?

Expect More Arizona is a growing movement of Arizonans who not only want, but expect more of education in our state. We support education and educators because we want students to have the greatest opportunities, employers to have access to a pipeline of talented individuals, and Arizonans to have a high quality of life. We believe that Arizona education can lead us to a bright future, and we accept that it will take time, money and significant effort from all of us to get there.

As the school year begins, let’s encourage our students to strive for more than average. Let’s also spend less time debating where we stand as a state and more effort developing ways to get us to the top. It’s time to expect more from our schools, from our students, and from ourselves. It’s time to raise the bar. Our children deserve nothing less and Arizona’s future depends on it.

Submitted by the board of Expect More Arizona

Middle School Mathematics Education Pilot Project Launched Today

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SunBay Digital Mathematics, a math education pilot project, was recently launched. The Helios Education Foundation and the Pinellas County School District are partnering with SRI International and the College of Education at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) in a collaborative project to set the direction of the future of middle school mathematics education for Pinellas County. In this one year pilot, the focus will be on refining and evaluating the use of proven effective mathematics resources in select middle school classrooms. The Pinellas Education Foundation will serve as the fiscal agent for funding of the project.

If funding is secured for future years, the project will be expanded to include more teachers and students. Long-term goals of the SunBay project include demonstrating positive outcomes in students' mathematics achievement, including their interest in continuing to take challenging mathematics courses.

“Helios Education Foundation is excited about our investment in the SunBay Digital Mathematics Program in Pinellas County because it will help middle school students better engage in math at a time when it has the most potential to lead them toward rewarding careers,” said Helios Education Foundation president and CEO Paul Luna. “This program marries innovations in digital curriculum with opportunities for teacher professional development, and we see that all working together to increase student achievement, gets students excited about math and puts them on a path toward postsecondary education success.”

“This initiative will serve as a catalyst in redefining math education for our students,” said Pinellas County Schools’ Superintendent Julie Janssen. “We believe this exciting and interactive approach will better engage students and build their capacity to be effective problem solvers.”

The project will address the need for alignment and integration of curriculum materials, professional resources, and strategies that are known to work. The project will provide strategic recommendations for sustainable innovation in Pinellas County middle school mathematics education. The first year of funding has been obtained and the project intends to seek additional support for future years.

“We are very pleased to see the SunBay Digital Math project get under way,” said Curtis R. Carlson, Ph.D, president and CEO of SRI International. “The initiation of the project was due in large part to the vision and leadership of the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, who brought SRI together with the Pinellas County schools and Education Foundation, the Helios Education
Foundation, and the College of Education at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.”

"Too many students ask the question, ‘Why do I have to take algebra?’ This partnership is a major step on the road to helping educators bring the real world into the classroom using 21st Century digital learning to make mathematics education come alive," said Terry Boehm, President of the Pinellas Education Foundation.

The pilot project builds on SRI’s decade of National Science Foundation-funded work developing curriculum that has been rigorously evaluated to show substantial gains in students’ mathematics learning. Earlier SRI research has demonstrated success in educational programs that combine innovative mathematics curriculum with dynamic mathematics technology and teacher training.

“Research has shown that middle school students are likely to disengage from the subject of math at the time that mathematics has the most potential to lead them towards a rewarding career in science, technology, or engineering – fields that are critical in today’s innovation economy,” said Phil Vahey, Ph.D., senior research scientist in SRI's Center for Technology in Learning. “SRI will lead the effort to revise digital mathematics materials that have been shown to be successful in prior work, and evaluate whether they meet Florida’s needs.”

The College of Education at USFSP will continue to build on its 10-year collaboration with Pinellas County Schools. The College of Education’s graduate program, with concentrations in mathematics and science, has trained the majority of elementary mathematics supervisors in the school district. The college is committed to teacher training that will lead to advancement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.

“This project responds directly to the college’s emphasis in strengthening pre-service and in-service programs in STEM fields,” said Vivian Fueyo, Ph.D, College of Education Dean, University of South Florida St. Petersburg. “Given our strong partnership with the Pinellas School District, the opportunity to combine SRI’s innovative digital mathematics curriculum and the college’s expertise in mathematics education has created the ideal combination for achieving sustainable change. We are committed to preparing teachers for STEM fields and having our faculty members share their expertise on the topic with future and current professionals.”

Project Overview
Fifteen seventh grade teachers in seven Pinellas County middle schools will attend workshops and monthly meetings focused on using technology-based curriculum units to teach advanced mathematics concepts aligned with the mathematics components of Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.

The teachers will implement two technology-based curriculum units on advanced math concepts, and have the opportunity to provide input on how the materials can be refined to meet the County’s needs. One unit will focus on students' understanding of rate and proportionality in ways that are important to later mathematics and to science and engineering studies. The second unit will focus on core geometry topics. These units will also incorporate important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and communication. Throughout, the project research team will support teachers’ use of the materials and also gather data on the effectiveness of the materials and technology.

The team will also conduct meetings with key stakeholders in Pinellas County to develop a comprehensive strategic plan with recommendations on expanding the pilot in Pinellas County schools.

About Pinellas County Schools
Pinellas County Schools, an award-winning school district, has been recognized on the national and state levels for its strong efforts and dedication of its students, teachers and staff. The district is located on Florida’s west coast and is the seventh-largest school district in the state and 25th largest in the U.S. with a projected K-12 student enrollment of approximately 102,550. Pinellas County Schools is the largest employer in the county with more than 17,000 teachers, administrators and support staff. The district works collaboratively with parents, business leaders and the community to reach the goal of 100% student success and prepares students for success in college or careers.

About Pinellas Education Foundation
The Pinellas Education Foundation is a coalition of business and community leaders who work together to improve the quality of public education. They do this by advocating for public education reform, creating programs to improve student and teacher performance, and raising funds for scholarships, grants and teacher recognition. Some of the most successful Foundation programs are the Doorways Scholarship Program, Enterprise Village and Finance Park, Teach for Excellence Classroom Grants, and the Frances Stavros Career Education Scholarships.

About SRI International
Silicon Valley-based SRI International is one of the world's leading independent, nonprofit research and technology development organizations. Perhaps best known for its invention of the computer mouse and interactive computing, SRI has also been responsible for major advances in networking and communications, robotics, drug discovery and development, advanced materials, atmospheric research, education research, economic development, national security, and more. The nonprofit institute performs sponsored research and development for government agencies, businesses, and foundations. SRI also licenses its technologies, forms strategic alliances, and creates spin-off companies.

SRI’s Center for Technology in Learning is focused on improving teaching and learning by conducting research in the innovative design, use and assessment of interactive learning environments. Within the Center, a Strategic Learning Consulting practice helps educational technology firms improve their products by providing research insights and strengthening educational designs.

About University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Established in 1965, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg is a fiscally autonomous institution of the University of South Florida. USF St. Petersburg is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the baccalaureate and master's levels. With a commitment to excellence in research and teaching, USF St. Petersburg values faculty-student research collaboration, interdisciplinary perspectives, university-community partnerships and a student-centered environment.

The College of Education at USF St. Petersburg, which is a candidate for national accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs recognized by the Florida Department of Education for accomplishing defined learning outcomes, supported by a foundation of applied research, and committed to meeting the needs of the community and the candidates it serves. In pursuit of this mission, faculty in the College of Education are guided by a respect for evidence, creating and extending knowledge by supporting research, and by the pursuit of scholarship. The College of Education seeks to prepare exemplary teachers and other educational personnel for roles in a diverse and changing society. It promotes life-long learning, is committed to stewardship that reflects the ethics of community responsibility, and continually strives to meet the educational needs of all learners.

Recruitment Begins for Teacher Quest Tampa Bay Pilot Program

The Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) is recruiting businesses in the Tampa Bay area for an exciting education program. The Teacher Quest Tampa Bay pilot program is a professional development initiative that will employ Florida certified teachers in grades 6-8 in science, math and technology-based positions during the summers of 2009, 2010 and 2011. Teachers working in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Manatee counties will take their work experience back to the classroom to enrich student awareness of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The 3-year program is made possible through a $300,000 grant from the Helios Education Foundation.

“Supporting the Teacher Quest Tampa Bay program will help strengthen teacher professional development in the math and sciences and potentially impact 6,000 students,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “We are excited about sparking student interest in the science, technology, engineering and math fields by connecting classroom experiences to real world applications.”

The Teacher Quest Tampa Bay pilot program connects Florida teachers with employment opportunities designed to enhance teachers’ science, math and technology skills and knowledge. The program will provide a vital link between school and work, where teachers serve as a conduit for middle school students, exposing them to career and academic pathways, as well as connecting the math and science they are learning in the classroom to the skills they will need in the workforce. Teachers will also receive training to develop lessons based on inquiry, problem solving and real-world relevance that makes math, science and technology more exciting and challenging for students.

“This is a call to action for businesses looking for a turn-key solution to link to education and impact the future workforce,” said Chester Straub, TRDA Executive Director, “It’s a way to encourage students to choose a STEM-related career.”

Targeted businesses for summer of 2009 include the following sectors: agritechnology, biotechnology, energy, finance, high-tech manufacturing, and information technology. Participating businesses will benefit by integrating motivated professionals into their workforce in a cost-effective manner, full-time, for six weeks. Teachers will be screened, hired, and paid as temporary employees of TRDA, alleviating any hands-on administration for businesses.

For more information about how your company can provide a work experience next summer for a teacher in the Tampa Bay area, contact Diane Matthews at dmatthews@trda.org or call (866) 263-9564, Ext 106.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested over $51 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states.

About TRDA

Launched in 1987 as an independent special district of the state of Florida, TRDA leverages federal, state and private resources to develop and implement technology-based programs in four target areas: education, business incubation, energy and technology transfer. Since its inception, the TRDA has leveraged tens of millions of dollars in funding to support its education and economic development programs. By infusing new technology into businesses and schools, the TRDA helps to strengthen the economy and education throughout the state and nation. For more information, visit www.trda.org.

Helios Education Foundation President Paul Luna to Keynote 12th Annual Education in Action Luncheon

TAMPA, Fla. – Leaders from the Tampa Bay community will convene at the 12th Annual Education in Action Luncheon on November 18 in support of community partnerships and to highlight the community’s accomplishments in education.

Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna will provide the keynote address at the event which will showcase partnerships between the University of South Florida’s (USF) College of Education, K-12 schools and other community groups. Stacie Schaible, anchor and consumer reporter from WFLA NewsChannel 8, is the luncheon emcee. The event is scheduled at the Florida State Fairgrounds for Noon on the 18th, and ticket information is available through USF’s College of Education at 813-974-7992.

“We are preparing educators and educational leaders who are truly making an impact on K-12 education. The research and community involvement projects of our top-notch faculty are having a measurable effect, including: the Florida Problem-Solving/Response to Intervention Statewide Project, Florida PROMiSE, and Project ELECT. These visionary initiatives are impacting tens of thousands of educators and students across the State,” said Colleen S. Kennedy, Ph.D., Dean of the USF College of Education.

“Additionally, we are making sure educators world-wide have access to high-quality digital content through USF on iTunes U and other cutting edge technological vehicles. We are also continuing to increase the numbers of first generation students in the USF College of Education.” Kennedy added, “This is very near and dear to us.”

Helios Education Foundation is a USF partner and provided $2 million toward the university’s Latino Scholars program, scholarship programs for students from underrepresented populations and toward scholarships for students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas.

“Helios Education Foundation is a committed partner of the University of South Florida (USF), and we support its efforts to bring the community together around critical issues in education,” said Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “Building long-term, sustainable partnerships is an integral part of any successful education initiative. USF’s College of Education exemplifies this approach by involving numerous community stakeholders in programs that have a direct impact in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. I look forward to sharing some of these key concepts and discussing our recent philanthropic efforts in Tampa Bay.”

Paul J. Luna was named president of Helios Education Foundation in October 2006 and was recently promoted to president and chief executive officer in January 2008. He brings more than 22 years of public and private professional experience to his leadership role with the Foundation. As president, Mr. Luna is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the growing organization, cultivating strong community relationships and initiating strategic partnerships in Arizona and Florida for the Foundation.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization in Arizona and Florida focused solely on education. The Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education, and since its inception in 2004, has invested more than $51 million into education-related programs and initiatives in both states. The Foundation's community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships.

About the University of South Florida's College of Education

The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community engaged public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF was awarded more than $360 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2007/2008. The University offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The University has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

The USF College of Education is ranked 45th by U.S. News & World Report of graduate schools in the country, is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and is fully approved by the Florida Department of Education. The USF College of Education is the seventh largest public college of education in the nation. For more information on the USF College of Education, visit: www.coedu.usf.edu <http://www.coedu.usf.edu> or itunes.usf.edu

Helios Expands Investment in ASU History Teaching Programs

TEMPE, Ariz. – A local philanthropic organization dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education is responding to the need for highly qualified history teachers. A $1 million gift from the Helios Education Foundation will benefit the Arizona State University Department of History.

“This investment from the Helios Education Foundation will help us prepare future teachers by building their historical knowledge base and grounding them in historical thinking skills,” says Mark von Hagen, chair of the history department in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Helios Education Foundation, which has previously invested in ASU’s history department programs, will establish two endowments at the ASU Foundation, providing permanent funding for fellowships for students in the master’s of teaching history program, as well as a mentoring program for history teachers in Arizona.

The new endowment funds will be named for William C. “Bill” Jenkins, a founding director of the Helios Education Foundation. Jenkins was a passionate advocate for history education. He inspired the foundation to fund programs in ASU’s Department of History, helping to improve the quality of history education within postsecondary classrooms. This gift is a result of Jenkins’ most recent advocacy for supporting the teaching of history.

"William C. ‘Bill’ Jenkins was a guiding force through the creation of Helios Education Foundation, and as a founding board member he brought a genuine passion to our mission of changing lives through education,” says the Foundation's President and CEO Paul Luna. "It's with Bill's passion, commitment and excitement about the teaching of history and the teaching profession itself, that Helios Education Foundation awards $1 million to the ASU Foundation. Changing lives through education begins by first creating opportunities in education, and we believe this partnership will open doors for students and existing teachers in history education."

The gift will be presented by Vince Roig, chairman of the Helios Education Foundation, on Nov. 14 to University Vice President and Dean Quentin Wheeler as part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Homecoming Week festivities where the college will honor Bill and Sue Jenkins with the Hall of Fame Award. The couple are being recognized for their support of the humanities and the formative impact they have had throughout their careers and volunteer work in the college, in Scottsdale and in Arizona. The award is the highest honor the college confers.

Bill Jenkins, who died this past summer, taught American and Arizona history, American government, and economics for more than 25 years in the Scottsdale Unified School District. From 1966 to 1974, he served on the Scottsdale City Council and from 1974 to 1980 was the city’s mayor. He also was a U.S. naval officer. He earned a master’s degree in history from ASU in 1963 and his bachelor’s degree in accountancy in 1952.

Sue Jenkins worked for Arizona Public Service for more than 35 years, retiring in 1990 as the community relations liaison for the East Valley. Her volunteer contributions to the Scottsdale community are many.

Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation's community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested over $51 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states. For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org

More information about the history department at history.clas.asu.edu. More information about the ASU Foundation at www.asufoundation.org.

Helios Education Foundation Gifts $1 Million to the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Helios Education Foundation, the largest foundation in both Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, recently awarded the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) a $1 million Early Childhood Education grant. SARRC is a nonprofit, community-based organization dedicated to autism research, education and resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and their families.

“Helios Education Foundation invests its resources and expertise in programs that help pave the way for students to succeed across the education continuum — from pre-K through postsecondary education,” said the Foundation’s Chairman Vince Roig. “Our partnership with SARRC will open doors to more training, resources and professional development for early childhood education professionals, focusing on intervention programs for young children.”

Of the total $1 million gift, $950,000 has been allocated to SARRC’s endowment to ensure that SARRC’s high-quality early intervention services and training programs continue to be available to children, families, educators, physicians and other professionals statewide. The funds will allow SARRC to innovate, replicate and build capacity in the early education field so more children, both with autism and without, are positively impacted.

“This funding is going to have an immeasurable long-term impact on building the sustainability of SARRC’s early intervention programs,” said Lisa Glow, president and CEO of SARRC. “Helios’ endowment provides SARRC a gift in perpetuity, which allows us to maintain and grow services that families desperately need, with a special emphasis on our early intervention and education/training programs.”

The remaining $50,000 will be utilized this year to help SARRC launch an early intervention school consultation program, named the Helios Early Intervention Initiative for Exceptional Children. The goal of the program is to work with toddler and preschool programs in Arizona to set up effective learning environments for children with ASDs and other behavioral challenges from birth to age 5.

Effective learning environments for these children take place in inclusive settings where peer role models without autism play an active role in the child’s education. Research has demonstrated that this experience not only benefits the child with autism or other behavioral challenges, but greatly enhances the leadership capabilities and compassion of typical peers.

“Early intervention programs that focus on behavioral, social and cognitive issues are an integral part of keeping children on a path that not only gets them ready to learn, but helps them succeed in elementary school,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “Our commitment to SARRC is in part a reflection of our overall vision to bolster professional development opportunities for early childhood educators and help equip them with the right tools needed to foster a successful learning environment in today’s classroom.”

Helios Education Foundation was created through the sale of Southwest Student Services Corporation, a student loan services company. Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested more than $48 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida.

Helios Education Foundation Hires Stacy Carlson as Vice President and Director of Transition Years

TAMPA, FL — Helios Education Foundation President Paul Luna announced that Stacy Carlson has been hired as the Foundation’s Vice President and Director of Transition Years. In her new role, Ms. Carlson will work in conjunction with the Foundation’s community investment team to identify new partnership opportunities and implement the Foundation’s strategic investment goals in Florida. She comes to the Foundation with close to 10 years of experience in foundation development, educational advocacy and nonprofit capacity building. “Stacy’s educational expertise and statewide experience will complement Helios Education Foundation’s efforts to build strategic partnerships in Florida,” said Foundation President Paul Luna. “Our goal is to change lives through education, and we want to invest in programs and initiatives that will have a meaningful, wide-ranging impact across the education continuum. We’re pleased to have Stacy on our team and we look forward to her leadership and insight in helping us develop our community investments in Florida.”

Ms. Carlson recently served as executive director of the statewide, member-based organization the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations. In that capacity, she spearheaded the group’s legislative and funding initiatives, advocated for education policy, and helped member foundations build organizational capacity.

“I have been a passionate advocate for enhancing student learning, creating educational opportunities and elevating student achievement in Florida over the past 15 years,” said Vice President and Director of Transition Years Stacy Carlson. “I am so excited to be able to apply that passion and my skills in a way that will support Helios Education Foundation’s investment strategy in Florida, and ultimately pave the way for more students to achieve postsecondary education success.”

In addition to her work at the Consortium, Ms. Carlson once served as a non-profit management and fundraising consultant and also as the Assistant Director of Development at Tufts University. She also worked as Development Director of Communities in Schools at Hillsborough Education Foundation. Ms. Carlson is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at the University of Florida and holds a Master of Education from Harvard University. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested over $44 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states.

Helios Education Foundation is Honored for Exemplifying Leadership in Education

Helios Education Foundation Receives "Champion of Children" Award

Take Stock in Children has awarded Helios Education Foundation its highest honor for education leadership. Florida Governor Charlie Crist presented the Foundation's Chairman, Vince Roig, with the 2008 Champion of Children Award at the Rally in Tally. The award recognizes the Foundation's commitment to education and leadership in support of programs and initiatives aimed at postsecondary education success for students.

Helios Education Foundation is partnering with Take Stock in Children on an initiative that will provide more than 2,100 low-income children with fully paid tuition scholarships, mentors, and hope. The Foundation is investing $1 million in the initiative. Foundation Chairman Vince Roig announced the $1 million gift at the Rally in Tally event on March 25, 2008. More than 1,200 students and mentors attended that event.

Helios Education Foundation Receives John S. McCain Award

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) recently awarded Helios Education Foundation with its 2008 John S. McCain Award. This award is given to those individuals or organizations who demonstrate leadership and a collaborative spirit in the fight against human disease. The award was established in 2005 and includes other winners such as the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, the Flinn Foundation, and the Stardust Foundation. The award is named after Senator John McCain, who is the honorary chair of TGen's national advisory council.

Helios Education Foundation is working with TGen to cultivate new scientific and technical talent across the state of Arizona over the next 25 years. The Helios Scholars Program at TGen is an annual summer internship program for 45 high school, undergraduate and graduate students in Arizona. Interns receive a stipend, are paired with a TGen scientist/mentor and are actively engaged in research projects in disorders as diverse as cancer, diabetes, autism and Alzheimer's disease. The eight-week program supports students from all backgrounds in their efforts to develop foundational skills as they pursue careers in science or medical-related fields.

Helios Education Foundation Receives Community Laureate Award

Helios Education Foundation is the 2008 recipient of Teach For America's Community Laureate Award. The Community Laureate honors an organization or major institution that has demonstrated a commitment to initiatives that align with Teach For America's core values. In addition, this award honors an organization whose actions have helped create new opportunities in education in Arizona. The Community Laureate award is given annually, and previous winners include Arizona State University and the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.

Helios Education Foundation Announces Partnership with Take Stock in Children to Provide Scholarships for Thousands of Low-Income Students

TAMPA, FL – Helios Education Foundation announces a unique partnership with Take Stock in Children that will provide more than 2,100 low-income children with fully paid tuition scholarships, mentors, and hope. At the 2008 Rally in Tally in Tallahassee, Florida on March 25, Foundation Chairman Vince Roig announced a $1 million gift to Take Stock.

More than 1,200 students, teachers and mentors from around the state attended the event on the steps of the old Florida Capitol building. Governor Charlie Crist, Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith, AutoNation President and COO Michael Maroone, Outback Steakhouse President, Paul Avery and other supporters were in attendance.

"Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating opportunities in education that lead to postsecondary success for deserving students," said the foundation's Chairman Vince Roig. "We're excited to announce our partnership and gift of $1 million to Take Stock in Children toward scholarships, additional mentors and tutors for more than 2,100 students in Florida. We believe education changes lives, and we support middle school students and their commitment to achieve, promise to learn and plan to succeed all the way through college."

Governor Charlie Crist emphasized the importance of each child graduating from high school and attending college. He also presented Take Stock in Children’s highest honor, The Champion of Children Award, to Helios Education Foundation Chairman, Vince Roig in appreciation of his leadership.

“Take Stock in Children is grateful for the contribution made by Helios Education Foundation. Their partnership will provide thousands of deserving children with an opportunity to attend college and the benefit of a mentor throughout their middle and high school careers,” said Mike Weinstein, President of Take Stock in Children.

STUDENT AND MENTOR ATTENDANCE AT RALLY IN TALLY

Middle school students and mentors from around the state are expected to attend this year's Rally in Tally:

Alachua, 18 attending	Baker/Columbia/Dixie/Gilchrist/Union, 243 attending
Bradford, 110 attending	Madison, 82 attending
Brevard, 12 attending	Manatee, 30 attending
Calhoun, 7 attending	Monroe, 7 attending
Clay, 45 attending	Okaloosa, 110 attending
Nassau, 56 attending	Pasco, 67 attending
Citrus/Levy, 56 attending	Polk, 45 attending
Duval, 120 attending	Santa Rosa, 70 attending
Escambia, 7 attending	Sarasota, 30 attending
Hillsborough, 24 attending	Seminole, 50 attending
Franklin, 41 attending	Volusia, 48 attending
Leon/Gadsden/Wakula, 35 attending	Walton, 38 attending
Marion, 58 attending	Washington, 50 attending

ABOUT THE HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION – Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested over $43 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states. For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

ABOUT TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN - Founded in 1995 in response to the need for a scholarship program that provided more than just financial assistance to recipients, Take Stock in Children is an award-winning program that provides scholarships, mentors, and hope for a better future to Florida’s most deserving children. A public-private partnership, this school-based mentoring organization has positively affected the lives of more than 13,500 children. Scholarships are purchased through the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, which provides matching funds to double the impact of scholarship donations to Take Stock in Children. Take Stock in Children is the only statewide scholarship program in Florida to provide trained, dedicated mentors representing every segment of society who mentor their students weekly from middle school through high school graduation. To learn more, visit www.takestockinchildren.com.

Helios Education Foundation Promotes Barbara Ryan to Executive Vice President and COO.

PHOENIX, AZ — Helios Education Foundation Chairman Vince Roig today announced that Barbara Ryan has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. She had most recently served as the Foundation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Along with continuing to oversee the internal operations of the Foundation as well as provide strategic direction and foster external community and stakeholder relations, Ms. Ryan will manage the Foundation’s community investment process. Helios Education Foundation expects to invest between $25 million and $30 million annually into education-related programs and scholarships across Arizona and Florida.

"Barbara Ryan has long played a key role in the creation, development and direction of Helios Education Foundation and the implementation of its mission," said Foundation Chairman Vince Roig. "Ms. Ryan’s promotion to Executive Vice President builds on her extensive knowledge of the Foundation’s operations, and includes expanding her role in cultivating new partnerships across a broad spectrum of organizations within the education community."

Ms. Ryan will be more engaged in community outreach efforts and be responsible for the Foundation’s community investment team, including the transition years and early childhood education program and grant management staff. She will also drive the Foundation’s expansion and hiring process and interact more closely with the board of directors.

"This whole process has really come full circle for me," said Ms. Ryan. "I had the unique opportunity of being involved from the very beginning in the creation of the Foundation. Now, in my new role as Executive Vice President, I’m able to affect its ongoing evolution and see first hand the impact we’re having in the community. This is an incredible opportunity and I look forward to continuing to bring the board’s vision into fruition."

Prior to joining Helios Education Foundation, Ms. Ryan served six years with Southwest Student Services Corporation, first as vice president and then as senior vice president and general counsel. Her responsibilities included managing all legal and compliance matters for Southwest and its Arizona and Florida affiliates as well as the legal development of Helios Education Foundation following the sale of Southwest.

Ms. Ryan was also previously an attorney in private practice at Snell & Wilmer, LLP, where she represented a number of corporate and public clients. Ms. Ryan received her J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law and an M.P.A. degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested over $43 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states.

For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

Helios Creates Endowed Scholarship Fund for University of South Florida to Benefit Underserved Populations

Foundation Creates Endowed Scholarship Fund With $2 million Investment State Match Boosts Total to $4 million

TAMPA, Fla. — Helios Education Foundation today announced its $2 million gift to the University of South Florida, creating the Helios Education Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund. The $2 million gift is eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match from the state of Florida, yielding an historic $4 million for the University’s scholarship programs for under-represented populations. These scholarships will go to qualified students, with strong consideration given to undergraduate students from low-income families and diverse ethnic backgrounds. The goal of the gift is to increase the number of students entering and completing college.

“Helios Education Foundation’s $2 million gift to USF is an acknowledgement of our commitment to creating new opportunities for success in postsecondary education,” said the Foundation’s Chairman Vince Roig. “The Tampa Bay area is our Florida home and we’re excited about building a long-term, meaningful partnership in this community that will give students the chance they need to succeed and help increase the number of university graduates each year.”

Once the funds have been matched, the university plans to fund new scholarships and provide incentives to encourage additional private support for scholarships. USF will use the funds to benefit students of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including Latino and African-American students, economically disadvantaged students and those majoring in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“This is an extraordinarily generous gift,” said USF President Judy Genshaft. “We are honored and grateful for this level of support from an organization that has distinguished itself as one of the preeminent donors to education in our state. And we are delighted to receive funding for those students who are in particular need of scholarships. I believe this gift recognizes our tougher entrance standards and high achievement of our students.”

Helios Education Foundation’s gift and match will make a powerful impact in addressing the nation’s need for trained scientists, engineers and technicians as well as the need to encourage enrollment and success in college for students from diverse backgrounds. Funding is available for Tampa Bay area students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

“It is very exciting to know that our most talented students who happen to need support are going to get it and we know this investment will be good for Florida and for Tampa Bay,” said Genshaft.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education. The Foundation, whose endowment is approaching $600 million, opened its Florida office in downtown Tampa in September 2007. Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Education. Since inception in 2004, Helios Education Foundation has invested nearly $42 million into education-related programs and initiatives in both states. For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is among the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community engaged public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It is one of Florida's top three research universities. USF was awarded more than $300 million in research contracts and grants last year. The University offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The University has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 45,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

Florida Joint Center for Citizenship to Serve as State Clearinghouse for Civic Learning

Helios Education Foundation Invests Over $556,000 in Center’s Training Program for Middle School Social Studies Teachers

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida today unveiled a unique partnership, establishing the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship — a primary resource to help strengthen civic education in the state. An outgrowth of the bi-partisan civic education initiative Graham and Frey launched last year, the Center will promote the development of enlightened, responsible, and actively engaged citizens and will lead efforts to improve the teaching and learning of civics in Florida schools.

"Educated and informed voters are the foundation of our nation’s democratic process. I applaud the efforts of two of our state’s most distinguished statesmen, and encourage Floridians to support their efforts,” said Governor Crist. “Our state’s future is in the hands of the children who are now in school. Through sound civics education, we can ensure that Florida’s future leaders have the knowledge and skills to make their voices heard in the political process.”

Under the leadership of former Senator Graham and former Congressman Frey, the Center will work to coordinate efforts to improve civics education in Florida and provide leadership to help make civics a priority in Florida’s teacher education programs. It will also encourage the use of classroom materials that help students understand government in the state and in communities where they live. Periodically, the Joint Center will report to the citizens of Florida on the state of Florida’s civic culture.

One of the Center’s first initiatives is to implement a statewide professional development training program for middle school teachers. Helios Education Foundation is partnering with the Center on this initiative and is providing a community investment of $556,466 toward the program. As a result of these funds, the Center will be offering weekly training programs for middle school teachers statewide during the summers of 2008 and 2009.

“Helios Education Foundation is focused on changing lives through education, and our greatest area of emphasis is the middle school years, including teacher professional development,” said the Foundation’s President and CEO Paul Luna. “We are pleased to invest over $556,000 in the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, a multi-university, public-private collaboration that will ultimately improve the quality of civics education statewide.”

“The opportunity to partner with Helios Education Foundation provides the Joint Center with an immediate opportunity to make an important difference,” said Senator Graham. “We are grateful to the Foundation for its willingness to make an investment in the quality of citizenship. Florida’s future depends on it.”
Congressman Lou Frey added that the Florida Legislature has already recognized the weakness of civic education in the state. “That is why,” he said, “they passed House Bill 7087 in 2006, which requires school districts to offer at least one semester of civics in middle schools. When they passed that bill the Legislature took a first important step to restoring the civic mission of Florida’s schools. The project that the Joint Center is undertaking, thanks to the support of Helios Education Foundation, will help to realize the Legislature’s intention.”

Teachers participating in the week long summer training program will be able to do so at no cost. As part of the training program, they will participate in curriculum centered on providing students with the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United States. The curriculum also promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and the development of important civic skills. It ultimately helps students understand what they need to know to be effective citizens. The program will build on a curriculum developed by the Center for Civic Education and promoted by its long-time Florida partner, the Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc.

About the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship
The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship promotes the development of enlightened, responsible, and actively engaged citizens. The center was formed through a collaboration of the Bob Graham Center for Public Services at the University of Florida and the Lou Frey Institute for Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida. The Center is housed at the University of Central Florida and will serve as the State’s primary civics information resource center as well as provide leadership around a number of efforts to improve the teaching and learning of civics. For more information, visit The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship at www.floridacitizen.org.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education. The Foundation’s endowment is in excess of $600 million. Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Education. Since inception in 2004, Helios Education Foundation has invested nearly $42 million into education-related programs and initiatives in both states. For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

Helios Education Foundation Invests $6.5 Million in TGEN Partnership

Helios Education Foundation Invests $6.5 Million in New Partnership with TGen

Partnership Extends Funding for Bioscience Summer Internship
Program Over the Next 25 Years

PHOENIX, AZ — Helios Education Foundation today awarded $6.5 million to the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) as part of a new partnership that extends the Helios Scholars Program at TGen for the next 25 years. The program helps cultivate new scientific and technical talent across the state of Arizona.

"Helios Education Foundation’s commitment to develop a long term partnership with TGen for student training is an incredible boost for Arizona’s future in the biosciences," Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano said. "Arizona is poised to become a world leader in cutting-edge medical education and health care, but only if we provide the necessary training and mentorship. These types of public-private partnerships hold the key to what must be the central goal of an Arizona education: giving our students the skills they need to succeed in the high-tech, high-knowledge world of the 21st century."

The Helios Scholars Program at TGen is an annual summer internship program for 45 high school, undergraduate and graduate students in Arizona. Interns receive a stipend, are paired with a TGen scientist/mentor and are actively engaged in research projects in disorders as diverse as cancer, diabetes, autism and Alzheimer’s disease. The eight-week program supports students from all backgrounds in their efforts to develop foundational skills as they pursue careers in science or medical-related fields.

“Creating opportunities in education that have math and science at their core is very important to Helios Education Foundation,” said the Foundation’s Chairman Vince Roig. “We are excited to invest $6.5 million in this innovative and unique program at TGen because it opens new doors into the world of the biosciences for Arizona students. We’re even more excited to be investing in a long-term partnership that will impact the future growth and development of the sciences in Arizona.”

Helios Education Foundation provided funding for TGen’s 2007 summer internship program, which included a stipend for students. This led to a sizable increase in the number of qualified student applications from around the State. The $6.5 million endowment enables TGen to extend its competitive internship program for 25 years and provide a stipend and other support for students. The Helios Scholars Program at TGen also encourages student diversity, with upwards of 20 percent of the interns coming from underrepresented populations.

"We are excited to continue and expand our partnership with the Helios Education Foundation," said TGen president, Dr. Jeffrey Trent. "Our shared commitment to training the next generation of researchers provides an unparalleled opportunity for Arizona and those students seeking hands-on training to augment their classroom experience. For many of these students, this experience will prove to be a defining moment in focusing their career choices across the biosciences.”

Applications are now available on-line at the TGen website: http://www.tgen.org/education. Interns must be a resident of Arizona or a full-time student at an Arizona-based high school, accredited college or university. The application deadline is March 14. Attributes that investigators consider in selecting students include a strong desire to conduct independent research, interests, academic achievement, curiosity, ambition, and aptitude for working independently and with a team. The application process is competitive, but many different backgrounds and abilities are represented among the students selected.

In addition to the stipends, Helios Education Foundation and TGen recognize each student as a Helios Scholar. The endowment also funds an end-of-the-summer symposium where students present their work to their peers, TGen staff, family and guests. Additionally, the endowment provides six merit-based scholarships and supports several extra curricular activities to encourage student interaction and learning.

TGen's past summer interns boast an array of impressive accomplishments, including publishing scientific abstracts and peer-reviewed articles, gaining acceptance into medical and graduate school and winning scholarships and prizes. In 2005, TGen interns Albert Shieh and Anne Lee took first place in the team category at the 2005-2006 Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology. The interns split a $100,000 scholarship.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education. The Foundation’s endowment is in excess of $600 million. Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Education. Since inception in 2004, Helios Education Foundation has invested nearly $42 million into education-related programs and initiatives in both states. For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the performance of groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on developing earlier diagnostics and smarter treatments for diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen's vision is of a world where an understanding of genomic variation can be rapidly translated to the diagnosis and treatment of disease in a manner tailored to individual patients. For more information, visit TGen online at www.tgen.org.

Helios Education Foundation Promotes Paul J. Luna To President and CEO

Phoenix, AZ — Helios Education Foundation today announces the promotion of Paul J. Luna from President to President and CEO. In his new role, Mr. Luna takes on an expanded set of duties, including providing visionary leadership to the $600 million Foundation as it strategically invests its human and financial resources across the pre-k through postsecondary education continuum. Helios’ goal is to increase the number of young adults successfully completing postsecondary education with the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in a global economy. His short-term priorities involve managing the successful expansion and growth of the Foundation to fulfill that vision..

“Helios Education Foundation’s Board of Directors is absolutely excited that Paul has agreed to assume the additional responsibilities of President and CEO,” said the Foundation’s Chairman Vince Roig. “Over the past year, Paul has shown tremendous vision and leadership and has helped Helios chart a path that will not only be successful for the Foundation, but one that will impact the lives of individuals across the education continuum,” he added. “With Paul’s contributions, we are truly looking forward to achieving new milestones for years to come.”

Mr. Luna has served as President of Helios Education Foundation since November 2006. His initial duties included developing a framework for strategically investing the Foundation’s human and financial resources to impact Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships; developing a visionary brand strategy for the organization; defining an organizational structure; creating a multi-year growth plan; and overseeing the opening of a new office in Tampa, Florida.

“I am honored to accept this position and to serve in this capacity at Helios Education Foundation,” said Paul Luna. “I value and appreciate the support of the Board and believe that together we can change lives and strengthen the communities we serve through our work in education. Our vision is for every individual in Arizona and Florida to have the opportunity to attend and succeed in postsecondary education, and my goal is to advance that agenda in every way possible.”

Mr. Luna has more than 22 years of public and private professional experience. Prior to his role at Helios Education Foundation he served as President of Valley of the Sun United Way in Phoenix, Arizona where he led an organizational transformation and community-wide fundraising effort approaching $50 million. Under his leadership, Valley of the Sun United Way was consistently recognized as a leader across the United Way system with model early childhood education, youth workforce development and domestic violence intervention community initiatives. Mr. Luna’s corporate experience spans nearly 10 years in sales and marketing with Pepsi Cola and IBM.

In addition to his professional experience, he currently serves on the Arizona Early Childhood Development & Health Board, the Governor’s P-20 Education Council, and the Center for the Future of Arizona Board. Mr. Luna is a graduate of Stanford University and holds a degree in Civil Engineering.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education. The Foundation’s endowment is in excess of $600 million. Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation’s community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested nearly $42 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states.

For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation Award $900,000 for Education Reform Projects

Beat the Odds Institute and Stand for Children each receive first-time $450,000 grants

PHOENIX, AZ –The Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation proudly announce the award of $900,000 to two nonprofit organizations to expand education reform efforts in Arizona over the next three years. The recipients are Phoenix-based Beat the Odds Institute, an initiative of the Center for the Future of Arizona, and Portland, Ore.-based Stand for Children, which will expand to Arizona thanks to the grant funding.

The grants are being paid from the new Accio Education Fund, a “venture capital” type of charitable fund created by ACF and Helios to support the development and expansion of innovative education reform efforts for the benefit of Arizona students. Each foundation provided $450,000 to the Fund, which is being held and managed at ACF.

Beat the Odds Institute, an initiative of the Center for the Future of Arizona, began as a research study aimed at learning how to get great results in schools with mostly low-income, mostly minority students. The findings, published in 2006, pointed to six keys, or principles, for success and called for the implementation of these best practices into every school in Arizona. The Beat the Odds Institute and the BTO School Partners Program were established in 2007 by Lattie Coor under the umbrella of the Center for the Future of Arizona to disseminate information, offer training and provide support to schools and districts implementing the Beat the Odds principles. The program focuses on what is working in Arizona schools, resulting in better-than-expected academic performance instead of focusing on what isn’t working.

The Accio grant will be used to expand the BTO School Partners Program from the current 59 participating schools, all of which are in the Greater Phoenix area, to 90 schools in 2009-2010 by adding Pima and Pinal counties; 120 schools in 2010-2011 by adding the Flagstaff and Yuma areas; and to at least 200 schools—two-thirds of the total number in the state that fit the demographic model—by 2015.

Stand for Children is a non-partisan, grassroots nonprofit organization that builds effective local and statewide networks of parents, educators, and concerned community members who use the power of grassroots action to help all children get the excellent public education and support they need to thrive. Following specific priorities affirmed by state members, the group focuses on securing adequate funding for public schools and reforming education policies and practices to help children thrive academically, giving them the opportunities they need to become successful, productive citizens.

The Accio grant will allow Stand for Children to establish an affiliate in Arizona. Currently, Stand has affiliates in Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Colorado, all of which advocate for education reforms in a respectful, non-partisan way.

“Along with the state and national experts who reviewed the applicants, we felt that Beat the Odds and Stand for Children had the greatest promise for significant impact on statewide systemic reform based on their organizational track records and glowing comments from people on the ground who have already been impacted by their programs,” said Jim Pitofsky, ACF’s education director.

“Helios Education Foundation believes that education changes lives, and we see our partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation and the Accio Education Fund as a unique opportunity to impact and improve student achievement statewide,” said Paul Luna, Helios president and CEO.

“Both the Beat the Odds Institute and Stand for Children have an innovative and comprehensive plan that’s not only focused on bridging the achievement gap, but also aimed at improving student proficiency and preparedness. Those goals are clearly aligned with our mission, and Helios is excited to be part of this initiative,” Luna added.

The two recipient organizations were chosen after a thorough and inclusive six-month selection process. In early 2009, ACF and Helios sought nominations from a vast field of local and national organizations, funders and businesses. Their request specifically called for innovative education reform programs already in Arizona and those from other states considering expansion to Arizona. True start-up efforts were not encouraged for nomination, but consideration was given to expansion of an organization’s proven, successful model if front-end investment had already been made and the applicant could demonstrate relevant experience to date.

After several interviews, a smaller group of semi-finalists was invited to submit proposals. This pool was then winnowed down to three in-state and three out-of-state finalists who then were interviewed by a distinguished group of panelists representing geographic and ethnic diversity as well as varying types of professional expertise. The out-of-state panel had representation from the Gates Foundation and Target, two of the nation’s most prominent philanthropic grantmakers.

The Accio grants will be paid over a three-year period in annual installments of $250,000, $125,000, and $75,000, and will include intense staff engagement and technical and strategic assistance provided by ACF and Helios, and each organization will receive support from a full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA member.
“In alliance with our great partners at Helios, we will provide significant funds and time to support the outstanding leadership of these two organizations to improve the expectations, learning and results for Arizona’s students,” said Pitofsky.

About the Arizona Community Foundation
The Arizona Community Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization with four regional offices serving 13 affiliate community foundations. Established in 1978 and certified under the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, ACF is among the top 30 community foundations in the nation with $400 million in trust and endowment assets. Because a quality education system is a key driver of Arizona’s economic competitiveness and overall quality of life, education reform has become a top priority for Arizona’s philanthropic sector. Supported by significant donor interest and dedicated giving—including a $52 million bequest from the John Ellis Family in 2005—the Arizona Community Foundation has made education reform one of its flagship initiatives. More information is available at www.azfoundation.org.

44 Helios Scholars graduate from TGen intern program

Eight-week summer instruction prepares students for careers in science

PHOENIX, AZ – Future leaders in science and medicine graduated from an intense summer internship program today from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

The 44 members of the Helios Scholars Program at TGen wrapped up eight weeks of investigations with a symposium of scientific posters and discussions at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

This was the third year of TGen’s Helios Scholars Program, funded by the Helios Education Foundation, the largest philanthropic foundation in Arizona and Florida solely focused on education. The foundation has donated $6.5 million toward the Helios Scholars Program at TGen.

This innovative program helps students from all backgrounds sharpen their research skills as they prepare for careers in science or medical fields. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants – many at the top of their class – their backgrounds ranged from bioengineering to business to international studies.

The program allows high school, undergraduate and graduate level students, including those in medical school, to conduct independent research in pursuit of scientific questions that they formulate.

Under the guidance of research investigators – who provide closely-supervised, one-on-one instruction – Helios Scholars use cutting-edge technology to learn about the genetic causes of diseases such as melanoma, prostate cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

To complete their internships, Helios Scholars presented their work today (July 31) at a daylong symposium – one replicating a real-world scientific conference – where they gave oral presentations and displayed and explained scientific posters.

Past interns boast an array of impressive accomplishments – publishing scientific abstracts, scientific articles, and acceptance into medical and graduate schools. A remarkable 96 percent of interns have rated the Helios Scholars program “excellent’’ or “good,’’ while 75 percent have credited the program with playing a significant role in helping them secure employment.

For more information about TGen or the internship program, visit www.tgen.org/intern. TGen will begin accepting online applications for next summer’s Helios program in early 2010.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education. The Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education and its community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Education. Since inception in 2004, Helios Education Foundation has invested over $62 million into education-related programs and initiatives in both states. For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org and click on Education/Outreach; then click on Helios Scholars Program.

Internships for Teachers Help Teach Real World Science and Math

Helios Education Foundation and the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) joined efforts to expand the Teacher Quest program to the Tampa Bay community. The six-week summer internship program allows 6th-8th grade teachers in the math and science areas to work at science and technology-based companies in Tampa Bay. This summer, six Tampa Bay businesses participated in the program, companies included Alliant Techsystems, Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, Engraving Systems Support, LLC., HSA Engineers and Scientists, The Propeller Club of the United States Port of Tampa and Raytheon Network Centric Systems.

The Foundation provided a $300,000 community investment toward the program, which is expected to employ sixth through eighth grade teachers in science, math and technology-based positions in the summers of 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The hope is that these teachers will be able to share and implement their internship experiences into their classrooms when teaching math and science. Teachers will strengthen their own professional development in their respective fields, as well as impact approximately 6,000 students. It also helps make the courses relevant to the real world for the students. Results will be ensured through the implementation of STEM-related lesson plans that translate real-world applications of STEM-related skills, academic and career pathway information, as well as workforce expectations to students.

Partnerships Help College Depot Open its Doors

June 10, 2009 - Paul Luna, talked to a crowd of over 200 during the College Depot Dedication, a unique full-service college planning center located at Burton Barr Central Library in downtown Phoenix. Community partnerships helped College Depot become a beacon of hope for high school students eager to learn about college.

The center is privately funded, offers free one-on-one assistance, family consultation and workshops on all aspects of the college planning process, from financial aid to career exploration, to anyone seeking assistance with planning for college.

"Helios Education Foundation is pleased to support College Depot because it helps families plan and prepare for college, it sheds light on the financial resources available and gets students thinking about their future," said Paul Luna, president and chief executive officer, Helios Education Foundation. "We need initiatives like College Depot in our community because it helps create a college-going culture and puts students on a path toward success in postsecondary education."

The center will feature free services including workshops for students and parents on college readiness, financial aid, career and major exploration, scholarships, college applications, personal statements, ACT and SAT test preparation; one-on-one assistance by appointment; college planning software; and appointments with university and community college counselors.

College Depot is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the city's Youth and Education Programs Office. It is privately funded by the Community Development Block Grant program, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Helios Education Foundation, USA Funds, The Dorrance Family Foundation, Arizona GEAR UP at NAU, John & Delys Ellis Fund at the Arizona Community Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, APS, SRP, Southwest Gas, Cardinals Charities, and Jean and Betty Fairfax.

To learn more about College Depot visit their website at http://phoenix.gov/collegedepot/.

Vince Roig Keynotes Mayor's Latinos Unidos Luncheon

May 20, 2009 - Vince Roig addressed a crowd of over 500 community members and elected officials during the Mayor's 12th Annual Latinos Unidos Conference and Luncheon in May. The event is hosted annually by the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Council.

The conference and luncheon brings together business and community leaders and others to promote and showcase the cultural and financial influence Latinos have in the community, and also to provide funds for college scholarships.

"Our goal is to raise funds for higher education," said chair of the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Council Maritza Rovira-Forino. "Proceeds from this event are going to students attending the University of Tampa."

Mayor Pam Iorio declared May 20 as Latinos Unidos Day in Tampa and recognized former Florida Governor and former Tampa Mayor Bob Martinez for his role in creating the Hispanic Advisory Council.

"Each year the Latinos Unidos luncheon is a highlight because it really showcases the economic impact of the Latinos in the Tampa Bay community," said Mayor Iorio. "We can't lose sight of the fact that our community is a diverse one and this luncheon highlights that."

During his speech, Vince reminded the audience that as a community they all owe a debt to the generation behind them to ensure that that generation is prepared to lead. He also spoke about the importance of ethics in everyday life and the fact that education is truly a renewable resource. Following his address, Mayor Iorio presented Vince with a City of Tampa ceremonial plate.

Setting the Path for Future Economic Success-Opinion-Editorial

Historians tell us the establishment of Arizona’s first university in 1885 in Tucson was met with a bombardment of ripe eggs and rotten vegetables.

The local citizenry had sent a representative to negotiate with the state’s 13th Territorial Legislature in hopes of gaining one of two entities—the state capitol or a mental health institution. They saw either as helping to set the path for future economic success.

Instead, they received what they termed a measly $25,000 appropriation to build the University of Arizona. Angered by what they viewed as a great defeat, the trash hurling commenced.

Not long after this odious outcome, our state’s forefathers went on to establish two more universities—Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University—at a time when a college education was neither common, nor a priority. Less than 100 students attended in those early days, and the areas of study were few.

Today, the mission of Arizona’s three public universities is more diverse, comprehensive and connected to the needs of our state. They educate tens of thousands annually to give our state’s industries a skilled workforce. They inform decision makers through public policy studies. They strengthen communities by leading and moderating citizen dialogue and debate. And, their research spawns innovations, cultivates entrepreneurs, and generates business opportunities.

All three are themselves major economic engines—employing more than 30,000 Arizonans and attracting industry that impacts Arizona’s economy by billions of dollars every year.

Beyond economics, our universities’ research helps to save and sustain life. From the study of tree rings that could impact global warming, to the creation of the world’s first FDA-approved temporary artificial heart at the University of Arizona; to the study of forest health to prevent catastrophic wildfires, and the faster diagnosis of infectious diseases and the identification of potential biothreat agents at Northern Arizona University; to the work of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University to find cancer treatments and cures; as well as ASU’s study of solar energy conversion into a sustainable energy resource—our universities are changing Arizona’s destiny through their discoveries.

And our universities make the quality of our lives better. Studies support that an educated citizenry results in decreased reliance on government support, reduced crime rates, increased charitable giving, and an improved ability to adapt and use technology. Additionally, all workers, regardless of their education level, experience an increase in their salaries when a larger proportion of the workforce has a college degree.

However, despite the positive impacts of the universities, we’re not keeping up with the pace of future workforce needs. As a country, we no longer lead the world in educational attainment; and among all states, Arizona is 43rd in the number of high school seniors who go on to earn a college degree.

Before our current economic crisis hit, the U.S. Labor Department projected that in 2013 there would be three million more jobs in our country that would require a bachelor’s degree. Economists still expect certain industry segments, especially health care, to continue to grow and require a bachelor’s degree. Also predicted, in 2020, and in Arizona alone, 167,000 jobs requiring a college degree will become vacant due to retirements. We aren’t on track as a state or a nation to fill these future jobs.

Our universities stand ready to help change this trajectory. That will require new ways to deliver educational programs at a lower cost, and through further state investment. Our policymakers, regents and universities have agreed to work toward solutions, and have begun the dialogue. We are prepared to work collaboratively to advance this effort.

The future of higher education in Arizona is in a precarious place, and tough decisions will have to be made. As a percentage of the general fund, state support of our universities has significantly diminished over the past three decades, while enrollment has skyrocketed. Recent additional cuts to university budgets have exacerbated the problem. A greater portion of the cost is falling to the students and their parents, at a time when it’s economically difficult for many. This trend will make it difficult to move Arizona from the bottom quartile in the number of students completing college.

Our foundations know that Arizona’s success relies on a well-educated citizenry. Our targeted investments seek to provide educational and research opportunities to advance our state in the global marketplace in which we now compete.

Our strategic grant making recognizes that Arizona will be a better place to live, work, and raise families if it has the infrastructure to make it a leader in the high-technology industries driving the knowledge-based economy of the 21st Century. Achieving such leadership is impossible without full investment in our state’s education pipeline, such as STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), from K-12 through graduate education.

Outstanding research universities are essential to position Arizona competitively in a knowledge-driven economy—new medical discoveries, alternative energy sources, and technology breakthroughs. And it requires more than research stature; it means our universities must be prepared to convert discoveries into economic activity.

Though our state and national economies are currently in fiscal disarray, and it may be difficult to see our way clear, we must keep focused on the future—one that is inextricably connected to the success of our universities.

Education changes lives, and we cannot lose sight of the importance of an educated society; nor the innovation and economic prosperity that our universities provide.

Mr. Jewett is a former president of the Arizona Board of Regents and the incoming president and CEO of the Flinn Foundation. Mr. Murphy is the longtime president of the Flinn Foundation, who will retire June 2009. Mr. Roig is chairman of the Helios Education Foundation.

Helios President/CEO Leads Collaborative Expect More Arizona Campaign

PHOENIX – Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna, along with other community partners and philanthropic organizations, recently launched Expect More Arizona, a new nonpolitical public-private partnership focused on the future of education in Arizona. Expect More Arizona is launching a multi-year effort to create a statewide movement of Arizonans who value education as Arizona’s top priority. The $2 million public awareness and engagement effort asks people to join the cause by going to ExpectMoreArizona.org. As a prelude to the statewide mass media component of the campaign, which starts in early May, partners are hosting a series of "Open Microphone" events at five high schools across the state starting in Maricopa County and concluding in Yuma on May 6.

"This collaborative statewide effort is about every Arizonan taking an active role in strengthening education in our state," said Paul J. Luna, President/CEO of Helios Education Foundation and Chairman of Expect More Arizona’s Oversight Board. "It is meant to challenge all of us—parents, students, educators, retirees, policymakers, employers, and concerned Arizonans—to expect more of ourselves, our students and each other when it comes to what we are putting into education. And in the end, it will benefit us all."

Commenting from a business perspective, Tom Franz, President/CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership said, "Businesses within Arizona and across the country are faced with the challenge of having a sufficient pool of talented, knowledgeable and skilled workers to keep them competitive in today’s 21st global economy. Only by making education Arizona’s top priority can we ensure that tomorrow’s workforce is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and the workplace, which ultimately fuels a strong Arizona economy."

Kent Scribner, Superintendent of Phoenix Union High School District comments, "Expect More Arizona creates a valuable platform for positive and proactive dialogue about the future of education in Arizona. And while we believe that excellence occurs in education across our state, there is still a lot of work to be done. We need every Arizonan to take an active role in improving and prioritizing education in our state."

Expect More Arizona is governed by an Oversight Board including representatives from the Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona School Boards Association, Arizona State University, First Things First, Helios Education Foundation, Northern Arizona University, Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona, University of Arizona and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. Each organization represented has committed $100,000 or more to the statewide effort.

To join the movement visit www.ExpectMoreArizona.org

Helios Education Foundation Chairman Vince Roig to Keynote Mayor's Latinos Unidos Luncheon

Tampa, FL – Helios Education Foundation Board Chairman, Vince Roig will deliver the keynote address during the 2009 Latinos Unidos Luncheon in Tampa, FL.

The luncheon and conference, hosted by the Mayor Pam Iorio’s Hispanic Advisory Council, will take place on Wednesday, May 20 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa. The luncheon brings together business and community leaders, and others to promote and showcase the cultural and financial influence Latinos have in the community.

Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council scholarship endowment at the University of Tampa. Endowments have also been established at Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida.

Vince Roig is Chairman of the Board of Helios Education Foundation. Prior to forming the Foundation, Mr. Roig was the Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Southwest Student Services Corporation and its affiliates for over twenty years. Southwest was a full service provider of student loan products and services to students, families and schools in Arizona, Florida and nationally.

Foundation Elects Rays' Mark Fernandez to Board of Directors

(Phoenix, AZ/Tampa, FL) – Helios Education Foundation’s Board of Directors has elected Mark Fernandez as its newest member. Fernandez, who has strong community ties in both Florida and Arizona, will serve on the board through 2012. He currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Tampa Bay, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Rays Baseball Foundation and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. Fernandez is also a member of the Tampa Bay Partnership's 2008 CEO Direct program and he serves on the community advisory board for the St. Petersburg Times' Bay Magazine.

“Helios Education Foundation’s commitment to changing lives through education is realized through the strategic partnerships we build and the community investments we make in Arizona and Florida,” said Foundation Chairman Vince Roig. “We’re excited to have Mark Fernandez on the board because he brings the unique perspective of having been intricately involved in both communities on many levels, and he’s able to marry that with his understanding of philanthropy. Mark’s election really is a positive extension of his community involvement, and we believe it will go a long way toward helping us impact education in both states.”

A native of Tampa Bay, Fernandez is the Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer for the Tampa Bay Rays where he oversees the Rays sales and corporate marketing efforts, broadcast operations, merchandising operations and ticket and suite sales. Prior to joining the Rays, Fernandez served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also spent two years as the Diamondbacks' Vice President of Community Affairs and Executive Director of the Arizona Diamondbacks Charities followed by four years as the team's Vice President of Corporate Sales.

“I am honored to serve on Helios Education Foundation’s board of directors and to be part of an organization that is creating opportunities for students to succeed across the whole spectrum, from early childhood education through postsecondary education,” Fernandez said. “I was born and raised in Tampa Bay and am a product of the public school system and know wholeheartedly that investing in education is really about investing in our future. I look forward to continuing to support education and to helping students prepare to succeed through my work on the Helios board.”

Helios Education Foundation is governed by a seven-member board comprised of individuals with strong ties to Arizona and Florida. In addition to Chairman Vince Roig and President and CEO Paul Luna, other board members include: Don Aripoli, Vice President for Student Affairs Emeritus and Director of Development at Missouri State University; Dr. Ioanna Morfessis a business and economic development executive and CEO of IO.INC; Tom Herndon, former Executive Director of the Florida State Board of Administration and chief of staff to two Florida Governors; and Barbara Ralston, President and CEO of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation in Arizona and founder of Camelback Community Bank.

Helios Donates $2 Million to UA's Assurance Scholarship Program

TUCSON, ARIZ. – Helios Education Foundation has committed $2 million to the Arizona Assurance scholarship program at The University of Arizona.

The jointly public-private funded financial aid program addresses a key priority of UA President Robert N. Shelton to increase state residents’ access to higher education. The scholarship package enables students to earn undergraduate degrees in four years, debt-free.

"Arizona Assurance is making the dream of a college education come true for hundreds of students who may have considered college beyond their financial reach,” Dr. Shelton said. “We are honored that Helios Education Foundation shares our goal of increasing the number of Arizona students entering and completing college."

The Helios gift will help support the program's immediate annual expenses for the 2009-10 academic year. "Creating opportunities for students to succeed in postsecondary education also means helping students find ways to overcome financial barriers,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna.

"The Foundation's $2 million investment in the Arizona Assurance Scholars Program will help more deserving students achieve a postsecondary education at The University of Arizona and provide them with a support system that bolsters their progress toward educational success."

The inaugural class of about 600 Arizona Assurance scholars is in its second semester at the UA. The program covers college costs – including tuition, books, and room and board – for in-state students from families with an adjusted gross income $42,400 or less per year.

"Our first class of Arizona Assurance scholars is truly representative of the inclusiveness and access we want to encourage through the program. This year’s class represents every county in our state and nearly every college at the University," Shelton said.

To help ensure a successful transition to college, Arizona Assurance provides a retention program that includes pairing faculty members with scholars. Faculty mentors meet with their students throughout the semester and are encouraged to invite students to contact them with concerns. That level of support can have a significant impact on a student's confidence and go a long way in improving retention rates, Shelton said.

The success component of the program also includes workshops on money management, learning strategies and the benefits of internships. Arizona Assurance scholars have access to a staff person to answer questions by phone or e-mail. Second-year scholars will serve as peer mentors for first-year scholars, easing their transition into college life.

Arizona Assurance is funded through a combination of public and private support. About $1 million in private gifts is needed annually to support the scholarship component for each incoming class of the program. The Helios funding will support the current inaugural class of students during their sophomore year and the incoming freshman class for the 2009-2010 academic year.

"This extraordinary leadership gift from Helios Education Foundation helps make sure that the University continues to be accessible to all qualified students," said James H. Moore, Jr, president of the UA Foundation.

Private sources of funding are needed to sustain the program in perpetuity, with the ultimate goal of building a $100 million endowment. Private gifts to Arizona Assurance are combined with other sources, such as federal Pell Grants, work study programs and University grants, to complete the scholarship package. Studies have shown that students who receive education grants are 50 percent more likely to graduate than students with loans.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. Since inception in 2004, the Foundation has invested more than $62 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states. Learn more at helios.org.

The University of Arizona Foundation
The University of Arizona Foundation is one of the largest foundations in Arizona, raising more than $100 million annually. Managing an asset base of nearly $500 million, the UA Foundation has helped generate more than $2 billion in private funding to support The University of Arizona. Learn more at uafoundation.org.

Helios Education Foundation Helps Teachers Increase their Math and Science Knowledge

Helios Education Foundation is excited to be partnering with the University of Florida and the Pinellas County School District to create the Master Teachers Initiative. Our $1.6 million investment will focus on developing master teachers in the science, technology, engineering and math areas, and it will have an impact on up to 500 teachers and 4,500 students. Ultimately, this initiative could serve as a national model.

Teachers will have access to a myriad of training opportunities, Pemberton said, including summer sessions and on-the-job training. Those in the degree program will take online classes and have access to a UF education professor who will visit them on site.

The Lastinger Center for Learning, housed under UF's College of Education, is spearheading the program.

Ian Smith, chief communications officer at Helios, said the organization is equally as excited about the Lastinger project.

"It's really about giving those teachers more access to the skills and resources at the University of Florida ... to help them augment their skills in teaching STEM courses," Smith said.

UA Launches Jr. BIOTECH Program in Arizona Middle Schools

Helios Education Foundation has awarded a $750,000 grant to the University of Arizona's Jr. BIOTECH program, a project that connects middle school science teachers with the resources and training necessary to lead hands-on, inquiry-based science activities in the classroom.

Jr. BIOTECH is being introduced at middle schools in Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff with the ultimate goal of offering the program statewide. The three-year pilot project, operated by the UA's BIO5 Institute, is an expansion of the highly successful BIOTECH program currently offered at Arizona high schools.

Research shows that engaging middle school students in science-related activities increases the likelihood of them pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math, known as the STEM fields.

"American teenagers currently rank 25th in math and 21st in science relative to their international peers," said Dr. Fernando D. Martinez, director of the BIO5 Institute. "Jr. BIOTECH is an investment in building the highly skilled workforce Arizona needs to compete globally and to expand the state's biotech industry."

The Jr. BIOTECH project provides professional development workshops for teachers, classroom visits for modeling hands-on biotechnology activities and extensive materials support to help teachers conduct biotechnology experiments independently.

BIOTECH has trained hundreds of high school teachers and brought biotechnology experiences to tens of thousands of students in Arizona. Program evaluations indicate that the BIOTECH project improves teachers' and students' attitudes toward science and in-classroom support increases teacher retention in the program.

"Creating opportunities for students to achieve postsecondary education success starts early and it's tied to supporting programs that help increase curriculum rigor and relevance in middle school classrooms," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "Helios' $750,000 investment in Jr. BIOTECH will help teachers increase their skills and knowledge in the science, technology, engineering and math areas and in return, help motivate students to explore opportunities in those fields."

Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education.

The BIO5 Institute was designed to capitalize on the UA's history of interdisciplinary collaborative research. This emphasis on collaboration is an integral part of BIO5's education outreach programs as well.

Collaborative partnerships with Jr. BIOTECH include Tucson Unified School District's Regional Science Center; Northern Arizona University's Center of Science Teaching and Learning; Arizona Science Teacher Advancement and Research Training (AZ-START); the Crane School District; and UA Cooperative Extension.

The grant proposal process was managed by the GIFT Center at the University of Arizona Foundation.
The UA Foundation is one of the largest foundations in Arizona, raising more than $100 million annually. Managing an asset base of nearly $500 million, the UA Foundation has helped generate more than $2 billion in private funding to support the UA.

Helios Education Foundation Supports UA College of Education and Amphitheater School District Math Project

The Helios Education Foundation has awarded a $49,926 grant to Improving Fifth Grade Students' Understanding of Rational Numbers, a project instituted by the University of Arizona College of Education.

The project supports all fifth grade teachers in Tucson's Amphitheater School District with the development of their content knowledge and understanding of how to effectively teach rational numbers - fractions, decimals and percentages - through a series of seven 90-minute workshops.

"The district's goal is that teachers will use the information they receive to embellish classroom instruction so that we are providing maximum focus on these essential math concepts, resulting in greater student learning district-wide," said Cathy Eiting, chief academic officer for the Amphitheater School District.

By improving teachers' knowledge and understanding, the project's directors - Drs. Thomas Good, Darrell Sabers and Marcy Wood, all UA College of Education faculty members - hope students' math skills will thrive, as well. The project aims to prepare students for the many years of math ahead of them - from algebra to college-level mathematics - by improving their skills in and understanding of rational numbers.

"Dr. Good and his team have created a program that will help ensure that teachers can be successful with all students in this vital area of mathematics education," said Ronald W. Marx, dean of the UA College of Education.

"Increasing curriculum rigor focused on math, science and literacy skills is imperative for tomorrow's workforce," added Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "Helios' $49,926 commitment to Improving Fifth Grade Students' Understanding of Rational Numbers helps math teachers further develop their content knowledge and their ability to effectively teach rational numbers. In return, students become better prepared for high school and postsecondary education success."

The project's directors agree one of the main reasons for students' inability to understand algebra in high school is the lack of sufficient education in rational numbers from fifth grade and beyond. Without skills in rational numbers, many do not succeed in high school math courses.

"Students who do not pass algebra typically do not complete higher levels of mathematics coursework and may even fail to complete high school," said Good. "The mathematical ability of our future generations may be centered in, and limited by, one mathematics content area - algebra."

The Helios Education Foundation is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, and is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education.
The UA Foundation is one of the largest foundations in Arizona, raising more than $100 million annually. Managing an asset base of nearly $500 million, the UA Foundation has helped generate more than $2 billion in private funding to support the University of Arizona.

Helios Education Foundation Request for Proposals Documents NOW Available

In support of teacher professional development among early childhood educators, Helios is launching a Request for Proposals designed to strengthen the literacy and language acquisition knowledge and education of early childhood teachers, professionals and other providers working with children ages birth to five. The document links below will assist in the application process.

Request for Proposal Timeline

February 11, 2010 deadline for submission of Letters of Intent
February 25, 2010 full applications due to Helios Education Foundation
March - July 2010 proposal review
July 2010 successful applicants will be notified

Click on the links below to download each document.

Briefing Paper (PDF)
Letter of Intent Form (Word)
2010 Sample Application (PDF)
Rubric (PDF)
Sustainability Model (PDF)
Glossary of Terms (PDF)
Webinar PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)

To learn more about Helios' Early Childhood Education Theory of Change click here. Additional information about Helios' investment philosophy can be accessed here.

Helios President and CEO Elected to Arizona Communtiy Foundation Board of Directors

Paul J. Luna, president and chief executive officer of Helios Education Foundation, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Arizona Community Foundation.

A native Arizonan, Luna is a well-respected community leader with more than 22 years of experience in business and philanthropy. As President & CEO of Helios Education Foundation, he is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the growing organization, cultivating strong community relationships and initiating strategic partnerships in Arizona and Florida on behalf of the Foundation.

Created in 2004, Helios is now the largest philanthropic organization focused solely on education in both states, having invested over $76 million since inception. The Foundation's investments are focused across early childhood education, transition years and postsecondary scholarship programs.

Prior to his role at Helios, Luna served as president of Valley of the Sun United Way, where he led a community-wide fundraising effort approaching $50 million. Under his presidency, Valley of the Sun United Way was consistently recognized for its model early childhood education, youth workforce development and domestic violence intervention community initiatives.

Luna has nearly 10 years of corporate experience in sales and marketing with Pepsi Cola and IBM. He currently serves as a member of the STEMAz Advisory Council, Arizona Governor's P20 Council, Center for the Future of Arizona Board, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and is the Chair of the Oversight Board for Expect More Arizona.

A graduate of Stanford University, Luna holds a degree in Civil Engineering.

Helios Scholars Program Applications Available NOW

Looking to get ahead of the competition this summer? Interested in the genetic origins of human disease and the laboratory technologies it takes to reveal them? If so, the Helios Scholars Program at TGen might be just what you've been looking for.

The Helios Scholars Program at TGen is a paid, eight-week biomedical summer internship open to Arizona high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical students. Interns develop foundational research skills through first-hand experience as they pursue careers in science or medical-related fields.

Application deadline is March 5, 2010.

Click here to learn more about the program.

Scholarship allows TGen Intern to Continue her Education
Future at ASU credited to Participation in TGen's Helios Scholars Program

Sarah Albinda, a TGen undergraduate intern, has been named to the 2010 Coca-Cola All-
State Academic Team, earning a two-year tuition waiver that will enable her to complete
her science education at Arizona State University.

Without the award, Albinda said, she would not have enough money to seek her
bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences after graduating this spring with an Associate in
Science Degree from Phoenix College.

The academic competition is sponsored by Arizona Phi Theta Kappa, the American
Association of Community Colleges, USA TODAY and Coca-Cola, and recognizes
outstanding community college students for their commitment to academic achievement,
leadership and community service.

Her award also will result in a scholarship of between $1,000 and $1,500, which will be
announced later this month (January), and qualifies her for a national scholarship
program that will be announced by USA TODAY in April.

Albinda and her mentor, TGen Research Associate Catherine Mancini, credited the award
to Albinda's participation in this summer's 2009 TGen Helios Scholars Program. This
eight-week internship - in which high school, undergraduate and graduate students work
one-on-one with researchers in TGen laboratories - is funded by the Phoenix-based
Helios Education Foundation.

"There is no way I could have won without participating in the Helios Scholars program
at TGen. Here, I have so many resources available, and that gave me a significant
advantage. including competitive hands-on experience and access to amazing people."
said Albinda, who works in the laboratory of Dr. Heather Cunliffe, Head of TGen's
Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Unit.

Albinda didn't find out about the scholarship opportunity until just three weeks before its
deadline. She realized her research internship at TGen could be leveraged for this
application, so she pushed herself to complete the necessary requirements. These
included: an essay detailing her experience as a Helios Scholar; several short-answer
questions about her decision to attend community college; two letters of
recommendation; and an essay about her involvement in the community and on campus,
including work as president of the college Christian Club, a Phoenix College cheerleader,
a campus representative of the academic honor society Phi Theta Kappa, and interning 15
hours a week at TGen.

Albinda said she did not have the money to continue her education without taking out a
loan and putting undue financial pressure on her family. Winning the award solved that
problem.

"When I heard about this scholarship, I thought, ‘Wow, this is my dream.' Personally, it
means a lot to be able to pay for my own education. My goal is to be able to graduate
without ever having to take out a loan for tuition," Albinda said.
Albinda plans to become a medical doctor, using what she has learned at TGen to help
cancer patients.

Mancini said Albinda's success is a credit to the Helios program and the high-caliber
research opportunities provided by TGen.

"Helios provides a whole new level of opportunity for students. It is a diverse program
and this is a diverse job,'' Mancini said. "We were excited to work with Sarah because of
her interdisciplinary skills which we needed for her position as a biospecimen technician
in our laboratory. Because of her abilities, she was able to continue her internship and
extend her skills at TGen. She has definitely exceeded our expectations."

Helios Education Foundation Partners with Prescott College to Increase the Number of Certified Early Childhood Educators in Rural Arizona

Helios Education Foundation is investing $608,000 over four years in Prescott College's Early Childhood Teacher Education Programs in Arizona's rural areas. The program will focus on recruiting students of the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona and the Tohono O'Odham Nation in Pima County.

"The grant gives Prescott College the opportunity to redouble its commitment to serving individuals who are teaching or interested in teaching on the reservations and in rural Arizona. The first cohort of 15 students is scheduled to enroll in fall 2010 in the College's Adult Degree Program, a low-residency model," says Dr. Vicky Young, Prescott College's Coordinator for Native American Students.

The low-residency program allows students to complete their degree or certification programs from their home communities, while working and maintaining a family life. Student scholarships are an integral part of the grant. Coupled with other financial aid, students in Arizona's rural areas who are considering teacher certification and a college education beyond their financial reach will now have the opportunity to further their education.

"Improving the quality of early childhood education professionals is such a fundamental part of laying the foundation for future academic success for children ages birth to five," said Paul Luna, Helios Education Foundation's President and CEO. "We're excited about our partnership with Prescott College because not only will it lead to an increase in certified early childhood educators, but this initiative will create opportunities for under-represented students in rural Arizona to attain a bachelor's degree."

"We are honored that the Helios Education Foundation shares our goal to train and place certified Early Childhood Education teachers in schools on their reservations or in their home communities," notes Prescott College President Dr. Dan Garvey.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. The Foundation's community investments are made across three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Education. Since inception in 2004, Helios Education Foundation has invested over $76 million into education-related programs and initiatives in both states. For more information, visit the Foundation online at www.helios.org.

About Prescott College
For more than forty years Prescott College has been serving the needs of Arizona by offering a teacher certification program. Teacher Education is Prescott College's most popular area of study. Each year, approximately 100 students obtain Arizona state certification through its state approved teacher education programs. The teacher education program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education.

In 2008, the College was the first school of higher education in Arizona to receive certification in Early Childhood Teacher Education from the Arizona Department of Education. The College also offers teaching degrees and certification in Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Special Education in mental retardation, learning disabled, or serious emotional disability. Degrees are offered through the College's on-campus bachelor's program, as well as low-residency bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. programs.

Foundations Urge Preservation of Vital Early Learning Programs - Op-Ed

By Judy Jolley Mohraz, President and CEO, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation

A dad dropping off his infant daughter at a child care center wants to know when he leaves that the people there will keep her safe and are educated to teach her fundamental skills to thrive.

A mom at her wit's end because her baby won't stop crying doesn't know where to turn and finally calls the Birth-to-Five Help Line, receiving valuable guidance to help calm her nerves and her child.

New parents, holding their baby for the first time, are provided with an Arizona Parent Kit to help them better understand the critical importance of these early years of life and their role in helping their child grow up happy, healthy and ready to learn.

Research shows that children need a healthy environment and high quality learning experiences in the early years, birth to five, to succeed in school and life. In truth, most families need some level of assistance in raising their children; and for many that support comes from the variety of vital services in our community.

Understanding the critical importance of these early years, both Helios Education Foundation and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust have committed to investing in early learning. We believe it is the critical first step to increasing the long-term success of Arizona's youngest children as well as the economic prosperity of our state.

Investing in the early years-providing our children with the social, emotional and cognitive skills necessary for school success and to be productive members of the community-reduces the amount of money we must direct to remedial efforts.

The return on investment speaks for itself: For every dollar we invest in providing quality early learning, we save up to $16 on costly "fixes" on the back end. The benefits are even greater when quality early learning is available to Arizona's most vulnerable children.

We have made significant progress in Arizona over the past five years. Voters approved tax dollars to support early care and education. The state launched all-day kindergarten and integrated early learning into statewide public awareness efforts like Expect More Arizona.

Our concern is that we are losing ground with the state's current decisions, and the contributions of our foundations cannot begin to fill the enormous gaps.

At a time when most conversations are about cutting costs or redirecting dollars, our foundations stand firm that early learning is not the place where those cuts should be made. Our success as a state in the future depends on the investments we make in our children today.

Expect More Arizona, Community Partners Launch "Vote 4 Education" Campaign

Helios Education Foundation's President and CEO, Paul Luna, who is also Chairman of Expect More Arizona, joined business and community leaders and education advocates in Phoenix, Arizona to launch the "Vote 4 Education" campaign. This statewide, grassroots campaign is geared toward motivating voters to make education their "hot button issue" throughout the election season.

Vote 4 Education is prompted by growing concern among community leaders and citizens that education is not valued as highly as it should by elected officials, and that sentiment is supported by the results of a statewide voter poll commissioned by Expect More Arizona and conducted by Lake Research, a national polling firm.

The survey found a plurality of Arizonans are "greatly concerned" about education in Arizona and view its quality as declining, not improving. In fact, most felt Arizona's education system is worse than others across the nation and the globe, that expectations for academic success are too low, and that elected officials are not doing enough to make the situation better.

"As business leaders, we view a high quality education system as the key to an economically prosperous Arizona," commented Phil Francis, president/CEO of PetSmart. "Our ability to grow and diversify business in across our state as well as attract new high-wage jobs depends on a better educated workforce."

Mimicking a political campaign, "Vote 4 Education" will engage community leaders and promote the importance of education as a hot button issue throughout the election season. Additionally, public awareness materials such as social media buttons, door hangers, posters, flyers and campaign signs touting "Are They 4 Education?" and "Vote 4 Education" will be displayed alongside campaign sign farms statewide. A special voter section on ExpectMoreArizona.org will be the central portal to information about the election year, resources to stay informed this election season and "Vote 4 Education" materials.

"As key policy and budget decisions continue to be made at a state level that impact education, it is more important than ever before to make education a key factor in every vote," said Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals. "Arizona's economic future depends on a quality education system and we must elect leaders who will make it their priority."

The Phoenix, Arizona launch is one of four events taking place across the state. Each each event, business and community leaders, acting as Expect More Arizona's candidates, are speaking out about the importance of education as a priority for all Arizonans, particularly when casting ballots for propositions, school-related special elections or candidates for public office.

Although Expect More Arizona will not endorse candidates for office through its "Vote 4 Education" effort; it will urge Arizonans to ask 4 key questions when selecting candidates:

Is education one of their top two priorities?

Do they have a clear plan with specific strategies for how they will address the biggest issues affecting education in our state?

Are they willing to invest resources in education to support Arizona's long-term success?

How will they challenge Arizonans to expect more and do more for education?

"Raising the bar and prioritizing education in our state cannot wait any longer," said Cathleen A. Barton, SW/US Education Manager, Intel Corporation. "We have to start viewing education as an investment, not an expense in order to ensure our students are prepared to compete and succeed in today's global economy."

Arizona has ranked near the bottom in terms of student achievement and student investment, most recently scoring a C- on the latest Quality Counts 2010 report, an annual and highly-respected analysis of the state of education across the country. Overall, the report ranked Arizona #46 out of the 50 states and District of Columbia. Quality Counts is compiled and released each year by the nonprofit group, Editorial Projects in Education.

"There is no question - how you vote matters when it comes to education," said Paul J. Luna, Chairman of Expect More Arizona. "For the past year, we have engaged thousands of citizens in taking action to make a difference in raising the bar for education - from birth through career; now we urge voters to make education a priority at election time."

Expect More Arizona is making all "Vote 4 Education" campaign materials available to community volunteers and organizations online at www.ExpectMoreArizona.org.

Expect More Arizona is a public-private partnership dedicated to creating a statewide movement of Arizonans who value education as our state's top priority and are actively engaged in strengthening education in Arizona. A volunteer Oversight Board comprised of representatives from organizations investing $100,000 or more annually provides strategic direction and fiscal oversight to the Expect More Arizona effort. Helios Education Foundation is one of 10 funders supporting Expect More Arizona.

Helios Education Foundation's 2009 Annual Report - A Year in Review

Helios Education Foundation is pleased to present you with our 2009 annual report, A Year in Review. This interactive, completely electronic, online experience is a showcase of the partnerships, investments and commitments our Foundation has made over the past year.

The video stories, photo essays and articles highlighted remind us of the thousands of students and families that have been touched by new opportunities in education. We are working with organizations, schools and institutions and others in Arizona and Florida to make a difference across the education continuum. Through many of these partnerships, we are able to help bring teachers the professional development opportunities they need, help students transition successfully through the often unsettling middle years and help promote a college-going culture in our communities.

Through our community investment process, we are working everyday to create new opportunities for students to succeed. And, as part of that process, we know how important and valuable it is to share information and ideas about education and about the initiatives that are having an impact in Arizona and Florida. We hope you find this material insightful, and we encourage you to use it as inspiration to make education the foundation for future success.

Click here to view our interactive, multimedia report.

How STEM-Related Career Academies Are Exciting Tampa Bay Students

Career academies have been making an impact in school systems across the country for the past 35 years. With a focus on turning large high schools into smaller more focused learning environments, these academies have built a bridge for students transitioning from high school to postsecondary education or vocational careers.

Building on that success, Helios Education Foundation is working with the Hillsborough Education Foundation and the Hillsborough County Public School system in Tampa Bay to help make students college ready and to prepare them for a career in a highly-technical field.

"Taking the career academies model and building a relevant, interconnected program between middle school and high school will increase students' understanding of how their classroom learning is connected to and can be applied in the real world," said Helios Education Foundation Vice President of Programs for Florida, Stacy Carlson. "We are hopeful that this model will be successful in raising students' academic achievement as well as their engagement in STEM education and careers."

Sometimes referred to as "a school within a school," career academies are organized around themes such as technology, food services, business and finance and others. Students take classes together, are often paired with the same group of teachers over time, follow an academic and career-oriented curriculum and they participate in internships and other career-related experiences outside of the classroom.

In Tampa Bay, the Hillsborough Education Foundation and Hillsborough County Public School system are implementing the Transitional Success through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Academies project in conjunction with a $431,400 investment from Helios. The initiative is preparing students for success during the critical transition years from middle school to high school.

"Thanks to Helios we can now create a clear ‘line of sight' for middle and high school students in STEM," says Bill Hoffman, President of the Hillsborough Education Foundation. "This will help prepare them for the critical technical jobs which our business partners tell us they need talent for."

The program is expected to benefit 15,000 students ages 11 through 18 enrolled at five middle school STEM institutes - Buchanan, Greco, Marshall, Shields and Walker - which all feed career academies at Strawberry Crest, Gaither, King, Lennard and Sickles high schools in Hillsborough County.

The initiative will be implemented over 30 months and includes a series of new curricula that will engage and challenge students as they transition through the STEM institutes. This process includes developing comprehensive curricula guides and providing professional development training to teachers.

At the same time, district teachers will have professional development opportunities through "train the trainer" components of the program and they will participate in or have access to teacher and administrator teams at the middle school and high school sites.

Helios' investment is also supporting Hillsborough Education Foundation's newest program, the SUCCESS Fund. This program assists students with the financial obstacles associated with enrollment in career academies, such as specialized tools, regional competitions and student professional groups.

Approximately 47 percent of students enrolled in the academies have financial need, making it difficult for them to afford the additional expenses of their education.

The Transitional Success through STEM Academies program is building a bridge in Hillsborough County for middle school and high school students. This partnership is promoting strategies that increase curriculum rigor and relevance and emphasize STEM education. But, this initiative is ultimately creating a pipeline of highly-skilled, highly-trained students who will be ready for a successful future.

Raising the Score for Education

Helios Education Foundation, the Rays Baseball Foundation and the United Way of Tampa Bay are working to raise the score for education! Each time the Tampa Bay Rays score a run from May 24-July 11, Helios Education Foundation will donate $250 to the United Way of Tampa Bay's Education Initiative called Helping Children and Youth Achieve their Potential. This effort is focused on helping children and youth increase their school readiness, build academic success and develop strong life skills.

Our mission at Helios Education Foundation is to enrich the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education. We do this by building new partnerships and investing our expertise and financial resources into initiatives aligned with our impact areas of early childhood education, the transition years (grades 5-12) and postsecondary scholarships. Since 2005, Helios has invested over $76 million into these initiatives in both states.

We only accept solicited requests for funding from eligible organizations (Investment Guidelines) because our staff is actively engaged in the education arena in both states, already seeking out best practices, innovative approaches and other opportunities to strengthen and transform education, and ultimately increase student success. Organizations from both the public and private sectors that are performing powerful and results-oriented work in our impact areas may be invited to submit a proposal.

For more information about Helios Education Foundation, visit the About Us section of our website. You can also find out more about our community investments and partnerships in our Investment History section.

Helios Education Foundation Collaborates with UA, ASU to Help Teachers Learn New Technology

Helios Education Foundation committed $115,000 to Teach Tec, a unique collaborative program that trains seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade teachers on innovative ways to use technology to better teach and inspire students.

Educators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are being invited to participate in "Teach-Tec," a certificate program that will show how technologies such as flip video cameras, Poll Everywhere, SurveyMonkey, Wordle and YouTube, can serve as high-impact tools to enhance the learning experience.

"The Teach Tec program addresses the 'T' in STEM education professional development. This course will provide opportunities for teachers to learn how to integrate everyday technology tools into their classroom practice which will enhance the teaching and learning of math and science," said Jo Anne Vasquez, PhD, vice president and Program Director, Transition Years Teacher and Curriculum Initiatives, for Helios Education Foundation. "Helios is excited to join this university effort, as it will not only reach teachers face-to-face in Tucson and Phoenix, but through the power of technology, teams of teachers from across Arizona will be able to have access to this high quality workshop."

The free program will be held in July in Phoenix and Tucson through a unique partnership among the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, the Arizona Telemedicine Program at the UA's College of Medicine and Arizona State University's Bob Ramsey Executive Education Program.

"This is a great opportunity for teachers to use technology as a high-impact educational tool," says Gail Barker, Ph. D., special assistant to the dean at the UA College of Medicine - Phoenix, and a faculty member of the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health. "This technology is quite prevalent and should be used for 21st century teaching."

Faculty from both universities will train as many as 60 teachers and potentially hundreds more through interactive video streaming.

"Through this outstanding partnership, science, technology, engineering and math teachers will better understand how to incorporate no-cost, cutting-edge technology into the classroom," says Catherine Eden, Ph.D., director of the Executive Education Program, which is awarding the certificate. "The program is also designed to foster collaboration between peer schools."

The program recently was awarded a bronze designation by the U.S.
Distance Learning Association in the area of best practices for excellence in distance-learning teaching.

Teachers will take the 12-hour program on July 16 in Phoenix and on July
23 in Tucson.

To register, please visit http://teachtec.arizona.edu or call (602) 496-1305 or (602) 827-2116.

Helios Education Foundation Chairman Vince Roig Joins Teach for America's National Board of Directors

"Vince and Helios Education Foundation have been such strong public champions and supporters of our work to expand educational opportunity in Phoenix and Miami," said Wendy Kopp, founder and CEO of Teach For America. "We are thrilled that he is deepening his engagement with Teach For America, and know that he will provide invaluable guidance and support for our efforts to grow our impact nationally."

Prior to forming Helios Education Foundation, Roig served for more than 20 years as chairman of the board, president and CEO of Southwest Student Services Corporation, a full-service provider of student loan products and services to students, families and schools in Arizona, Florida and nationally. While with Southwest, he led its evolution from a small secondary-market lender to one of the largest independent student loan providers and servicers in the country.

"I'm really humbled and honored to serve on the board of Teach for America and am excited to be able to broaden my passion for not only investing in education, but for changing lives through education," Roig said. "There's great synergy between Helios' mission and Teach for America's goals, and I believe that alignment and common understanding will create even more opportunities for students to excel and succeed in postsecondary education."

Roig serves or has served on the boards of numerous organizations in Arizona and Florida, including Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board, Take Stock in Children, Valley of the Sun United Way, Valley of the Sun United Way Foundation, the Phoenix Art Museum and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation. He received his B.S. in secondary education from Athens College and his M.S. in secondary education from Richmond College of the City University of New York.

Roig joins 26 current members of Teach For America's National Board, including leaders from the business, media, and academic sectors.

Helios Gives a Much-Needed Boost to Early Childhood Education Reform

A new partnership between the University of Arizona College of Education and Helios Education Foundation will change the way early childhood teachers are prepared by including family and community members as educators of future teachers.

"Community and family will be the heart of the new curriculum," says Iliana Reyes, associate professor and codirector of the project. In the first year, with funding of $347,000, professors, teachers, and community members will begin a complete redesign of the current early childhood courses and language and literacy projects at the college. A key component, focusing on family knowledge, will help teacher-education students to recognize and build upon children's use of language and literacy when they create, convey, and exchange ideas. Reyes notes, "This approach will support children's emergent literacy and will provide teachers with tools and experience to effectively support English-language learners in their classroom communities."

"We are extremely excited for this new partnership with the UA College of Education," said Paul Luna, president and CEO of Helios. "This unique partnership will help redesign early childhood teacher education coursework by engaging families and communities to create culturally relevant literacy and language activities in the early childhood classroom."

According to Ronald W. Marx, dean of the College of Education, "Early childhood education needs to aggressively incorporate strategies that span home, school, and community. When school-based instruction does not build on the literacy knowledge within the home and community, it is less effective because it underestimates the knowledge children bring to the school setting and, therefore, their potential achievement."

Teacher-education programs rarely have focused on understanding the histories, cultures, and social competencies of children, their families, and their communities. "The grant provides resources to put this focus in all of our classes - science, mathematics, social studies, and literacy," notes Chris Iddings, associate professor and codirector. "We are coordinating all of our courses and assignments. In addition, our program includes a professional development component that will build on the voices and experiences of in-service teachers as we move toward a more comprehensive approach to educational equity."

In the first year, faculty, staff, and community members from the Flowing Wells, Sunnyside, and Tucson Unified School Districts will work together to create opportunities for UA students to meet families throughout the community and to learn about effective teacher-parent-family communication. A community liaison, who lives within the district boundaries, will be hired to facilitate these interactions.

Teachers and teacher-education students will create literacy backpacks for children to take home to share stories from literature and to record family stories and traditions. These stories will become a part of the teacher-education program and the early childhood curriculum in Flowing Wells. Literacy Professor Kathy Short says, "Literature offers the potential to transform children's lives through connecting their hearts and their minds, so they can effectively integrate reason and emotion. Children find themselves reflected in stories and make connections that transform their understanding."

Marx notes, "Children begin learning as soon as they are born, yet not all children have access to high-quality early childhood education with highly qualified teachers. Moreover, everyone - researchers and the public alike - understands the value of good teachers for children's development. The partnership between Helios Education Foundation and the UA College of Education will increase the chances that all young children in Arizona will, indeed, be taught by excellent teachers."

Helios Invests Nearly $1 Million In Early Childhood Education in Arizona and Florida

With the ages of birth to five being the most critical stage in the growth and development of young children, Helios Education Foundation is investing close to $1 million in three early childhood education (ECE) initiatives that will expose children to positive learning environments and provide high quality training for ECE teachers in Arizona and Florida.

The Foundation is awarding Childsplay and Paradise Valley Community College (both in Arizona) and the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County, Florida with funding for ECE teacher professional development programs that, over time, will help teachers better understand how children learn to read and develop vocabulary.

With limited professional development opportunities available for ECE teachers, especially around how children acquire language and literacy skills, Helios initiated a request for proposals (RFP) process, making dollars available to fund targeted teacher professional development programs. Over 100 organizations with a focus on early care engaged in the process and of that number, 37 applied for funding. Applications were reviewed, with Childsplay, Paradise Valley Community College and the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County ultimately meeting the Foundation's RFP funding requirements.

"Although we knew there was a need for high quality teacher professional development programs for early care providers in Arizona and Florida, that need became even more clear to us early on in the RFP process just by the overwhelming response we received and by the programmatic substance in those proposals," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "We're excited to be making this commitment to early childhood education in both states because investing in the early years helps lay the academic foundation our students need in order to succeed across the education continuum."

About the Projects
Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Polk County - $497,608
The ELC of Polk County, in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition in Manatee and Sarasota counties in Florida will offer professional development to the family child care home community. While working, many parents choose to have their children in a child care program offered in a home setting versus an early childhood center. The family child care home practitioner is often the only adult providing care and education to the children which in turn limits the opportunities for participating in professional development opportunities and networking with other early childhood professionals. This project identifies strategies to address and minimize professional development challenges faced by the early childhood practitioner working in a licensed family child care home by providing intensive onsite coaching to improve the understanding, skill level, and teaching practices of the practitioner related to early language and literacy development for children ages birth to five.

Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix, Arizona - $327,302
Paradise Valley Community College, in partnership with Central Arizona College will update and unify language and early literacy coursework for early childhood practitioners and educators. This will be accomplished through academic college courses, an analysis of related community based trainings and the creation of early childhood programs that demonstrate best practices in building the knowledge and skills of the early childhood professional. Participating early childhood professionals will improve age appropriate, interactive learning activities for the child aged birth to five focused on early language and literacy development.

Childsplay, Tempe, Arizona - $115,036
Capitalizing on its 30 plus years of experience in using theatre as a medium to engage children and adults, this project outlines strategies to adapt an existing research-based model of delivering professional development for the early childhood environment. The program will work with early childhood teachers and practitioners to integrate drama strategies, writing/reading curricula, and provide job-embedded professional development that uses creative drama and dramatic play for early language and literacy development for children in early childhood programs. The work will occur over 18 months in collaboration with the Arizona State University School of Theater within the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts.

TGen Provides Scientific Springboard for Helios Scholars

Tomorrow's leaders in science and medicine graduated from one of the nation's most advanced summer internship programs at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

The 44 interns in the Helios Scholars Program at TGen wrapped up eight weeks of biomedical investigations with a daylong symposium filled with discussions and scientific poster presentations at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

"TGen provides Helios Scholars with an invaluable hands-on experience into biomedical discovery, one that significantly jump-starts their research abilities and enhances a new generation of America's scientific investigators," said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen's President and Research Director.

This is the fourth year of the planned 25-year program at TGen, which is funded through a $6.5 million grant from the Helios Education Foundation, the largest philanthropic foundation in Arizona focused solely on education.

"The Helios Scholars Program at TGen opens new doors for students into the world of the biosciences," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "This innovative partnership with TGen not only helps students explore the biosciences, but it takes them beyond the classroom and into state of the art laboratories where they partner with TGen scientists to conduct independent scientific research on the genetic causes of certain diseases. That experience and exposure to the TGen scientists is invaluable to these students."

This innovative program allows high school, undergraduate and graduate level students, including those in medical school, to conduct independent scientific research affecting real-world patients.

Under the guidance of TGen's top-notch research investigators - who provide closely supervised, one-on-one instruction - Helios Scholars use cutting-edge technology to learn about the genetic causes of diseases such as melanoma, prostate cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

This innovative program helps students from all backgrounds sharpen their research skills as they prepare for careers in science or medical fields. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants - many at the top of their class - their backgrounds ranged from bioengineering to business to international studies.

"The beauty of this program is that students are immersed in the genuine essence of science," said Brandy Wells, TGen's Education and Outreach Specialist. "They work on the true frontier of research, actively practicing concepts such as the scientific method and experimental design, and seeking answers to the questions they themselves formulate. This journey into the unknown is what ultimately fuels their desire to pursue a career in the biosciences."

Past interns boast an array of impressive accomplishments, including published scientific abstracts and scientific papers, top national student rankings, acceptance into first-rate graduate and medical schools, and even Goldwater and Fulbright scholarships.

For more information about TGen or the internship program, visit www.tgen.org/intern.

TGen will begin accepting online applications for next summer's Helios program in early 2011.

Helios Education Foundation Invests Over $800,000 to Improve STEM Education in Pinal County

Helios Education Foundation is investing over $800,000 to fund the Next Generation STEM Leaders Project in Pinal County schools in partnership with the Arizona Rural Education Alliance (AREA) Foundation. The program will improve the quality of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teaching by training teachers to become STEM leaders. This award will also be used to help improve student performance in middle school over a three-year period, starting in the fall of 2010, and help encourage students to strive toward a higher level of postsecondary education.

Through this new partnership which includes collaboration between Pinal County schools and Central Arizona College, teachers will gain content knowledge and expertise in related curriculum development, skill in unwrapping academic standards for teacher instruction, experience in selecting scientifically-based curriculum materials and resources to design professional development that supports instruction in the STEM content areas. STEM teachers will also collaborate with other teachers at their schools through professional learning communities and a system of professional development for local schools and/or districts.

"Research shows in order to improve science and mathematics instruction and raise student achievement strong education leadership is needed right at the district or school level," said Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez, VP and Program Director Transition Years Teacher and Curriculum Initiatives for Helios Education Foundation. "The Next Generation of STEM Leaders is an intensive, three year project which will build this strong cadre of STEM education site-based leadership who can effectively bring instructional change in each and every middle school classroom."

Yvonne Corley, CEO of the AREA Foundation, stated that, "Pinal County Schools are interested in promoting STEM Education and two districts are opening STEM specific schools this year. Pinal County is fortunate to receive resources that will train knowledgeable leaders to guide high quality STEM programs. We are excited about our partnership with the Helios Education Foundation, Pinal County School Office and Central Arizona College to be able to structure and deliver a quality program of this magnitude."

D-Backs, Helios Education Foundation Expected to Donate $100,000 To Valley of Sun United Way Through ‘Shirts Off Our D-Backs' Fundraiser

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Helios Education Foundation are expected to donate $100,000 to the Valley of the Sun United Way from scratcher card sales of the team's annual "Shirts Off Our D-backs" fundraiser, presented by Panda Express, during this weekend's series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

To highlight this partnership, Helios chairman Vince Roig will throw out the first pitch of the Diamondbacks/Dodgers game on Sunday, September 26 at 1:10 p.m. and he will join Derrik Hall, president of the D-Backs in making an on-field presentation to United Way at the end of the game.

Fans can purchase scratcher cards beginning on Friday and could win the official jerseys directly off the backs of their favorite D-backs' players and coaches. Scratcher card packs, which include three scratcher cards, are $5 and will be sold at all three games this weekend. Each scratcher card pack includes an offer from Panda Express and non-winning cards will receive a merchandise discount offer at Team Shop locations in Chase Field, a two-for-one ticket offer for 2011 D-backs' games or a chance to win a Chris Young autographed jersey.

"Our annual ‘Shirts Off Our D-backs' fundraiser has been a great way for our fans to assist us in raising a large amount of money that goes to a great cause with the Valley of the Sun United Way, which allows them to interact with our players and coaches if they win a game-worn jersey," said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. "The addition of the Helios Education Foundation this season will allow us to give more back this year when it is probably needed the most during these difficult economic times."

Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation to match the scratcher card sales from the "Shirts Off Our D-backs" fundraiser up to $50,000. The expected $100,000 raised will go to the Valley of the Sun United Way to fund a program that focuses on impacting the education outcomes for students in grades 5-12 transition years.

"Positive change in education has to be driven by collaboration and effective community partnerships," said Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. "That's why we're excited about our work with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Shirts off our D-Backs initiative."

"Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals to succeed in postsecondary education, and that work begins by supporting initiatives that help create a college going culture in our homes, neighborhoods and communities. Through this partnership, we're elevating the conversation about preparing our students for success across the education continuum, from pre-kindergarten to postsecondary education. And, that truly is a home run for all of us."

Helios Funding Supports Early Childhood Success in Northern Arizona

Helios Education Foundation invested nearly $300,000 toward an initiative that will allow Northern Arizona University's College of Education to partner with the Flagstaff Unified School District on a professional development outreach program for early childhood educators and providers in northern Arizona.

The collaboration will initially provide professional development training opportunities at Flagstaff schools, home childcare providers and local centers, with outreach expanding to outlying communities and providers in the second year of the program. In addition, the project will include research on what works in professional development.

"Helios Education Foundation believes that increasing the skill set of early childhood education teachers and practitioners positively impacts the success of the early learner," said Karen Ortiz, Vice President and Program Director of Early Childhood Education of Helios Education Foundation. "This collaborative partnership will provide professional development to early childhood teachers and practitioners leading to an articulated system among the university, the school district and the community."

The funding will support an outreach effort designed to help early childhood educators in schools and in the community identify and understand the best practices to help children succeed, explained Daniel Kain, former dean of the college and author of the proposal. Interim dean Gypsy Denzine will oversee the project for NAU.

"We are appreciative that Helios believes professional development is a crucial component of making a difference and improving the lives of children by improving the skills of their providers," Kain said.

Barbara Hickman, superintendent of Flagstaff schools, added, "This project helps us join forces to improve the conditions for our youngest community members-an investment that can enhance the whole educational enterprise."

Kain described the program, as a multidimensional outreach effort that may ultimately lead to the creation of a physical "learning hub" for early childhood education, including a childcare center, the development of P-20 early childhood curriculum and internship opportunities for NAU education majors.

"Younger children should be given every opportunity to grow, learn and reach their full potential, and we can be a part of that by helping those who work with them build upon their own strengths as educators," Kain said.

The History of Helios Education Foundation: Creating a Lasting Legacy to Improve Education

In celebration and commemoration of the vision and foresight of the managing staff and members of the board of Southwest Student Services Corporation, we are pleased to present you with this video presentation — The History of Helios Education Foundation: Creating a Lasting Legacy to Improve Education. This seven-minute presentation is a condensed version of the full 30-minute video which chronicles the determination, hard work, challenges and triumphs of a team of individuals at Southwest Student Services all committed to improving the education landscape in Arizona and Florida — and ultimately paving the way for the impact that Helios is making today.

What began in 1982 as a vehicle to bolster the student loan market by creating more financial opportunities for college students to achieve their dreams, Southwest Student Services grew into the eighth largest holder of student loans in the country. But in the early 2000s, the company’s visionary board of directors sparked an idea for change. They realized that changing lives through education not only empowers individuals, but it could empower whole communities— in perpetuity. And, philanthropy was the vehicle.

Today, Helios Education Foundation is creating opportunities for every individual in Arizona and Florida to achieve postsecondary education success, and for that we say thank you to those visionary leaders whose bold steps led to our creation. We hope you enjoy this presentation and encourage you to share this story with your family and friends.

Hard copies of this video and the full 30-minute history video are also available upon request by contacting Claudia Clair at (602) 381-2260 or cclair@helios.org.

Thank you.

Waiting for Superman To Open in Select Theaters around the Country

The statistics are staggering: among 30 developed countries, the U.S. is ranked 25th in math and 21st in science. Literacy is the number-one predictor of a child's ability to succeed in school. In fact, the majority of kids who read below grade level in first grade will most likely still read below grade level in the fourth grade and may never catch up. Now, a new documentary film dares to shed light on the country’s educational system and hopes to spark a social action wave aimed at ensuring a quality educational system for every student in the country.

Being called a powerful, passionate and potentially revolutionary documentary, Davis Guggenheim’s film, Waiting for Superman, opens across the country throughout October and asserts that every American child deserves a good public-school education. Through his film, Guggenheim, who is also the filmmaker of An Inconvenient Truth, argues that the fate of our country won't be decided on a battlefield, but in the classroom. One of the film’s primary goals is to trigger a nationwide social action campaign focused on ensuring that every child receives a great education.

Helios Education Foundation helped sponsor a private screening of the film in Phoenix, Arizona in late September in partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation and other community action social partners, including Expect More Arizona, Stand for Children and the Valley of the Sun United Way.

The Waiting for Superman social action campaign seeks to build public awareness, ignite personal involvement and inspire real social change and is centered on four core initiatives:

Setting academic standards that are on par with the world's best
Recruiting and rewarding great teachers
Creating and nurturing excellent schools, and
Increasing literacy rates

The campaign has created toolkits for educational reform that help parents, teachers, students, schools and the community at large take better charge of ensuring that students get a quality education. For more information on the film, including movie theater locations and the social action campaign, visit www.waitingforsuperman.com.

ZERO TO THREE's 25th National Training Institute (NTI): Connecting Science, Policy, and Practice

Every year, ZERO TO THREE provides an opportunity for professionals to enhance their knowledge about early childhood development through the National Training Institute (NTI). The NTI is the most comprehensive multidisciplinary conference in the infant-family field, focusing on cutting-edge research, best practices, and policy issues for infants, toddlers and families.
Join the NTI and get the information you've been looking for! Continuing Education Credits Available.

Visit www.zttnticonference.org or call 1-877-215-1023 for more information and to register. Click on the links below to view the Schedule and Featured Arizona Programs and Professionals.

Helios Education Foundation Provides $1.5 Million Toward Hillsborough Community College's Performance-Based Math Program

Helios Education Foundation in partnership with Hillsborough Community College (HCC), MDRC and the Open Society Foundations recently announced the launch of the largest scholarship partnership in the college's history at an event at the HCC Dale Mabry Campus. Along with Paul Luna, president of Helios Education Foundation, Mimi Corcoran, director, Special Fund for Poverty Alleviation at the Open Society Foundations, and Gordon L. Berlin, president of MDRC, HCC President Dr. Ken Atwater announced the details of a four-year performance-based scholarship demonstration designed to help 750 low-income students succeed in math. Helios Education Foundation and the Open Society Foundations have contributed a total of $2.3 million to this initiative, with HCC receiving $1.5 million.

One of the primary obstacles to college success and persistence nationally is that many students arrive at college unprepared to do college-level work and are required to take developmental (remedial) courses. At Hillsborough Community College, over 75 percent of incoming new students test into developmental math. The College has confirmed that avoiding or failing remedial math is one of the principal reasons why students drop or stop out of HCC without a degree or certificate. These barriers to student completion are further compounded by other factors including inadequate financial aid and low participation in academic support services.

In the spring of 2010, HCC was invited to begin working with MDRC, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, to develop innovative interventions designed to increase attainment levels in math, to improve completion rates of students who start out in developmental math, and to serve as a model for other community colleges. This pilot program led to a four-year demonstration with Helios Education Foundation funding the bulk of the program and scholarship costs and the Open Society Foundations providing funding for technical assistance, evaluation, dissemination, and scholarships. This unique partnership between a regional and national foundation is providing a vital scholarship opportunity to needy students, while building evidence on the effectiveness of this novel idea. The funding will be used to support performance-based scholarships and math tutoring services to 750 low-income students who take and succeed in a sequence of three math courses culminating in college-level math and to assist these students in filling some of their unmet financial need.

The HCC program is part of a broader multi-college demonstration designed to test variations of this scholarship idea to build stronger evidence on what works to improve college success rates. Besides the HCC program, the national demonstration project includes colleges in Arizona, California, New Mexico, New York, and Ohio.

According to College President Dr. Ken Atwater, "The College is excited for this opportunity because of the potential to impact the success rate of our students who struggle in developmental mathematics and for its significance in affecting what is a national problem."

Take Stock Secures $5 Million I3 Grant; Helios Provides $1 Million Match

Take Stock in Children is one of 49 innovative programs nationwide that has been awarded funds from the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation (i3) grant program. Take Stock will receive $5 million through the program. As part of securing i3 funding, awardees were required to provide a 20 percent match from other sources, and Helios Education Foundation provided that $1 million match.

"This national recognition is a tremendous milestone in the history of this organization and is exactly what we need to significantly expand our program as we break the cycle of poverty through higher education," said Richard Berkowitz, Board Chair of Take Stock in Children. "With this grant, we intend to improve college and high school graduation rates even further, while improving overall student achievement."

Take Stock in Children is a non-profit organization with a 15-year history of providing mentors, educational scholarships and hope for Florida's low-income and at-risk youth. The organization has provided educational support and college scholarships for over 16,000 children in partnership with more than 800 public schools throughout 60 counties in Florida. It is the only scholarship mentoring program with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty through education to attain a high school graduation rate of 92 percent in Florida.

The organization plans to use these funds to launch FLIGHT (Facilitating Long-Term Improvements in Graduation and Higher Education for Tomorrow). FLIGHT is designed to improve academic and behavioral student outcomes, increase post-secondary matriculation and reduce college remediation. The program also aims to identify high-need students and implement timely interventions to increase their academic success.

Students enrolled in Take Stock are identified in middle and high school, and then sign a contract pledging to remain drug and crime free, as well as maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 or greater. All students that fulfill these obligations and successfully complete the Take Stock in Children program receive full scholarships to a state college or university upon graduation. The program places heavy emphasis on student accountability and specific measurable outcomes.

Berkowitz added, "Without a doubt, this grant will allow Take Stock in Children to expand greatly and we are confident that it will also help us to attract more supporters who share our belief in the power of education. Fulfilling the vision of President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, we stand committed to exposing more students to our innovative model of education achievement as we know it will result in better communities and a better America."

The $650 million i3 fund is part of the historic $10 billion investment in school reform in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and it supports local efforts to start or expand research-based innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for high-need students. The competition was open to school districts as well as nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education working in partnership with public schools. Applicants were required to demonstrate their previous success in closing achievement gaps, improving student progress toward proficiency, increasing graduation rates, or recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and principals.

To learn more about benefiting from Take Stock in Children or becoming a valued mentor or supporter, please call 888-322-4673 or visit www.takestockinchildren.org.

Statement Regarding the Tragic Shooting of Congresswoman Giffords, Chief Federal Judge John Roll and Others in Tucson, Arizona:

“Helios Education Foundation is saddened by the tragic loss of life and serious injuries that occurred at Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ (D-AZ) Congress on Your Corner event in Tucson, Arizona on January 8.”

“Congresswoman Giffords shares the Foundation’s commitment to create opportunities that help prepare students to compete and succeed in a 21^st Century global economy, and we are hopeful for her recovery.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, Chief Federal Judge John Roll and all those who have been impacted by this tragedy.”

—The Board and Staff of Helios Education Foundation

Teach For America Honors Vince Roig

Wendy Kopp, Founder and CEO of Teach for America, was among those on hand to honor Vince Roig, Helios Education Foundation's Chairman, at a special reception held earlier this month at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. SCF Arizona, Helios, community and business leaders and family and friends all gathered to recognize Vince for his recent election to Teach For America's national board of directors and for his leadership in education.

Wendy Kopp personally acknowledged and thanked Vince for his commitment to education, and expressed her sincere gratitude to Helios for the work the Foundation has done in partnership with Teach for America.

Pictured to the left; Wendy Kopp, Founder and CEO of Teach for America, congratulates Vince Roig, Helios Education Foundation Chairman, at a special reception honoring Vince's leadership in education.

O'Connor House, Expect More Arizona Launch Education Commitment

The O'Connor House and Expect More Arizona have announced the launch of The Arizona Education Commitment, a statewide, nonpartisan initiative to protect and preserve Arizona's state educational institutions.

Organizers say that the principles outlined in The Arizona Education Commitment are based on Article XI, Section 10 of the Arizona Constitution, and it was developed to open positive and productive discussion about the current, critical state of education in Arizona and to elevate Arizona's constitutional duty to prioritize the continued maintenance, development and improvement of all state educational institutions.

"The authors of the Arizona Constitution believed so strongly in providing for our state educational institutions that education is the only significant affirmative appropriation identified in our state's governing document," said Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (Ret.). "As a result, the state legislature is required to insure the proper maintenance of all our state educational institutions, even in tough economic times, and to make such special appropriations as shall provide for their development and maintenance."

The Arizona Education Commitment is being elevated by supporters to increase public awareness about the constitutional prioritization of education and as a means to encourage Arizona citizens and leaders to explore all revenue enhancing options for addressing the state's budget deficit and protecting vital public services such as education, public health and public safety.

Arizona is currently ranked 49th in the nation for K-12 per student investment. Although Federal stimulus funding and voter-approved initiatives such as Proposition 100 have helped to temporarily mitigate some of the multi-million dollar cuts that have already occurred to K-12 education over the past two years, much of those sources of funding are not recurring.

"Arizona cannot cut its way out of its current budget challenges," comments Sue Clark-Johnson, Chairman of the O'Connor House Policy Advisory Committee. "The Arizona Constitution gives all Arizonans clear direction for how they can protect education while increasing aggregate incomes, adding wealth to the Arizona economy and generating revenues for vital public health and safety services."

Organizers say that Governor Brewer's proposed FY12 budget includes cuts of $170 million to Arizona's state universities and $64 million, a 46% decrease, to community colleges. They also say that the collective FY11 and FY12 cuts and disappearing sources of revenue come at a time when Arizona students already rank below their national and international peers in academic achievement, graduation rates and postsecondary degree attainment.

Advocates of the Arizona Education Commitment say that Arizona voters have consistently shown support for investing in education. The landslide passage of Proposition 100, a temporary sales tax for primary and secondary education as well as the defeat of Proposition 302, which preserved funding for early childhood health and development programs, during the 2010 elections, are just two representative examples. In addition, according to a 2010 Pew Center for the States poll, 60% of Arizona voters want to protect education during budget cuts and 71% would vote for a tax increase to support K-12 education.

"It is time for Arizona to view education as an investment, not an expense to be minimized," states Paul J. Luna, chairman, Expect More Arizona. "The long-term economic growth of our state and our overall quality of life are directly tied to the quality of our education system."

"The future of Arizona business and industry depends on the strength of our education system and our ability to deliver a competitive and skilled workforce," explains Phil Francis, Executive Chairman, PetSmart. "We must invest now. We are below average and deteriorating. We cannot afford to wait any longer to ensure Arizona has world-class educational institutions, at all levels."

Arizonans are encouraged to sign on to The Arizona Education Commitment by visiting www.ArizonaEducationCommitment.org. They are also encouraged to contact their legislators to let them know that they want education to be protected and preserved as tough budget decisions are made.

Helios Collaborates with USF to Make a Difference in Early Childhood Education

"When you put a face on the issue and get out of the ivory tower, that's when you can really make a difference," says Dr. Smita Mathur.

Thanks to the Helios Education Foundation and the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA), Mathur now has a $1.2 million budget with which to make a difference in early childhood education in Florida's migrant and low income communities.

An assistant professor in the Division of Education at the University of South Florida Polytechnic, Mathur specializes in early childhood learning and has conducted extensive research in Florida's migrant communities. She also serves on the board of RCMA, which provides child care and early education for children of migrant farm workers and rural, low-income families in counties in Florida.

Mathur developed a teacher training program called Scaffold the Scholar, for which she helped secure a $771,000 grant from Helios Education Foundation. The total project budget will exceed $1.2 million thanks to in-kind support from RCMA. Dr. Rebecca Burns, an assistant professor of ESOL (English for speakers of other languages), USF Sarasota-Manatee, is co-principal investigator on this project. That collaboration is one of the benefits of USF Poly and USF Sarasota-Manatee being part of the USF system.

"Creating highly-effective early learning environments for children ages birth to five means surrounding those children with high-quality teachers," said Helios Education Foundation's Vice President and Director of Early Childhood Education, Karen Ortiz. "And, that is what's so promising about our partnership with USF Polytechnic and the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. We're reaching teachers, most for whom English is not their primary language, in rural areas and helping them earn their credentials and degrees in early childhood education. Those same teachers will also acquire the kinds of knowledge and skills they need to better prepare children to succeed during their kindergarten year. We're really excited about that."

"USF has stepped outside the box in this grant," said Barbara Mainster, RCMA's executive director. "They've recognized that education has to adapt to meet demographic changes and respect students' contributions. And the Helios Education Foundation has recognized that such innovations need to be funded. We're excited and pleased."

RCMA operates 80 childcare centers in farm communities, targeting the rural poor. RCMA recruits its teachers from the fields to insure they can relate to cultures of the families they will be serving. More than 80 percent of RCMA teachers are from Hispanic immigrant-farmworker families.

According to Mathur, "RCMA teachers understand migrant children, the culture and lifestyle, but they often need help with English language acquisition and literacy. Scaffold the Scholar provides those missing ingredients."
New teachers at RCMA immediately acquire a future of education, some required and more encouraged. By the time they pursue college degrees, many have achieved GEDs and literacy in two languages - all while working as preschool teachers.

Starting April 1, 108 RCMA teachers will begin the 40-week Scaffold the Scholar program, which will run parallel to credit-bearing education courses at USF Poly. Objectives include promoting language and literacy, ensuring college success, and enhancing self-esteem and personal empowerment. Students meet literacy experts weekly, alternating between individual and group sessions. The literacy expert, academic advisor and teacher together make an individual plan for literacy development and academic success. Teachers will pay 10 percent of their tuition in small increments. The rest is covered by the Helios Education Foundation grant and in-kind support from RCMA.

"The initiative is strength-based, evidence-based and culturally responsive," says Mathur. "All courses feature hands-on applied learning, which aligns with the polytechnic vision. That vision also aligns with a need in the community. I learned what these teachers needed and developed a program around those needs."

While Scaffold the Scholar will benefit teachers, Mathur says it also has direct and positive academic and social outcomes for preschool aged children and their families.

"The first five years of a child's life are key to later success. That's when the brain develops the most. If you make a difference now it will carry them forward. A qualified teacher who is also culturally competent can meet the children's academic, social and emotional needs and create a pathway to school readiness."

According to Mathur, the rewards of Scaffold the Scholar will go far beyond the classroom.

"The way I see it, we as a society have two options: we can empower children and families to learn and contribute to society, or we can ignore them and develop a permanent underclass for which we will all pay for life. Forget the politics and face the facts: These migrant kids are born here and are part of our population. When we empower kids, we also empower parents and create productive and contributing members of our society.

"I believe we're redefining the migrant child. We have found their strengths and we're building on them. One day when we think of migrant children we won't think of all that isn't working for them, and instead teachers will be happy to have migrant kids in the classroom. Scaffold the Scholar is a small piece."

Removing a dollar bill from her wallet, Mathur points to the signature by U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral, who was born in California to migrant parents. "She inspires me so much," says Mathur. "If she can do it any migrant child can do it. Working in education is so exciting and energizing. I come to school and I know that I have an opportunity to make a difference. "

Helios Endorses Arizona Education Commitment

Dear Education Advocates:

Helios Education Foundation stands firm in its commitment to change the lives of individuals in Arizona and Florida through education, and we're working diligently, alongside numerous community partners, to create more opportunities for students to succeed from their earliest learning years, through middle and high school and on to postsecondary education.

With Arizona's K-12 education system now ranked 42nd nationally, according to Quality Counts 2011, an annual study issued by Education Week, the importance of our Foundation's mission couldn't be more clear. That's why we've joined hundreds of organizations and individuals in support of the Arizona Education Commitment, calling on our state legislators to prioritize and protect education as outlined in the Arizona Constitution.

The Arizona Education Commitment is a nonpartisan, public awareness movement being led by the O'Connor House and Expect More Arizona, to advance positive and productive discussion about the critical state of education and elevate Arizona's constitutional duty to prioritize the maintenance, development and improvement of all state educational institutions.

While we acknowledge that our state leaders face difficult decisions during this time of economic recovery, we point to the education message our founding fathers outlined in the Constitution, that legislators should make adequate appropriations to ensure the stability and improvement of our state's educational institutions.

The Arizona Education Commitment proposes that state leaders mitigate Arizona's economic challenges by enacting the appropriate revenue enhancements and, in so doing, bring about increased incomes and added wealth to the economy, ultimately making resources available to properly fund public health and safety, thus limiting the need and severity of cuts to education and other priorities.

In order for our state and nation to compete in a global economy that demands high skills, technological advancement and innovation, we have to build and maintain a rigorous and relevant education system that is preparing our students to meet 21st Century requirements. Initiating more severe cuts to our current system will dim our chances.

Through the Arizona Education Commitment, we can all make the pledge to work hand-in-hand with state leaders to not only meet Arizona's constitutional duty, but to build an educational system that exceeds expectations and changes lives.

We encourage you to join us and show your commitment to education by signing the Arizona Education Commitment. Share its principles with your family and friends and let your legislative leaders know that education should be prioritized and protected. Sign up today at www.arizonaeducationcommitment.org.

Vince Roig Paul J. Luna
Chairman President & CEO
Helios Education Foundation Helios Education Foundation

Helios Announces $1 Million Gift to Teach For America Miami

With more than 200 Teach For America teachers, known as corps members, and guests in attendance, Teach For America's Miami-Dade region hosted its annual 100 Days Closer event recently where Helios Education Foundation President and CEO, Paul Luna, announced the Foundation's $1 million matching gift to the organization.

The evening also featured former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as the keynote speaker.

The 100 Days Closer event commemorated Teach For America corps members' 100th day in their classrooms this school year. Those in attendance celebrated the impact corps members have had on their students thus far, as they continue their hard work in the classrooms to ensure that all kids in Miami-Dade have access to an excellent education.

"The event brought all of our teachers together to share their success stories after the first 100 days of the school year," said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, executive director of Teach For America's Miami-Dade region. "Highlighting a magical night, we received a wonderful surprise from Helios Education Foundation when we learned that they would provide us a $1 million matching grant, which will help us recruit more teachers and continue our movement to end educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort."

Teach For America began placing corps members in Miami-Dade Public Schools in 2003 to help address disparities in educational outcomes between students in the county's low-income neighborhoods and their higher-income peers. In the 2010-2011 school year, nearly 150 Teach For America corps members will reach more than 10,000 students in approximately 20 schools throughout Miami-Dade County.

Seen in the photo from left to right are Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, Teach For America Miami-Dade Executive Director; Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation and Dennis Scholl, Knight Foundation, Vice President / Arts and Miami Program Director.

Helios Education Foundation STEM Request for Proposals

Thank you to those who submitted the 5th - 10th Grade STEM Education Teacher Professional Development (Stage 1) proposal. The Stage 1 portion of the proposal process has ended, and the remainder of the timeline is as follows:

If you submitted a Stage 1 form you can expect information regarding Stage 2 no later than close of business on Friday, March 18
March 29 at 5 p.m. EST - full applications (Stage 2) due to Helios Education Foundation
Month of April - proposal review
Early May - applicants will be notified

Click on the links below to download each document.

Briefing Paper (PDF)
Sample Organizational Description Template (Stage 1) (PDF)
2010 Sample Application (Stage 2) (PDF)
Rubric (PDF)
Sustainability Model (PDF)
Glossary of Terms (PDF)
Webinar PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)

To learn more about Helios' Transition Years Theory of Change, click here. Additional information about Helios' investment philosophy can be accessed here.

Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, To Moderate the "Your Voice in Education Reform Symposium"

Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, will moderate "Your Voice in Education Reform Symposium" on April 12 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The discussion will highlight education reform in Florida and feature corporate and community leaders of Tampa Bay.

The symposium will be held at the Batter's Eye at Tropicana Field and is hosted by Pinellas Education Foundation, Voice of Florida Business in Education and the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations. For more information, contact the Pinellas Education Foundation at (727) 588-4816.

Helios Education Foundation Elects Maria Sastre To its Board of Directors

Recognized Leader and Top Power Influencer Joins Helios' Board

Helios Education Foundation today announced the election of Maria Sastre to its Board of Directors. Ms. Sastre joins seven other members of the Helios Board all focused on creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to achieve postsecondary education success. In addition to Ms. Sastre, Helios' board members include Vince Roig, Founding Chairman; Tom Herndon; Ioanna Morfessis, Ph.D; Jane Roig; Don Aripoli, M.S.Ed, Ph.D; Mark Fernandez; and Paul Luna, President and CEO.

With a strategic focus on early childhood education (birth to five), the transition years (Grades 5-12) and postsecondary scholarships, Helios has invested close to $100 million in education in Arizona and Florida since 2006. Through its investments and partnerships, the Foundation is working to change lives through education and create a college-going culture among individuals, families and communities.

"As we continue to build new partnerships and strategically invest in education in Arizona and Florida, it's critical that the voices on the Foundation's Board of Directors reflect a diversity of experiences and viewpoints," said Helios Education Foundation's Chairman, Vince Roig. "In getting to know Maria in her role at Take Stock in Children, I've seen firsthand her proven leadership skills and wide-ranging knowledge of education systems. I'm excited that her voice will complement the board's vision of and commitment to changing lives through education."

Based in Orlando, Florida, Maria Sastre is Chief Operating Officer for Global Operations at Signature Flight Support Corporation. She is responsible for the company's worldwide network of fixed base operations.
Before joining Signature, Ms. Sastre served as President and CEO of Take Stock in Children, a statewide non-profit organization in Florida that, since inception, has helped over 16,000 low-income, at-risk students overcome the cycle of poverty through education, mentorship and access to college scholarships.

Prior to her work at Take Stock in Children, Ms. Sastre held positions at Royal Caribbean Cruises, LTD, including Vice President of Operations and Vice President International, Latin America, Caribbean and Asia. Her roles included strategic growth across emerging markets as well as managing all aspects of the guest experience onboard Royal Caribbean's fleet of vessels. She has served as Vice President of Worldwide Customer Satisfaction for United Airlines where she led the newly created customer satisfaction division charged with refining the customer service experience.

Ms. Sastre currently serves on the boards of directors and audit committees for Publix Supermarkets and Darden Restaurants. She has been recognized as one of the Top 80 U.S. Hispanics, Top 20 Latinas and has received numerous awards in the travel and hospitality industry sectors. She was named one of South Florida CEO magazine's Top Power Influencers in 2007.

Ms. Sastre's education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and a Master's in Business Administration, both from New York Institute of Technology.

Pinellas Education Foundation Hosts Follow-up to "Waiting for Superman"

Six months after the Pinellas Education Foundation in partnership with Helios Education Foundation and Tucker Hall hosted a community viewing of the nationally-acclaimed education documentary Waiting for Superman, community leaders in Pinellas County, Florida and from other areas around Tampa Bay came together again to review and discuss critical local and statewide issues in education.

The Pinellas Education Foundation, the Voice of Florida Business in Education and the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations invited opinion leaders to a symposium called "Your Voice in Education Reform" moderated by Helios Education Foundation's President and CEO Paul Luna. The symposium presented an opportunity for the community to review the results of a recent survey of Governor Rick Scott's education agenda and engage in dialogue with a well-respected panel over other key education issues facing the community, including funding, vouchers, accountability and technology.

Kathleen Shanahan, who currently serves as a member of Florida's State Board of Education and on the Florida Council of 100, provided the keynote presentation, reminding attendees to continue to push for accountability across all segments of the education system. Shanahan has also served as Chief of Staff for Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Vice President-elect Dick Cheney.

Panelists included:

Sean Barth, Treasurer of the Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Foundation for Seminole Public Schools and a member of the Voice of Florida Business in Public Education.

John Kirtly, creator of Step Up For Students, co-Founder of KLH Capital, Founder of the Children's Scholarship Fund of Tampa Bay and Vice Chairman of the Alliance for School Choice and the American Federation for Children.

Liza McFadden, President of Volunteer USA Foundation.

Ernest Hooper, an award-winning general news columnist for the St. Petersburg Times.

Tracy Staley, a 5th grade teacher at Ponce De Leon Elementary School in Clearwater, Florida.

Helios Education Foundation's 2010 Annual Report - A Celebration of Milestones

Helios Education Foundation is pleased to present you with our 2010 annual report, A Celebration of Milestones.Thisinteractive, completely electronic, online experience is a showcase of the partnerships, investments and commitments our Foundation has made over the past year.

The video storiesand informative articleshighlight and remind us of the thousands of students and families that have been touched by the innnovative partnerships we helped facilitate in 2010. We are working with organizations, schools, institutions and others in Arizona and Florida to make a difference in early childhood education (children ages birth to five), the transition years (Grades 5-12) and postsecondary education.

We know how important and valuable it is to share information and ideas about education and about programsthat are having an impact in Arizona and Florida. We hope you find this material insightful, and we encourage you to share it with others and use it as inspiration to create new opportunities for students to achieve postsecondary education success.

Helios Education Foundation and Arizona Community Foundation Announce Partnership with Opening Minds through the Arts Foundation

The Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation proudly announce the award of $500,000 to the Opening Minds through the Arts Foundation. This is the second year that Helios and ACF have jointly awarded grants to nonprofit organizations through the Accio Education Fund, a "venture capital" type of charitable fund created by the two organizations. The Fund, which is held and managed at ACF, was established to support the development and expansion of innovative education reform efforts for the benefit of Arizona students, with Helios and ACF contributing equally.

Opening Minds through the Arts was founded in 1999 when Tucson Symphony Orchestra board member Gene Jones brought together leaders from arts organizations, the University of Arizona, and the Tucson Unified School District to implement the program. With a focus on empowering educators and artists to use the arts to help children succeed in math, science and literacy, the OMA Foundation was formed in 2004 to support the program and pursue the mission of bringing arts integration to all students in every school. The Foundation's efforts to bring arts integration training to schools across Arizona began in 2009.

"This investment affirms our mission of bringing the arts into every classroom to help every child succeed in math, science and literature," said Donn Poll, executive director of the OMA Foundation.

Under the name of Arts Integration Solutions, the OMA Foundation offers services and support through training and certification, assessment tools, program modules, collaborative and peer networking, and material and web-based resources.

"We believe this grant is an opportunity to transform education in Arizona, to empower teachers to use the power of the arts to boost student achievement," Poll said. "If ever there were a moment in history when children need the arts to help them succeed in school, this is it. The Accio Fund's investment will help us make this a moment of change for education."

The OMA Foundation will use the Accio grant to further assist more schools and individuals in the state to tailor rigorous, results-driven collaboration using Arts Integration Solutions.

"Helios Education Foundation seeks to create partnerships that support and create opportunities for post-secondary education success. The Accio Fund partnership with Arizona Community Foundation is a great example of how our organizations have joined efforts to expand education reform initiatives in the state of Arizona," said Paul Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.

The OMA Foundation was chosen to receive the Accio grant after a thorough and inclusive six-month selection process.

"We were particularly impressed by the OMA Foundation's results," said Jim Pitofsky, ACF's education director. "Everyone involved in the process was moved by the OMA team's clear commitment to whole-school reform through arts integration and their evident passion for not simply teaching the arts, but rather integrating the arts into all classes so that students can connect to what they are learning and connect to each other across cultures.

"We were transported back in time to the moments when great teachers inspired us to love learning," Pitofsky added.

ACF and Helios sought nominations from a field of nonprofit organizations, funders and businesses. Their request specifically called for innovative education reform programs already in Arizona and those from other states considering expansion to Arizona. Nominations were evaluated by a panel of recognized authorities that included representative voices of teachers, principals, superintendents and school board members, as well as representatives from Wells Fargo, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

True start-up efforts were not encouraged for nomination, but consideration was given to expansion of an organization's proven, successful model if front-end investment had already been made and the applicant could demonstrate relevant experience to date. Although no out-of-state organization received a grant this year, organizations with an interest in Arizona will be considered again during next year's process.

The process used for selecting grant recipients from the Accio Fund has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national model for identifying and supporting innovative reform organizations.

The Accio grants are paid over a three-year period in annual installments and include intense staff engagement and technical and strategic assistance provided by Helios and ACF.

Helios Provides Major Support to UAs College of Education Early Childhood Education Teacher Preparatory Program

A new Helios Education Foundation and University of Arizona collaboration will fundamentally shift the way early childhood educators learn about their students, adding a stronger emphasis on early literacy and language acquisition, and also community-based education.

Helios, a philanthropic organization serving education communities in Arizona and Florida, is funding the UA College of Education at $1.5 million for four years under a new partnership: CREATE, Communities as Resources in Early Childhood Teacher Education.

Pictured from left to right: University of Arizona College of Education Dean Ron Marx, University of Arizona College of Education Associate Dean Renee Clift, Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation Vince Roig and Helios Education Foundation President & CEO Paul Luna.

"A quality early childhood education is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to preparing students to be successful across the education continuum," said Helios Education Foundation's Chairman Vince Roig.

"And, we know that putting effective and skilled teachers in early learning classrooms contributes to a high quality learning environment for students," Roig said, adding that "we are excited to be a part of this initiative."

Among the concerns driving the initiative are that educators are too often divorced from their students' communities and that the assets and resources families can bring to the classroom are often unknown or ignored.

CREATE will work to address and take on those challenges while also engaging teachers in its partner districts - Flowing Wells, Sunnyside and Tucson unified school districts. Other districts and private partners also will be involved.

The initiative is designed also to spark new partnerships between birth-to-K-3 centers and better engage families and communities toward improving the literacy and language learning of southern Arizona youth.

The partnership also promotes educators' understanding of the cultural knowledge and skills, or "funds of knowledge," within diverse cultural communities, determining ways to capture familial knowledge in the classroom setting.

"What we're trying to do is to really support teachers so that they may create spaces where they can build collaborations between children, families and key community stakeholders," said Iliana Reyes, a UA associate professor of teaching, learning and sociocultural studies.

"Too often, we are thinking about what we need to do in the classroom and teachers don't have the opportunity to make those spaces and create those relationships," Reyes added.

"But we have taken the literature and applied it here to improve academic and life success," she added. "We also want to make sure that we are hearing and learning the stories from children."

This is why storytelling through literacy is so central to CREATE.

"For young children, literacy comes through oral storytelling, then the written," Reyes said. "It is very important for children to be able to experience stories that are meaningful to them and their cultural and personal experience."

Other key features of the re-envisioned program include helping children to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others, involving families and local organizations in childhood literacy education and helping teachers develop a greater awareness of the historical and cultural contexts of those communities.

Also, UA students spend their first semester taking courses on UA's main campus, but the rest of their instruction and field experience is spent in the communities they serve.

"In the earlier version of the program, it wasn't enough time for our students to be effective," said Donna Jurich, UA's director of elementary and early childhood education.

Jurich also said the new program allows for a more reflective and integrated experience for early childhood educators, allowing them to more readily see the connection between their coursework and the classroom.

"Hopefully, this will increase the kind of relationships we hope they will have with the teachers, the students and their families," said Jurich, also a professor of practice in the teaching, learning and sociocultural studies department.

Those involved in CREATE said connecting the dots between how classroom curriculum and practices and community-based education could improve teacher performance is urgent.

"A lot of times, the students are stuck in the middle, so to speak," said Chris Iddings, a UA associate professor of teaching, learning and sociocultural studies.

"They are given a set of experiences but when they go out into the field, they do not see the practices that have stimulated their thinking," she said.

Iddings also said that, through CREATE, students will experience a "complete connection" between what they are studying and what they witness in the classroom.

Also through the partnership, early childhood education resources will be more accessible and readily available through real and virtual community centers, including a CREATE website and enhanced Worlds of Words website.

"In most cases, what you see with early childhood education is that people take elementary education and just change the focus to young children instead of designing courses specific to early childhood contexts," said Kathy Short, a UA language, reading and culture professor who also directs the Worlds of Words collection.

What CREATE is doing is providing a more unified program with a greater emphasis not only on classroom instruction, but family and community-based involvement.
"It's family, community and classroom. Those three are coming together with a much different sense of being in a partnership," Short said, adding that family visits will be a core responsibility for students and teachers who will then be responsible for weaving family histories and stories into the classroom.

Helios will continue to provide its expertise and strategic guidance during the duration of the initiative, which is expected to develop into a model that can be replicated across the country.

Also, UA College of Education faculty members have already begun redesigning the curriculum - building upon the collective knowledge and ideas of teachers, community liaisons, families, local school districts and others, said Renee Clift, the UA College of Education's associate dean for professional preparation.

UA faculty will evaluate the initiative throughout its duration, making changes when necessary.

"This effort is well supported in the college and in the department," Jurich also said. "And it is addressing some of the important directions teacher education is beginning to take and where the community-based focus is taking."

Ready Now Yuma To Create Actionable Plan for Graduating High School Students College- and Career-Ready

With national graduation rates stalled at around 70 percent and with an estimated 60 percent of all students enrolled in postsecondary education needing remedial coursework, Helios Education Foundation, the Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) and Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) are launching Ready Now Yuma, an education model designed to graduate knowledgeable and highly skilled students academically prepared to successfully complete a postsecondary education.

This collaborative and innovative partnership is framed around the Arizona Whole-School Move On When Ready initiative and takes a comprehensive, school-wide approach toward student achievement. The goal is to develop actionable strategies that schools can implement to improve education quality and ensure their students master a rigorous, curriculum-driven program of study. Ultimately, this plan will better prepare students to succeed in postsecondary education, whether it is at a trade or technical school, community college or four-year baccalaureate degree granting institution.

Helios is investing $450,000 toward this planning initiative, enabling CFA and Yuma Union High School District to develop strategies that will require all 9th and 10th grade students to enroll in the Cambridge International Examination instructional system, offer multiple educational pathways for 11th and 12th grade students, provide student academic advising and support, create opportunities for teacher professional development and include a thorough research and evaluation component.

"Ready Now Yuma is designed to raise academic achievement for all students to national and international college- and career-readiness standards," CFA Executive Director Sybil Francis said. "It is about opening doors closed to many students today by ensuring they are prepared to take the next step in their educational career - whether that is achieving a license, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree. This is vital when you consider that by 2013, more than 85 percent of new, high-growth jobs in Arizona that pay a livable wage will require at least some postsecondary education beyond a high school diploma."

Arizona is part of a 12-state coalition working with the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) to improve students' career- and college-readiness by bringing board examination systems to their schools. The YUHSD whole-school model will include instituting Cambridge International Examinations, one of the board examination systems approved by the Arizona State Board of Education, beginning with this fall's freshman class and making available the Grand Canyon High School Diploma, a new optional performance-based high school diploma aligned to minimum college readiness.

"Helping students prepare for and achieve a postsecondary education is fundamental to ensuring that those same students will have access to successful career opportunities when they graduate," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "In order for students to be prepared for postsecondary education, the academic groundwork has to be laid early on. Developing the Ready Now Yuma model will help provide the planning tools schools need to put students on a track toward education success."

Helios and CFA are partnering with Yuma Union High School District in this whole-school reform effort because of its ground-breaking leadership in expanding the number of students who are college- and career-ready. Last year, more than 2,500 YUHSD students took the ACT, a widely accepted college entrance exam.

"The partnership between the Center for the Future of Arizona, Helios Education Foundation and YUHSD promises to be of benefit to our students and our community in fulfilling our promise to prepare students for all destinations, and to further the reputation of our community as investment-worthy for business and industry," commented Toni Badone, superintendent of the Yuma Union High School District. "We believe the skills necessary to be successful in college are the same set of attributes necessary for success in careers. We want our students to be ready to analyze, think independently, create, take initiative, question and research, demonstrate leadership and service, and model competence and trustworthiness."

The Ready Now Yuma model has the potential to be viewed as a cutting-edge, national initiative that can be used to effectively prepare every student for postsecondary education success

Celebrating Our Partnerships and $100 Million Invested in Education

Helios Education Foundation was created in 2004 and began investing in education in 2006. Now, the Foundation is celebrating the partnerships created, the thousands of lives enriched and the $100 million that has been invested in education.

"This truly is an exciting time for Helios Education Foundation and for the communities we serve," said the Foundation's President and CEO Paul Luna. "It's thrilling to know that a number of our strategic investments are helping move the needle toward creating a college-going culture. And for that, we're taking this time to reflect on and celebrate our partners," he added.

"So much has been accomplished in education because of our partners' efforts, but there is so much left to do in order to prepare our students for postsecondary education and for the workforce. We need our partners - the people and the organizations that remain committed, persistent and innovative about improving education - in order to change the landscape and elevate education as the key to changing lives and communities."

A History of Helios
Helios opened its doors in Phoenix, Arizona in 2006 and announced its first community investment in the amount of $10 million to the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation for scholarships for first-generation students. It was also 2006 when Helios announced its first investment in Florida: $10 million toward Florida's university and community college systems to support scholarships for first-generation students. The Foundation opened its doors in Tampa, Florida the following year.

Very early on in its development, Helios fine-tuned its focus, earmarking its financial resources for initiatives that contribute toward a college-going culture, one in which every individual in Arizona and Florida would have access to a postsecondary education. The Foundation developed a strategic community investment philosophy rooted in improving student achievement. The approach was simple: invest within a specific framework across the education continuum, from early childhood education through the transition years and on to postsecondary scholarships.

And, that approach is yielding success.

"It's been an interesting and impactful journey for Helios since inception," said the Foundation's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Barbara Ryan. "Over the past five years, we've been implementing innovative initiatives that will reshape early childhood education in some areas, improve middle school students' knowledge and skills around math and science and open doors to a postsecondary education for people who traditionally haven't had those opportunities."

Changing lives through education is a mission that can't happen in a vacuum and it can't happen overnight, Ryan says.

"Helios plans to be an ongoing force for education," Ryan added. "...pushing for higher quality learning environments with more rigor and relevance for students, and helping parents become more engaged and embedded in the academic success of their children. Some of that is already reflected in the investments we've made."

The Impact Areas

Helios Education Foundation invests its leadership, expertise and resources across three key impact areas:

Investment Focus

Amount Invested Since 2006

Early Childhood Education

$10,874,912

With a focus on improving teacher quality, incorporating emergent literacy and language acquisition curriculum into postsecondary education programs and bridging the gap between the early childhood and K-3 education systems.

Transition Years (grades 5-12)

$43,156,655

With a focus on college readiness for all students by creating a college-going culture and increasing curriculum rigor and relevance with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education; creating and sustaining a pipeline of highly effective STEM educators and school leaders; and strengthening family and community engagement to support student success.

Postsecondary Scholarships

$32,795,516

With a focus on increasing access to postsecondary education for underserved and underrepresented populations; creating a pipeline of STEM students and educators; and cultivating early childhood education teachers and practitioners.

Innovative

$12,413,466

With a focus on supporting new and innovative initiatives that seek to improve student achievement across the education continuum.

Raising Expectations
Expect More Arizona is one of Helios Education Foundation's innovative partnership's which is engaging and empowering students, families and communities in Arizona to improve education. The statewide, nonpartisan partnership seeks to make education Arizona's top priority by building public demand for a higher quality education system.

Helios is a founding partner of Expect More Arizona and the Foundation's President and CEO, Paul Luna, is Chair of Expect More Arizona's Oversight Board.

"Expect More Arizona is a movement working to create a groundswell of better informed and more actively engaged Arizonans who believe that every Arizona student deserves the best education possible,” said Expect More Arizona's Executive Director Nicole Magnuson. "In order for Arizona's education system to be a model of excellence across the nation, we must raise our expectations and commit to doing more for education and our students.”

Recognizing that not all Arizona students have access to high quality education, Expect More Arizona is advocating for a high quality education system for all Arizona students from birth through career that effectively prepares students to succeed.

The partnership's motivation stems from the statistics below, which reinforce that Arizona's students are falling behind their national and international peers in academic performance, high school graduation rates and postsecondary degree attainment.

60% of kindergartners don't enter kindergarten ready to succeed
75% of 3rd graders are below proficient in reading
71% of 8th graders are below proficient in math
30% of students don't graduate from high school
50% of high school graduates don't qualify to enroll in Arizona's public universities
17% of Arizona students go on to postsecondary education and earn a college degree on time

With these percentages in mind, Expect More Arizona is evolving its public awareness and engagement efforts to encourage parents and families to set high expectations in their homes and get actively involved in supporting the academic success to their students.

"Research shows that parents have a significant and positive impact on the academic success and postsecondary education goals of students,” Magnuson said. "The more engaged parents become in their child's education, at all stages of the education continuum, the more likely those parents will be to advocate on behalf of their children, their children's school and on behalf of education reform overall.”

What makes Expect More Arizona unique, however, is that even if you don't have children, there is a place for everyone in this important movement. Learn more at ExpectMoreArizona.org.

Sources for the statistics mentioned above include:

Arizona School Readiness Key Performance Indicators, Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families, 2006
National Center for Education Statistics
Newamerica.net
Green, J. & Winters, M. (2005). Public high school graduation and college-readiness rates: 1991-2002. New York: Manhattan Institute.
The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems Information Center for State Higher Education Policy and Analysis, 2003-2004

Helios Partner	Total Investment
Expect More Arizona	$1.5 million

Master Class
With the College Board's assessment of the U.S. now ranking 12th in the world in postsecondary education attainment among adults ages 25- to 64-years-old, Helios is supporting initiatives aimed at preparing students to successfully compete globally and on helping them acquire the knowledge and skills that will make them a productive part of the workforce. Advancing student skills around STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) have shown to be an effective part of a comprehensive approach to improving student achievement.

But according to the Education Commission of the States (ECS), teacher quality is also critical to student achievement. In a 2008 policy brief, the ECS found that while numerous state efforts seek to recruit, train and retain more teachers, fewer initiatives focus on developing teachers, particularly high school teachers, once they enter the classroom.

In their brief, the ECS examined seven high-leverage components to strengthening teacher professional development at the high school level, including:

Deepening conceptual knowledge
Integrating college and workforce readiness into teacher expectations and instruction
Developing communities of practice and mentorship supports
Using data, school- and classroom-level assessment practices and differentiated instruction
Keeping a focus on instruction
Addressing organizational professional development and
Using technology to leverage learning

As part of its effort to create more opportunities for teacher professional development, Helios is working with the University of Florida's (UF) Lastinger Center for Learning and the Pinellas County School District to develop master middle school and high school teachers in math and science.

Through the Pinellas County STEM Master Teachers initiative, UF is collaborating with the school district to provide job-embedded graduate education programs for teachers. As part of this initiative, teachers are working side-by-side with UF researchers on biological and physical sciences and related technologies, gaining new content knowledge and skills, leaning about the processes of discovery science and exploring multiple academic and workforce career paths for students.

One of the highlights of this program is that teachers earn a graduate degree from UF while further enhancing their abilities in the classroom.

"This program has grown faster than we had anticipated,” said Don Pemberton, Director of UF's Lastinger Center for Learning. "We're able to respond to the real needs for math and science teachers in some of the most vulnerable schools in Pinellas County. And, this really is a unique partnership that we've been able to leverage our resources and we've gone from three schools when we launched to 11 with the support of the Pinellas County School Board over two years. "

Pemberton says that some of the key objectives of the program are to provide high quality professional development for all math and science teachers at the demonstration schools, and to give those teachers summer experiences in UF labs with research scientists, engineers and mathematicians. The hope is that the program will ultimately improve the content knowledge and pedagogy of the entire math and science faculties in the demonstration schools.

"Right now we feel that math and science education is a national priority, and it's extremely encouraging to know that Helios Education Foundation and Pinellas County schools are on the cutting edge of helping develop a new prototype for training math and science teachers,” Pemberton said. "This kind of investment and support is so critically needed at a time when traditional resources are drying up. Because of this partnership, we are collaborating across all levels and meeting the needs of students in vulnerable schools.”

Helios Partner	Total Investment
University of Florida Foundation	Over $1.6 million
For the Pinellas County STEM Master Teachers Program

The Future
As Helios Education Foundation looks toward investing its next $100 million in education, the Foundation is taking a closer look at the measurability, sustainability and long-term impacts of its initiatives. As a Foundation designed to exist in perpetuity, Helios wants to ensure that the residual effects of its investments continue to ripple across Arizona and Florida for years to come. Being able to evaluate that kind of impact is a critical part of Helios' investment approach.

"It's been incredible to watch Helios Education Foundation evolve and become an integral part of helping improve education,” said the Foundation's Founding Chairman Vince Roig. "What's going to be even more incredible, are the years to come. I speak on behalf of the board and staff when I say that none of the work, none of the vision, none of the change in education we are seeking would be possible without our partners. This really is about celebrating our partnerships and looking toward educating the future leaders of this country.”

For more information about the history and development of Helios Education Foundation, go to www.helios.org/historyvideo. General information about the Foundation's focus and community investment initiatives is available online at www.helios.org.

TGen Provides Scientific Launch Pad For Helios Scholars

Tomorrow's leaders in science and medicine will graduate from an advanced biomedical internship program at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

The 45 interns in the Helios Scholars Program at TGen wrapped up eight weeks of biomedical investigations with a daylong symposium filled with discussions and scientific poster presentations at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

"Helios Scholars at TGen receive a highly unique hands-on experience into real-life biomedical discovery. This program significantly engages their research abilities and helps prepare a new generation of scientific investigators for Arizona," said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen's President and Research Director.

This is the fifth year of the program, funded through a $6.5 million grant from Helios Education Foundation, the largest philanthropic foundation in Arizona focused solely on education.

This innovative program allows high school, undergraduate and graduate level students, including those in medical school, to conduct independent scientific research affecting real-world patients.

"The Helios Scholars Program at TGen provides a unique opportunity for Arizona students, from many different backgrounds, to work side by side with TGen scientists and develop foundational research skills through first-hand experience," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "Our strategic partnership with TGen lets our scholars explore the biosciences by taking them beyond the classroom and into state-of-the-art laboratories where their work in cutting edge translational genomics research becomes an invaluable part of their educational experience."

Under the guidance of TGen faculty - who provide closely supervised, one-on-one instruction - Helios Scholars use cutting-edge technology to learn about the genetic causes of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and many types of cancer.

This program helps students from all backgrounds - selected from a competitive pool of applicants - sharpen their research skills as they prepare for careers in science or medical fields.

"It is inspiring to see the growth achieved by these students in just eight weeks," said Brandy Wells, TGen's Education and Outreach Specialist. "They emerge from the program with a skill set that prepares them for the challenges of biomedical research."

Past interns boast an array of impressive accomplishments, including published scientific abstracts and scientific papers, top national student rankings, acceptance into first-rate graduate and medical schools, and national awards and scholarships.

The application for next year's Helios program opens in early 2012. For more information about TGen or the internship program, click here.

Helios Invests Over $1.4 Million In STEM Education in Tampa Bay

Recognizing the critical role STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education plays in better preparing students for postsecondary education and career success, Helios Education Foundation is investing over $1.4 million in two new Tampa Bay programs focused on teacher quality and content knowledge in STEM in Polk and Citrus counties.

Through these investments, middle school teachers in Polk County will earn professional development credits toward a graduate certificate in STEM education, and in Citrus County, 6th through 8th Grade teachers will bring real-world applications of math and science into the classroom by teaching students how to analyze local water management issues using math models.

$950,000 in Polk County
The Foundation is investing $950,000 over three years to provide 96 middle school teachers in Polk County with a graduate certificate in Integrative STEM Teaching and Learning. This graduate certificate is being provided in partnership with the University of South Florida-Polytechnic, Polk County Public Schools, Lake Wales Charter School and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.

Teachers participating in the program will receive 12 graduate credits of professional development in STEM content knowledge, applied problem-based learning, inquiry-based activities, content literacy strategies and performance and standards-based assessments.

$495,000 in Citrus County
As part of providing more teacher professional development opportunities, Helios is investing $495,000 over two years to offer all 6th through 8th Grade math and science teachers in Citrus County the opportunity to increase their knowledge in integrating math, science and computing.

In partnership with Florida State University, Citrus County Public Schools and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), this program will offer 120 hours of teacher professional development in integrating math and science instruction through real-world applications of water resource management, math modeling through Excel to deepen student understanding of math and science concepts and lesson study teams for STEM teachers.

Teachers participating in this program will learn to use Excel to generate and analyze mathematical models provided by SWFWMD. In applying this knowledge in the classroom, middle school math and science teachers will help students examine water management issues directly relevant to their lives, further underscoring the real-world use of computational science.

"Studies show us that one of the most influential ways to improve student achievement in the classroom is to improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers in those classrooms," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "We are equipping middle school teachers with a higher level of content knowledge and teaching skill in STEM, and that combined with ongoing school and classroom initiatives, works to increase student achievement."

Helios is making these funds available through a request for proposals process aimed at generating innovative professional development initiatives for middle school STEM teachers in Tampa Bay. The Foundation received 13 applications from a variety of groups, including higher education institutions, school districts and national organizations, serving an eight-county region of Tampa Bay.

The initiatives serving Polk and Citrus counties met the Foundation's funding requirements by deepening teachers' content knowledge, strengthening effective instructional skills, utilizing engineering design principles and integrating technology into the classroom.

Arizona Early Childhood Educators Attend First Annual Helios Summer Institute

The First Annual Helios Summer Institute was held June 5-10, 2011 as part of the Prescott College Early Childhood Teacher Education Programs in Arizona's rural areas. These programs are supported by a four-year $608,000 grant from Helios Education Foundation focused on recruiting Native American, Hispanic, or other underrepresented population groups who are working with young children in Arizona's reservation and rural communities.

"The grant gives Prescott College the opportunity to redouble its commitment to serving individuals who are teaching or interested in teaching on the reservations and in rural Arizona," says Vicky Young, Ph.D., Prescott College's Coordinator for Native American Students.

The eight Institute participants are all female early childhood educators working on earning their Bachelor of Arts degrees at Prescott College. The women represent employment within the Yavapai Nation Library youth programs, Blackwater Community School, and Cocopah, Hopi, Navajo, and Toltec Head Start programs. Participants were Amy Borhauer (Hopi), Danielle Allen (Gila River/Akimel O'odham), Monica Torres (Colorado River Indian Tribes heritage), Veronica Gant, Louise Kaursgowva, Debra Sockyma (Hopi), Christina Solorzano, and Aurilia Calamity (Navajo).

The week-long Helios Summer Institute assisted current early childhood education (ECE) students with value-added faculty and staff support for their academic program. The cohort engaged in their first Helios specific course, Curriculum Building Through Cultural Literacy, developed by faculty member Wendy Watson, M.Ed., and co-taught with Vicky Young. Summer Institute participants developed strategies for place- and project-based ECE literacy curriculum that focused on enhancing bilingual instruction and honoring Arizona's diverse Native American and Hispanic cultures.

Workshops were provided on themes such as children and nature, nutrition and cooking with indigenous and local foods, the creative and dramatic arts, enhancing bilingual instruction, community traditions, and academic research, technology and writing. Presenters included Dr. Terril Shorb, Dr. Jan Kempster, Luana Mangold (Jemez Pueblo), Kistie Simmons, Michaela Willi Hooper, Chef Molly Beverly, Playback Theatre cast, and Anne Jacobsen, Yavapai College ECE faculty.

In commemoration of the first Helios Summer Institute, the group made individualized quilt squares that represented their communities and natural environment. These will be joined to form a Helios banner to celebrate their academic journey.

Supported through a limited residency model, the Prescott College Early Childhood Teacher Education Programs in Arizona's rural areas allow students to complete their degree or certification programs from their home communities, while working and maintaining a family life.

A limited number of Prescott College Helios scholarships will be offered through fall 2012 to new qualifying students seeking Bachelor of Arts degrees in early childhood education fields, with or without Arizona ECE teacher certification. Helios scholars must be Arizona residents from Native American, Hispanic, or other underrepresented population groups who are working with young children in Arizona's reservation and rural communities. Scholarships are $4,000 per calendar year, $2,000 per term for full-time students, and awards will be prorated for part time enrollment. Continuing students in good academic standing are eligible for funding through fall 2013.

For more information on Helios scholarships please contact Wendy Watson at wwatson@prescott.edu, (928) 350- 1013 or (877) 350-2100 ext. 1013, or Vicky Young at vyoung@prescott.edu, (800) 628-6343 or (928) 350-3200.

Helios Education Foundation Invests $3 Million Into Growth and Sustainability of Expect More Arizona

Fueling the growth and sustainability of Expect More Arizona, Helios Education Foundation has committed $3 million over the next four years to the statewide movement dedicated to making Arizona education the best in the nation. The new investment will be directed to advance Expect More Arizona's efforts to engage more parents, families, students and voters in setting high expectations and championing high quality education for all children and students - from birth through career. It will also fund the building of infrastructure and capacity to ensure Expect More Arizona is able to influence positive change in education for generations to come.

"The board of Helios Education Foundation believes that Expect More Arizona's long-term success in inspiring a high expectations culture is critical to our state's ability to ensure all students receive the highest quality education and graduate college and career ready," commented Vince Roig, Chairman, Helios Education Foundation. "As an inclusive and growing statewide movement that champions a strong birth to career education system, Expect More Arizona is uniquely positioned to shape and lead powerful change in education over the next few years."

The recent commitment brings Helios' investment in Expect More Arizona to $5 million, including the seed money, which helped launch the organization in December 2008. The investment comes at an exciting time in Expect More Arizona's evolution as the collaborative undergoes a planned transition in leadership and embarks on executing an ambitious multi-year strategic plan.
"Helios Education Foundation has been a vital part of Expect More Arizona's past and present success," said Pearl Chang Esau, Expect More Arizona's new President and CEO. "This investment will allow us to strengthen our organization, expand our movement and ultimately create a high expectations, education-first culture in our state."

Expect More Arizona initially launched as a public awareness campaign including multimedia advertising and robust web site with the goal of educating Arizonans about the need to improve education across the state. Soon after its launch, the collaborative partners introduced strategies to motivate students, voters, educators and the broader community to expect more and do more for Arizona education. During the 2010 elections the partnership contributed to the successful passage of Proposition 100, a temporary 1% sales tax in support of education and the defeat of Proposition 302, the effort to eliminate the state's dedicated funding to early childhood health and education. In addition, in partnership with Arizona GEAR UP, Expect More Arizona distributed more than 200,000 of its College and Career Planning Guides to 8th, 9th and 10th graders across the state, promoting the importance of college and postsecondary education for all Arizona graduates.

Since its inception, Expect More Arizona has informed, educated and inspired thousands of Arizonans to vote, volunteer, advocate and invest in education. A solid organizational foundation has been laid over the past few years and now much of the Expect More Arizona's attention will shift to building a shared vision for excellence in education for children of all ages and at every stage of the education continuum. The Helios gift is unprecedented in Expect More Arizona history and efforts are underway to leverage the investment to retain current funders and attract new ones, as well as expand its base of partners statewide.

Teach for America's Pearl Chang Esau To Lead High Expectations Education Movement

Expect More Arizona's Oversight Board announced the selection of Pearl Chang Esau, Executive Director of Teach for America - Phoenix Region, as its new President/CEO. Ms. Chang Esau, a proven, young leader, was identified through a highly competitive selection process launched in May and led by the organization's Executive Committee, including Board Chair and Helios Education Foundation President and CEO, Paul Luna; the Arizona Community Foundation's Chief Strategy Officer, Jim Pitofsky; Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust's Senior Program Officer, Marilee Dal Pra; and Expect More Arizona's current Executive Director, Nicole Magnuson.

"Expect More Arizona is fortunate to have someone of Ms. Chang Esau's caliber taking the leadership helm at such a critical juncture in our partnership's growth and development," commented Luna. "This is a pivotal moment for education in our state and Expect More Arizona's role in shaping a shared vision and inspiring collective action is sure to have a powerful impact on our students and the long-term economic prosperity of our state."

Ms. Chang Esau has led the rapid expansion of Teach for America in Phoenix over the past three years. Under her leadership, the local Teach for America chapter has grown exponentially in size and financial strength. From 2008 to 2011, fundraising increased from $4.7 million to more than $7 million. Her experience, which will greatly benefit Expect More Arizona, includes setting the organizational vision, cultivating strategic partnerships and leading a "team" of 28 staff members, 350 corps members (teachers), and 600 Teach For America alumni in the movement to eliminate educational inequity. Ms. Chang Esau was also instrumental in developing a collaborative partnership between Teach for America and ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teacher's College, resulting in $19 million in funding for the Sanford Teaching Project, an innovative teacher development initiative.

She graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA, with a B.A. in Communications and double minors in Public Policy and Spanish. A recognized "shining star" within the Teach for America system, Ms. Chang Esau started her career as a Teach for America teacher in Los Angeles. Later, she joined the Los Angeles recruitment team, rising through various regional and national recruitment leadership positions before taking the helm of the Phoenix Region Teach for America.

Ms. Chang Esau officially assumed her new leadership position with Expect More Arizona on October 17, 2011. Both organizations and their leadership are committed to a seamless transition and will provide appropriate flexibility to ensure Teach for America and Expect More Arizona are stable and successful through the executive transitions. In addition to managing the team of professionals supporting Expect More Arizona, raising financial resources, cultivating strategic partnerships statewide, and working with the board on the implementation of a newly adopted strategic plan, Ms. Chang Esau will be responsible for leading the development of a multiyear business plan.

"I am excited about the enormous potential for Expect More Arizona to take an even greater leadership role in creating a culture of high expectations and influencing true change in education," expressed Ms. Chang Esau. "As a long-time advocate for equality and excellence in education for all children, I am honored to build on the impressive foundation that has been laid by leading Expect More Arizona into its next phase of impact."

Helios Commits $495,000 to Florida State For STEM Computer-Based Modeling Program

Until recently, scientists had two ways to work: conduct physical experiments or construct theories. Today, computers offer a powerful, third way: mathematical modeling using computer simulations. In fact, computer-based modeling now allows scientists to model and analyze systems on a scale far greater than was previously possible, offering the potential to revolutionize nearly all science disciplines.

A new project underway at the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) at Florida State University is preparing teachers to help middle school students acquire the math, science and computing skills they will need to enter STEM fields in the 21st Century. The project, made possible by a $495,000 grant from the Helios Education Foundation, is being conducted in collaboration with Citrus County Public Schools and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).

"Studies show us that one of the most influential ways to improve student achievement in the classroom is to improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers in those classrooms," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna."We are equipping middle school teachers with a higher level of content knowledge and teaching skill in STEM, and that combined with ongoing school and classroom initiatives, work to increase student achievement."

The project targets middle schoolers because they are choosing courses to take in high school that will influence their college and career paths. Students introduced to computational science early can develop new ways of thinking and problem-solving that are increasingly essential in the workforce. Thanks to SWFWMD's participation, students will work with data pertaining to local water resources, underscoring the real-world impact of science and math.

"Blending STEM teaching and learning is strongly supported by research on how students learn but we know little about how to prepare teachers to do it," said Laura Lang, director of the Learning Systems Institute (LSI), which houses FCR-STEM, and the principal investigator on the grant. "This project will develop and test a teacher professional development approach for students in the middle grades, a critical time for sparking interest in STEM and helping students understand first hand what the work of scientists is all about."

Computational science involves mathematical modeling of phenomena through computer simulations. Harnessing the power of computers and mathematical modeling, scientists can, for example, conduct simulated experiments to test the effects of removing water from underground aquifers, study the effects of nitrogen on seagrass beds or identify optimal levels of fish harvesting. Teachers involved in this project will learn to use the spreadsheet application Excel to manipulate and generate mathematical models, and to analyze data generated by their models or supplied by the SWFWMD. In this way, students and teachers will develop the skills to examine water management issues directly relevant to their lives, assignments designed to underscore the power and utility of computational science.

"This project will open the eyes of teachers and students to the amazing power of math and science to improve their lives," said Robert Schoen, associate director of FCR-STEM and co-principal investigator on the project.

Launched in July 2011 and continuing through summer 2013, the project focuses on the professional development of Citrus County math and science teachers who will be teaching the students in the study. The goal will be increasing teachers' content knowledge in the relevant subjects (the nature of science, earth science, life science and math) and creating teaching teams that develop lessons that integrate topics related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The sessions also will increase teachers' knowledge and use of mathematical modeling and computing (using Excel) to engage students in scientific inquiry. Totaling 120 hours, all professional development for this project is built around Florida's curriculum standards.
Also collaborating on the project are FSU's Office of Science Teaching Activities and Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science.

Celebrating Our Partnerships and $100 Million Invested in Education

What began as a vision in the minds of members of the Southwest Student Services Corporation's board of directors 8 years ago has today blossomed into a philanthropic organization focused on changing lives through education in Arizona and Florida. Now, the Foundation is celebrating its partnerships, the thousands of lives that have been enriched and the over $100 million invested in education since 2006.

Click here to view a special video highlighting the partnerships that helped Helios achieve its $100 million milestone.

Helios Education Foundation And University of Tampa Partner To Increase Graduation Rates And Student Success in College

In an effort to increase college graduation rates for first-generation and under-represented students, Helios Education Foundation and The University of Tampa have partnered on a new initiative called "Student Success - Responding to a National Imperative." Helios is investing $1.3 million over four years in the initiative.
Specifically, the targeted students include full-time UT students who are studying mathematics, education, technology and science-related disciplines, who are members of minority groups and/or are first-generation college students and who are from the state of Florida.

Student success in the program will be measured by increased persistence and graduation rates of the cohorts, and increased engagement of the students in all aspects of the college experience.

Specifically, UT ultimately expects gains in graduation rates of up to 17 percent within the targeted population. It also expects to see gains in students' perceptions of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment.

Within UT's current enrollment, 282 students have been identified as the initial cohort.
Shani Bennett, a freshman from Miami, is a minority student who is in the initial cohort. She is undecided about her major, but has considered pre-dentistry. "I'm looking at everything," she says. Although she has been at UT only for a few weeks, she has enjoyed the Helios program scholarship, the networking with other students and getting to work eight hours a week for the Office of Career Service. Obtaining a job on campus is one part of the Helios grant program, which so far has been beneficial for Bennett.

"I get exposure to different employers and meet a lot of new people," Bennett said. She added that she and her Helios student mentor have already talked about future class schedules, and about doing community service at a local school.

This initial cohort is made up of students who traditionally need additional support mechanisms for the challenges they face in college, said UT President Ronald L. Vaughn. And while over the past 15 years UT has committed tremendous resources to student development and support services, including substantial investments in infrastructures, the Helios partnership provides a boost.

"UT has a demonstrated track record in student success initiatives, but we aspire to higher achievement," Vaughn said. "This partnership with Helios Education Foundation provides the high speed on-ramp we envision for student success."

The program reaches across academic, enrollment, student services and financial aid. Strategies for implementation include:

Formation of an Office of Student Success.
Creation of micro academic communities in which students can interact with faculty and staff.
Providing "gap" financial aid for students with the greatest financial needs.
Development of programs that link students' academic areas with the campus offices of Advising and Career Services, thus ensuring successful career development.
Developing merit-based incentive awards for students who have demonstrated academic success after their first year.
Creating new on-campus employment opportunities.
Selecting current graduate and undergraduate students to serve as academic coaches and program mentors.

"Preparing students for the academic rigor of a college education is only part of the equation," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "We have to ensure that those same students, once in college, persist and complete that education. That's why we're so supportive of the University of Tampa's Student Success initiative which wraps academic, social and financial support around incoming first-generation and under-represented students, helping them succeed and graduate."

Lorie Kittendorf, UT's director of student success, said that with the Helios grant UT can approach the support of this student population intentionally and tactically. She also added that the program is unique in that support of the program will largely rest on students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level, who will connect with the students of interest in targeted ways.

"We never know what person, event, or moment will help a student connect to an institution, but we do know how crucial student engagement and involvement are for persistence and success," Kittendorf said. "Our team of graduate academic coaches and undergraduate peers will hopefully serve as a key resource for the information, advice, support, and involvement that are so critical for student learning and persistence."

Helios Education Foundation Helps The College Resource Center In Northern Arizona Increase Number of Arizonans Attending College

Navigating the pathways to colleges, universities and technical and vocational schools can be a dense maze of paperwork, standardized tests and financial worry. The Northern Arizona College Resource Center helps students and adults interested in pursuing post-secondary education through a new partnership with Helios Education Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation.

The NACRC received a $104,500 grant from Helios Education Foundation to be administered by the Arizona Community Foundation over the next year. These funds are potentially renewable over the following two years and will fund the NACRC during that time as well as allow for an evaluation of the project.

The Helios grant will provide the NACRC with the ability to pay for the director and media liaison positions as well as hire an Administrative Assistant and bring on two new full-time AmeriCorps positions. These staff members will not only run the center's current programs but will be able to add tutoring and expand the reach of the center and the number of clients they can offer services to.

"Helios Education Foundation is thrilled to support the Northern Arizona College Resource Center because it helps students and families plan and prepare for college," said Antonia Franco, Vice President and Program Director, Arizona Transition Years; Student, Family and Community Initiatives for Helios Education Foundation. "Initiatives like these in our community help create a college-going culture and put students on a path toward success in postsecondary education."

The NACRC offers free one-on-one advising, community workshops and school and community presentations on all aspects of the college going process including information on finding best fit schools, applications, essays, standardized tests, financing your education and a host of special topics. Services are free to both youth and adults throughout Northern Arizona.

"We couldn't be happier about working with Helios Education Foundation," said Jennifer O'Leary, the Director of the NACRC. "This opportunity will allow for us to expand our services and reach out to the community even more."

The NACRC is housed in the Flagstaff Family YMCA and opened in May 2010 with the new YMCA. Since that time, they have seen a major increase in the number of students they serve. The NACRC presents in the schools and for a variety of other community programs. They also host community workshops in the center and offer one-one- assistance to students and families.

The NACRC is located at 1001 N. Turquoise Drive in Flagstaff and can be reached by phone at (602) 688-5379, by email at staff@nacrc.net, on Facebook at NACRC.Flagstaff and on Twitter at NACRC_Flagstaff.

Helios is Working to Transform Early Childhood Education in Arizona and Florida

It's clear that the ages of birth to five represent the most critical stage in the growth and development of young children, forming the building blocks for a child's future success from pre-school through postsecondary education. Since 2006, Helios Education Foundation has invested over $10 million in strategic partnerships across Arizona and Florida focused on better preparing early childhood educators and practitioners and on increasing the number of high quality early learning environments in child care centers and family child care homes. Click here to view our interactive report on efforts to transform early childhood education in Arizona and Florida.

Arizona Foundations Lead Broad-Based Effort To Move The Needle On Grade Level Reading

With a new national report showing that children who don't read well by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, three Arizona foundations are leading a statewide collaborative to tackle the underlying issues preventing children, especially low-income children, from learning to read at grade level.

Helios Education Foundation, Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust are collaborating with numerous cities and organizations across Arizona who have all joined the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. This national, 10-year initiative is focused on moving the needle on reading proficiency and making early reading an urgent priority.

Helios, ACF and Piper will convene community stakeholders in a series of statewide meetings, with the results leading to an integrated statewide system that addresses the three leading causes preventing students from reading at grade level: school readiness, school absenteeism and summer learning loss.

Foundation leaders and members of the collaborative will promote strategies and policies that work to close reading achievement gaps; raise the bar for reading proficiency so that all students are assessed by world-class standards; and ensure that all children have an equitable opportunity to meet those higher standards.

Organizers plan to build on and enhance the data collection and other work already done by Arizona stakeholders such as First Things First, the Arizona Department of Education and the United Way.

"Helios Education Foundation understands the urgency around grade level reading and we are working to improve the quality of the early learning environment by providing professional development opportunities for the teachers of children aged birth to five," said Karen Ortiz, Helios Education Foundation Vice President and Director of Early Childhood Education. "Teacher quality is a critical component to student success, and, in the last four years, we have invested over $10 million into professional development initiatives for early childhood teachers and practitioners with an emphasis on language acquisition and emergent literacy knowledge and practice."

Recent studies show that low-income children can lose up to three months of reading comprehension skills due to summer learning loss, when compared to their more affluent peers. By the end of fifth grade, these same students can be as much as three grade levels behind. Studies also show that low-income children may hear as many as 30 million fewer words than their middle-income peers before reaching kindergarten.

"Recognizing these devastating statistics, the Arizona Community Foundation and our partners are coming together to truly move the needle on early literacy," said Jim Pitofsky, Arizona Community Foundation Chief Strategy Officer. "It is imperative that we address this forcefully and assure that all young children are able to read well by third grade, the necessary point of passage for students to succeed in later grades."

The state of Arizona joins more than 150 cities, counties and towns across the country all taking action and pledging to tackle the grade-level reading crisis through coordinated local efforts. The National League of Cities, United Way World Wide, and other national partners will recognize communities that develop the most comprehensive and sustainable plans to address the three primary barriers to early reading.

"The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has galvanized our collective efforts to ensure that all children in Arizona have the language skills to be successful life-long learners," said Marilee Dal Pra, Program Director for Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. "Working with our partners, we intend to make targeted investments in early literacy work and understand that it will take a united and sustained effort for Arizona's children to achieve reading proficiency in the early years."

Recent studies speak to the importance of early reading skills. Children who aren't reading at grade level by third grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school than their reading-proficient peers. If those struggling readers are poor, they're 13 times likelier to be high school dropouts. Arizona's recently enacted Move on When Reading legislation-mandating the retention of third graders who are not reading at grade level-puts additional pressure on the state to help young readers.

Arizona's statewide collaborative includes a broad cross-section of community groups and organizations who have signed on in support of the campaign:
Arizona Community Foundation
Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Interfaith Movement
Balsz School District
Children's Action Alliance
City of Phoenix Human Services Department
Coconino County
Diamond Foundation
Educare Arizona
Expect More Arizona
Flagstaff
Flagstaff Unified School District
First Things First
Flowing Wells Unified School District
Helios Education Foundation
Literacy Connects in Tucson
Navajo County
Northern Arizona University
Phoenix Elementary School District
Pima County Public Library
Southwest Human Development
Tucson
Tucson Unified School District
United Way of Northern Arizona
United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona
United Way of Yuma County
Valley of the Sun United Way
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Yuma Chamber of Commerce
Yuma County School Superintendent

For more information on the national Campaign for Grade Level Reading, visit their website at www.gradelevelreading.net.

USF College of Education receives $430,000 for Helios STEM Middle School Residency Program

Helios Education Foundation has funded a $430,000 planning grant to support the development of a new teacher education program for STEM (science, technology, engineering, & mathematics) middle school teachers at the University of South Florida College of Education (COEDU).

This program addresses the call to prepare effective teachers for the 21st century classroom by engaging them in a research-based teacher education program that involves field-based clinical training supported by skilled practitioners. Graduates of this program will enter the field prepared to teach STEM courses, ultimately enhancing teacher retention and student learning.

"I am excited by this grant opportunity because it builds upon our existing partnerships with Hillsborough County schools and engages us in the collaborative development of a new teacher education program that will specifically target the preparation of middle school mathematics and science teachers," said Gladis Kersaint, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics Education and Interim Director of the David C. Anchin Center and Associate Dean for Research.

"The goal is to support prospective teachers as they participate in a well-coordinated yearlong residency program that links theory with practice so that they are prepared to enter the field ready to affect student achievement in STEM areas," Kersaint added.

Collaboratively developed by the USF COEDU and College of Arts and Sciences, Hillsborough County Public Schools and Helios, the evidence-based program will focus on developing content and pedagogical knowledgeable middle school teachers (grades 5 - 9) who can support mathematics or science learning.

The program will link to practice in the field, by including a yearlong residency program and it will provide ongoing professional development for clinical faculty, cooperating teachers, and residents. The overall goal is to develop a model for teacher preparation that can be adopted by other COEDU programs and serve as a model for teacher education programs nationwide.

Helios Education Foundation Supports UA College of Education's "Algebra Ready" Project

Young people who succeed in algebra are better prepared to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, but University of Arizona research shows students must begin mastering math fundamentals that lead up to algebra as early as the fourth grade.

To improve math skills of students across Arizona, UA researchers are designing online workshops for teachers of fourth, fifth and sixth graders aimed at improving the teachers' understanding, skill and knowledge about pre-algebra instruction. The nearly four-year project-Algebra Ready: Transitioning to Academic Success-is primarily supported by a $560,000 award from Helios Education Foundation, a partnership that will broaden the project's reach and scope.

"Considerable evidence verifies that algebra is a major gate-keeping course for academic achievement and success in STEM careers," said Thomas Good, department head and professor of educational psychology in the College of Education. "There is a growing national consensus that students' inability to master algebra can be traced to their inadequate understanding of rational numbers-fractions, decimals and percents-and other important early algebra concepts."

Good is a co-leader of Algebra Ready, along with Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies Assistant Professors Marcy Wood and Courtney Koestler. They are assisted by Darrell Sabers, professor emeritus of educational psychology, and Wayne Brent, senior consultant for the UA Office of Instruction and Assessment.

The project builds on the positive outcomes of a previous Helios-supported initiative through the UA's College of Education-Improving Fifth Grade Students' Understanding of Rational Numbers.

"In order to improve student achievement for all Arizona students, we must improve algebra readiness, which is the basic foundation for success in math and science," said Jo Anne Vasquez, vice president and program director of Arizona Transition Years, Teacher and Curriculum Initiatives for Helios Education Foundation. "The Algebra Ready partnership is a critical component in improving teachers' competency in rational numbers, which better prepares students for algebra completion, and college and career readiness."

The initial project, which used live workshops, demonstrated success in student math achievement. Now, the group aims to transfer the workshop content to an online platform to increase access and collaboration statewide, and especially among those teachers serving under-resourced rural areas.

"This is a particularly important project in light of the new Common Core Standards in mathematics that Arizona will be implementing soon," said Ron Marx, dean of the College of Education. "The use of innovative online delivery will enable the research team to support teachers across the state as they learn to teach mathematics more effectively."

Bill Pushes College Degrees Out Of Reach

A rather quiet battle is being waged in the Legislature that every Arizonan concerned with our state's future prosperity ought to be watching. If we are serious about developing a well-educated population to fuel our economy and improve our quality of life, House Bill 2675 is a giant step in the wrong direction.

Narrowly passed by the House Appropriations Committee last Wednesday and now headed for a House vote, the bill would require most students at Arizona's public universities to contribute $2,000 annually toward their tuition. Until last week's hearing, that contribution could not be made via scholarships or grants -- even those that are privately funded. Athletic and National Merit scholarships are exempt.

As Arizona's largest providers of scholarships and education funding, we appreciate the opposing voices that prompted an amendment to the bill. The version of HB 2675 now headed to the House removes the restriction on private scholarships, such as those provided by individual donors and philanthropic foundations, to cover students' $2,000 per-year obligation.
Still, this single amendment and others submitted for the committee's consideration simply do not go far enough. Even with certain groups exempted, the bill places an unfair burden on too many students who have applied for and earned what is needed to fully fund their education. And, it represents an enormous intrusion by government into the lives of students, who should not be subject to random legislation that forces upon them unnecessary debt and ultimately creates barriers to college completion.

HB 2675 will deny the dream of a college degree to many students from low-income families -- those who benefit greatly from what a college education provides. When faced with at least $8,000 of debt upon completion of a four-year degree, students from these already-financially strapped families are far more likely to opt out of college altogether.
In a continually struggling economy where families must examine every expense, the bill threatens to drive our best and brightest students out of state to universities offering more enticing and complete scholarships and financial-aid packages. Statistically, we know those students are less likely to bring their educations and skills back to Arizona, thereby depriving our state of the economic prosperity a highly educated workforce brings.

Our university students are not only young people with many years ahead of them to repay debt. Returning adult students of all ages -- balancing work, families of their own and other financial obligations -- will face what may be an impassable obstacle on the path to improving life for their family because of this bill.
Arizona set an aspirational goal in its Constitution more than 100 years ago of making a college education "nearly as free as possible" for every student. Having just celebrated its centennial, Arizona has now set bold goals for its next 100 years -- many of which hinge on a significant increase in the number of Arizonans who hold college degrees. We should be looking at measures that increase access to higher education, not slam the door.

Steven G. Seleznow is president and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation. Paul J. Luna is president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.

Helios Joins Science Foundation Arizona To Launch The Arizona STEM Network

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz), a nonprofit public-private partnership that serves as a catalyst for revitalizing Arizona and strengthening its economic future, joined with partners today to announce the launch of the Arizona STEM Network. The STEM Network is a first-of-its-kind strategic effort to help transform Arizona's educational system for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

A five-year plan being led by SFAz will leverage effective education practices and teaching advances including the state-adopted, internationally benchmarked Common Core Standards. The Arizona STEM Network is a unified approach that will provide educators, the business community and donors with a centralized infrastructure, tools, resources and the framework needed to measure performance and achieve collective impact in Arizona classrooms. The plan's driving force is to help Arizona children be successful in school, careers and life.

Since 2008, the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation has been the leading financial supporter, providing a total of $2.2 million for the establishment of SFAz's STEM initiative, as well as the collaboration of work leading up to the launch of the new Arizona STEM Network and plan for implementation. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation today announced a new three-year commitment beginning in 2012, totaling $2.1 million for operational funding that will allow SFAz to roll out its plan for the Arizona STEM Network. The plan focuses on four strategic areas:

Integrate STEM learning into Arizona schools and districts
Develop and deploy a predictive analytics system to measure impacts
Strengthen teacher effectiveness in STEM teaching
Create opportunities for the private business sector to meaningfully engage with schools

The development of the Arizona STEM Network began after Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, along with philanthropic and private sector leaders, tapped SFAz to spearhead the initiative in September 2010. Over a 14 month period, SFAz leaders logged more than 10,000 miles throughout Arizona and met with more than 1,500 individuals from the education, business and government sectors in all 15 counties and the Navajo Nation, as well as the Arizona Department of Education and the State Board of Education to determine statewide needs. Using the feedback gathered, SFAz created the Arizona STEM Network plan.

"Arizona must develop a globally competitive educational system and STEM disciplines will lead the way," said Darcy Renfro, vice president of education and coordinator of the Arizona STEM Network at SFAz. "The Network will link existing STEM assets in Arizona, build on best practices and foster innovative teaching approaches for school districts to help students improve in these areas."

Gov. Brewer, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation and Helios Education Foundation provided major funding for the development of the Arizona STEM Network plan and were joined by Intel, JPMorgan Chase Foundation and Research Corporation for Science Advancement.

"We believe that the private sector must play an active role in developing the next generation to keep our businesses competitive and our economy vibrant," said Tracy Bame, president of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation. "A first-rate education that encompasses the STEM disciplines is a foundational step to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

Arizona is one of 12 states in the U.S., with developing or existing STEM Networks, that are leading the charge to implement a proactive approach to STEM teaching which provides interactive coursework in classrooms to prepare students for successful careers in the 21st century. STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning that provides project-based and relevant experiences for students.

"Helios Education Foundation's investment in the Arizona STEM Network's plan to transform K-12 education is really an investment in the future of our state," said the Foundation's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Barbara Ryan. "STEM education is the linchpin that will better prepare our students academically and ultimately increase the number of high school graduates ready to succeed in postsecondary education."

The Arizona STEM Network will be led and coordinated by SFAz staff with a structured system of information management tools, processes and technical assistance. The Network is in place and will be rolled out in phases, with initial pilot sites to be announced by late 2012. SFAz is currently securing additional long-term operational and program funding from other corporate partners to further support the Arizona STEM Network.

"The vision for a statewide, strategic commitment to STEM education is coming to fruition," said Gov. Brewer. "The Arizona STEM Network will help build a common agenda for STEM education that will lead our teachers and students forward."

Dropping Latino graduation rates may damage Arizona's economic future

As colleagues at two local foundations, the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and Helios Education Foundation, we encourage you to read a new report, "Dropped? Latino Education and Arizona's Economic Future."

Why "Dropped" with a question mark?

Eleven years ago Morrison Institute for Public Policy published "Five Shoes Waiting To Drop on Arizona's Future."

The lagging graduation rates of Latinos represented one of those shoes that the report warned could drop, damaging Arizona's economic future.

That shoe is a Size 13 today. It is perilously positioned to land, not just on our Latino friends and neighbors, but on all of us.

This new Morrison Institute report, commissioned by the two foundations, is about demographics, economics and the future of Arizona.

We know Arizona needs more high-paying jobs -- and companies that pay well demand a skilled workforce. As "Dropped?" points out, by 2018, nearly two out of three jobs in Arizona will require some training beyond high school.

Technology continues to make more and more of even our low-tech jobs skill-based. Yet while 83 percent of White students graduate in Arizona, 69 percent of Latinos receive their high-school diplomas. The gap at the community-college and university levels is far greater.

What happens if our workforce is unprepared?

Businesses will find states where the workforce is trained and ready to compete in a global economy.

Who will be the largest pool of our labor force?

Latinos. More Latinos than Whites are under the age of 18 in Arizona today -- and these Latinos are not a cadre of undocumented immigrants.

In fact, 88 percent of Arizona's youths under 20 were born in the United States or are naturalized citizens. Among our Latino children 4 and younger, that percentage leaps to 97 percent.

If the young people in our largest pool of future workers don't increase their graduation rates from high school, and if many of them don't go on to get additional technical or academic training, what will it mean?

Measured in 2010 dollars, the combined average income for Latinos and Whites in Arizona could drop nearly $3,000, or 8 percent, by 2030. (Our state average income was $35,339 in 2010.)

This income shrinkage translates into an economic drag and a decline in quality of life. Not as many cars will be sold, meals purchased, services contracted or houses purchased.

It translates into fewer dollars of public support for our schools, police, parks and health programs. It means Arizona will slide backward.

What would narrowing the gap mean?

Those numbers, year after year, student body after student body, add up to game-changing economic impact.

We are not locked into a downhill path unless we do nothing to change the success rate. Progress has occurred since 2000 in Latino graduation rates, but the gap remains at every educational level.

In 2010, Arizona's three state universities awarded 23,487 bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. Latinos earned only 13 percent of these degrees.

We know the reasons for the gap: Poverty is often a sad predictor of student success -- poor school districts, poorer diets, fewer books and computers in the home, and the financial pressure to get any job to help support the family.

Parents who didn't graduate from high school often don't know how to help children with homework or navigate the school system. They can't advise a daughter applying for financial aid for college or a son looking for technical training.

Schools, non-profits and foundations are hard at work trying to address some of these barriers. But these efforts are limited in scope and impact.

To really move the needle on improving the graduation rate of Latinos and their Anglo classmates will require a statewide commitment: financial resources have to be dedicated, volunteers mobilized and expectations raised.

Summer programs need to keep students reading.

Businesses need to offer internships and mentors.

ACT exams must be available for the economically strapped students as well as their affluent classmates. Parents must be encouraged to expect more.

The future of Arizona depends on closing the gap.

The shoe must be caught midair and tossed.

Students Rally around STEM

Over 200 students from across Pinal County Arizona stepped foot on the Central Arizona College (CAC) campus for a day full of hands on science labs, panel discussions and group activities.

The Arizona Rural Education Alliance Foundation hosted the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Field Day with support from CAC. Students could participate in 10 very different STEM labs, from biology, genetics and the science of butter. Organizers say the event helped engage and stimulate students in the field of STEM, while giving each student the opportunity to explore and experience a college environment.

Activities also included discussions around college access, scholarships and financial aid.

Click here for a photo essay from STEM Day.

Helios Education Foundation Partners with NBC News and Others To Bring Education Nation "On-The-Road" To Miami, Florida May 18-25

(TAMPA, FL) - Helios Education Foundation is working with NBC News and other organizations to bring an education "power week" to Miami, Florida. Beginning Friday, May 18 and running through Friday, May 25, Education Nation Miami will include a series of education-focused events and programming across NBC 6, Telemundo network and Telemundo 51.

Foundation Chairman Vince Roig will provide welcoming remarks at the Teacher Town Hall Forum on Sunday, May 20 at 1pm EST. Helios will host a live video stream of the Teacher Town Hall on its website at http://www.helios.org beginning at 1pm on Sunday, May 20.

"Helios Education Foundation believes in the transformational power of education because education changes lives and it changes communities," said Foundation Chairman Vince Roig. "We are at a critical juncture in education where the very future of our nation depends on the postsecondary education success of students in America's classrooms today. Helios is thrilled to be partnering with NBC News and others who recognize the importance of elevating the dialogue around education success, and working to create a college-going culture where all students are academically prepared and equipped to succeed in today's globally competitive economy."

During the week, NBC News and its partners will air education-focused programming and host a series of special events that bring together South Florida-area educators, elected officials, business leaders, parents and students to share information, exchange ideas and inspire change. All events will be hosted at the New World Center in Miami Beach.

"The goal of ‘Education Nation On-The-Road' is to ignite the Miami community around local and national education issues and bring solutions to the spotlight. We are very excited to partner with the NBC 6 and Telemundo teams to create an education forum in this great city at the New World Center," said Soraya Gage, General Manager of "Education Nation" at NBC News.

"Improving education in America requires that we all come together and focus on finding solutions, and the ‘Education Nation' initiative is designed to do just that. We are thrilled that NBC News is bringing this tour to South Florida and we look forward to engaging our viewers and our community on this critical issue," said Manuel Martinez, President & General Manager of NBC 6.

"Education is one of the defining issues of our time - a critical ingredient in the success of the next Hispanic generation and our country," said Alina Falcon, EVP of News and Alternative Programming for Telemundo Media. "We are extremely proud to join forces with the rest of the NBCUniversal family and to leverage our educational initiative ‘El Poder de Saber' to continue to serve our community."

"It's really a pleasure for all of us at Telemundo 51 to be part of this very important, solutions-driven dialogue about education, where we will all have the opportunity to learn from the experts and where we will have the ability to hear about the successes of some of our best and most innovative local programs and educational institutions," said Jorge Carballo, Telemundo 51 President and General Manager.

NBC News, NBC 6, Telemundo network and Telemundo 51 will provide education-related reports leading up to and during the Miami leg of the "Education Nation" tour, as well as coverage of the "Education Nation Miami" events.

For the tour, NBC News is enlisting the support of several of its "Education Nation" sponsors and partners, including University of Phoenix, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Helios Education Foundation and knowledge partners including NBC Learn and Miami Dade College.

For more information on "Education Nation Miami" visit EducationNation.com, check us out on Facebook: facebook.com/EducationNation or follow us on Twitter @EducationNation.

Schedule of Events

Opening Ceremony
To kick off "Education Nation Miami," on Friday, May 18 at 11:30am/et, Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and other leaders will join Miami-area students and the NBC News, NBC 6 and Telemundo teams at the official Opening Ceremony. NBC 6 Anchor Jackie Nespral will lead the event, portions of which will be covered by NBC 6 and Telemundo 51.

Teacher Town Hall Forum - Sunday, May 20
From 1:00-3:00pm/et, NBC News Chief Education Correspondent Rehema Ellis and NBC 6 Anchor Pam Giganti will lead a live Teacher Town Hall forum from the New World Center that brings together local teachers of all levels for a frank and open discussion about what works in the classroom and how to address the top challenges facing the region's education system. Teachers will be invited to participate in-person or via webcast with the ability to provide comments and feedback through EducationNation.com and social media platforms. The full Teacher Town Hall will be broadcast live on NBC 6 and streamed live on EducationNation.com. Telemundo 51 will broadcast the program from 1:00-2:00pm/et.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute: Keeping the Promise; Partnerships for Latino Education Success - Monday, May 21
From 3:30-5:50pm/et, "Education Nation" will jointly host a special event at the New World Center with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute entitled, "Keeping the Promise: Partnerships for Latino Education Success," that will focus on the important role Hispanics will play in meeting future US workforce needs and feature celebrities Tony Plana, Wilmer Valderrama, Rep. Pedro Pierluisi and Latino education policy experts. Next, from 6:30-7:00pm/et, Telemundo's Jose Diaz-Balart will host "Noticiero Telemundo" live from the New World Center, featuring a segment on education as part of the "Education Nation" tour.

Job One: Preparing America to Compete in the 21st Century - Monday, May 21
Then, from 7:30-8:45pm/et, Florida's leading business and civic leaders will gather at the New World Center for Job One: Preparing America to Compete in the 21st Century, a panel discussion moderated by NBC News Natalie Morales and Telemundo's José Díaz-Balart and NBC 6's Diana Gonzalez. Panelists and guests will share ideas and recommendations for ensuring the region's workforce has a competitive edge in our global economy. The "Job One" event will air on NBC 6 on Saturday, May 26th from 1:00-2:00pm/et.

Education Nation Express - May 21-25
In addition to the above listed events, from May 21-25th, the "Education Nation Express" bus will travel throughout the region as NBC 6 and Telemundo 51 reporters highlight examples of education innovation in action.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida by investing in initiatives that create opportunities for postsecondary education success. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (Grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships.

As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students to succeed academically and to compete in a globally competitive economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $100 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

About "Education Nation"
"Education Nation" seeks to create a thoughtful, well-informed dialogue with policymakers, thought-leaders, educators, parents and the public, in pursuit of the shared goal of providing every American with an opportunity to achieve the best education in the world. These discussions cover the challenges, potential solutions and innovations spanning the education landscape. By providing quality information to the public, NBC News hopes to help educate Americans so they can make decisions about how best to improve our education system both in the near and long terms, prepare students for the workforce of the future, and to shine a spotlight on one of the most urgent national issues of our time.

Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation Award $500,000 for Education Reform for Foster Youth

The Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation proudly announce the award of $500,000 to the National Center for Youth Law. The grant is the fourth award in three years from the Accio Education Fund, a venture capital type of charitable fund created by ACF and Helios. The Fund, which is held and managed at ACF, was established to support the development and expansion of innovative education reform efforts for the benefit of Arizona students, with ACF and Helios contributing equally.

At any given time, there are approximately 500,000 foster children in the United States. Removed from their families because they have experienced abuse or neglect, they suffer from tragically poor academic outcomes. Despite an abundance of evidence suggesting the importance of parental involvement, foster children frequently don't have an adult in their life instilling high educational expectations, discussing school, and ensuring they are enrolled in the right classes and receiving appropriate educational opportunities. The Foster Youth Education Initiative (FosterEd) improves the educational outcomes of foster children by ensuring that each has such an educational champion.

An initiative of the National Center for Youth Law, FosterEd draws upon more than four decades of state-level system reform work to help states create programs serving all school-age foster children, including those eligible for early childhood education settings. NCYL has worked collaboratively with agencies in more than 15 states to improve the outcomes of disadvantaged children.

The Accio Education Fund grant will help FosterEd establish research-based, data-driven programs aimed at improving the educational outcomes of foster children in Arizona.

"We are proud to support FosterEd's efforts to give foster youth in our state a collective voice and a greater opportunity for educational success," said Jim Pitofsky, ACF's Chief Strategy Officer. "FosterEd's commitment to foster youth in general and to Arizona specifically is inspiring. Because they did their homework on Arizona, our state's needs, and the key allies, their efforts will truly have an impact statewide."

In a yearlong series of stories, The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com and 12 News are examining the welfare of Arizona's children, highlighting the state's many families in crisis. Some of their stories have ended happily, others tragically; many include sobering statistics about children, their families, the people who take them in, and the agencies that serve them. Here is a link to that information: http://www.azcentral.com/news/child-abuse/

FosterEd's objectives in Arizona are to:

1. Collaboratively create a sustainable pilot project that improves the educational outcomes of foster children by ensuring each of them has an educational champion.

2. Work with the Arizona Department of Education, Department of Economic Security, and Administrative Office of the Courts to create a statewide foster youth education program modeled on the successful pilot.

3. Build the capacity of these agencies to operate, sustain and improve the program, improving the educational outcomes of all Arizona foster children.

"Our goal is to improve the educational outcomes of the approximately 10,000 children who, at any given time, are in Arizona's foster care system," said Jesse Hahnel, director of the FosterEd Initiative. "In taking children into state custody we become collectively responsible for ensuring they succeed in school and are equipped to succeed in life."

ACF and Helios sought nominations from a field of nonprofit organizations, funders and businesses. Their request specifically called for innovative education reform programs already in Arizona and those from other states considering expansion to Arizona. Nominations were evaluated by a panel of recognized authorities that included representative voices of teachers, principals and superintendents from around the state, as well as representatives from leaders such as Intel, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Stand for Children, Tucson Values Teachers, and the Steve Nash Foundation.

"Helios Education Foundation is investing its expertise and financial resources in initiatives that create a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida," said the Foundation's President and CEO Paul Luna. "Through our support of the Accio Fund, in partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation, we are positively impacting the lives of thousands of foster youth in Arizona, helping improve their educational outcomes and creating new opportunities for them to succeed."

True start-up efforts were not encouraged for nomination, but consideration was given to expansion of an organization's proven, successful model if front-end investment had already been made and the applicant could demonstrate relevant experience to date.

The process used for selecting grant recipients from the Accio Fund has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national model for identifying and supporting innovative reform organizations.

The Accio grants are paid over a three-year period in annual installments and include intense staff engagement and technical and strategic assistance provided by ACF and Helios.

Helios 2011 Annual Report Now Available

Helios Education Foundation believes in the transformational power of education. Our 2011 annual report: "Transforming the System. Changing the Culture." showcases the work of the Foundation and its partners to create a culture where all students in Arizona and Florida have the opportunity to attend and are prepared to succeed in postsecondary education.

Through over $12 million in strategic investments in education in 2011 and our over $100 million in total investments since 2006, Helios is working to increase academic excellence across the education continuum.

Now available online on your desktop or mobile device at: Helios.org/annualreport

Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation "Doubling Up" for Education

The Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation are partnering to provide $1 million in college scholarships for students participating in Take Stock in Children in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Pasco counties. Called "Doubling Up for Education," the partnership is aimed at giving students the financial resources and mentorship support they need to successfully achieve a postsecondary education at any Florida state college.

"The Rays are proud to join the Helios Education Foundation and Take Stock in Children in the creation of "Doubling up for Education," said Tampa Bay Rays Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg. "The scholarships and mentoring support provided by this program will open new doors for students and families throughout Tampa Bay and provide long-lasting impacts within our community."

Each time a Rays player hits a double in a regular season game, Helios will donate $600 toward the initiative and the Rays Baseball Foundation will match that gift. The partners expect a combined cash total of $200,000 each season toward college scholarships, bringing the total scholarship investment to $1 million over five years.

"We are in a race against the clock in education today," said Helios Education Foundation Chairman Vince Roig. "We are living in a knowledge-based economy, and it's going to take all of us - parents, teachers, school systems, political leaders, businesses - everybody staying engaged and investing in education if we are to graduate our students college and career ready. We're excited to partner with the Rays Baseball Foundation and to support an organization like Take Stock in Children, which is committed to helping our students achieve postsecondary education success."

Take Stock in Children provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. The program offers students college scholarships, mentorship and hope for a better life. The program's comprehensive services start in middle school, continue through high school and include helping students transition to college.
Take Stock in Children's programs are based on the principal that given extensive support, motivation and accountability, children will work hard to ensure that they graduate from high school and attain a college degree.

"On behalf of the five local programs that are receiving Take Stock in Children scholarships, I would like to sincerely thank the Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation for their generous support," said Terry Boehm, President, Pinellas Education Foundation. "It's because of partners like these that we are all able to support deserving students in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Although each of our programs work within our own counties, we are all part of a bigger family - that being Take Stock in Children."

Pictured above from left to right: Vince Roig, Chairman, Helios Education Foundation; Terry Boehm, Executive Director, Pinellas Education Foundation; Nathan Rodewald, Mentor, Take Stock in Children of Pinellas County and Stuart Sternberg, Principle Owner, Tampa Bay Rays.

Arizona Statewide Initiative to Improve Third Grade Reading Among Finalist for National Award

An ambitious plan to ensure that more Arizona children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade has been chosen as a finalist for the All-America City Award, sponsored each year by the National Civic League. Arizona's application is one of 32 finalists selected through a peer review process from a field of more than 100 entries across the country. Winners will be announced July 2 in Denver, Colorado.

The Arizona initiative is being spearheaded by three funders - Helios Education Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) - who are collaborating with the Valley of the Sun United Way, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, United Way of Northern Arizona, the United Way of Yuma County, numerous cities and other organizations across the state who are committed to the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

Reading by third grade marks a milestone when children shift from learning to read and begin reading to learn. Students who haven't mastered reading by then often struggle academically and are at risk of dropping out of school.

"Ensuring that Arizona's students are reading by third grade is critical to keeping our students on a path toward academic success," said Dr. Karen Ortiz, Vice President and Program Director, Early Childhood Education for Helios Education Foundation. "All of the partners involved are working to develop an integrated statewide system that addresses the leading causes preventing students from reading at grade level: school readiness, school absenteeism and summer learning loss. We are thrilled that this work is being recognized by the National Civic League."

The four United Way organizations worked collaboratively to develop plans for each of their communities, identifying common themes that exist in each of the four corners of the state. The three funders will invest in projects and strategies from the state's action plan that share the most common goals and outcomes among the four United Way communities.

Proposed strategies will be implemented using a systems approach that integrates existing and new programs into a pipeline of learning that begins at birth and continues through third grade.

"Third grade reading levels are strong predictors of ninth grade performance, high school graduation and college attendance-these milestones ultimately lead to the quality and competitiveness of Arizona's workforce. It's imperative, and commendable, as this recognition from the National Civic League highlights, that agencies and organizations continue working together to strengthen and invest in quality reading initiatives," said Marilee Dal Pra, program director, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

Beyond the award contest, Arizona's plan makes the state a charter member in a national movement of local governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations and others advancing the critical importance of third-grade reading. The 124 cities and counties around the country involved in the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Community Network are adopting a collective impact strategy and engaging the full community around the goal of supporting low-income children from birth through third grade.

As a charter member, Arizona will have access to a Promising Practices Clearinghouse, an online help desk, peer-learning opportunities, meetings with national experts and policymakers, and a foundation registry designed to expand and replicate successful programs.

"Reading fluently by third grade is the first and most important milestone a student achieves and sets the stage for all future academic success," said Steven G. Seleznow, president and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation. "This Initiative will ensure that the 'cracks' in the system are sealed and all dots connected for every child to learn at high levels."

Helios, ACF and Piper Trust will continue to promote strategies and policies that work to close reading achievement gaps, raise the bar for reading proficiency so that all students are assessed by world-class standards, and ensure that all children have an equitable opportunity to meet those higher standards. All of the organizations involved are building on and enhancing the data collection and other work already done by Arizona stakeholders such as First Things First, the Arizona Department of Education and the United Way.

Helios Invests $3.9 Million In YUHSD To Advance College & Career Readiness of Yuma Students

“Ready Now Yuma represents a cultural shift in the way we prepare students to compete and succeed in a global economy,” said Vince Roig, founding chairman of Helios Education Foundation. “Every YUHSD student, regardless of past academic performance or post-high school aspirations, will now receive a world-class education which prepares them for every future opportunity and puts them on-par with their national and international peers.”

Nearly 3,000 9th grade students and 100 teachers, counselors and administrators participated in the initial planning and pilot of Ready Now Yuma during the 2011-2012 academic school year. Ready Now Yuma moves into district-wide implementation beginning this fall, where every 9th and 10th grade student in the district will participate in the high expectations curriculum. All 11,000 YUHSD students will benefit from the college-going and career-readiness culture being fostered within the district’s six high schools as well as student-centered counseling, inquiry-based instruction and additional academic supports.

The investment comes at a pivotal time for Yuma students as YUHSD, along with school districts across Arizona, are required to begin implementing the nationally and internationally-benchmarked Common Core State Standards. Arizona, in addition to 46 other states and the District of Columbia, adopted the higher-bar standards to improve the academic performance and college and career-readiness of students to meet the higher expectations and needs of colleges and employers. For example, according to the Arizona Board of Regents, nearly half of Arizona’s graduates do not qualify to enroll in the state’s public universities. Since full implementation of the Common Core State Standards is not required until 2014, Yuma students who embrace Ready Now Yuma will have a competitive advantage over their peers and will be leading the way to academic excellence in Arizona.

“Helios’ leadership and investment in Ready Now Yuma will profoundly impact our students, YUHSD and the Yuma community overall,” commented Toni Badone, superintendent of Yuma Union High School District. “Our goal is to equip every student with the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in college, career and life. By doing so, we will demonstrate that Yuma is a viable business environment with a stable and talented workforce pipeline.”

In addition to the high expectations curriculum, the various reforms and improvements being implemented within YUHSD as part of Ready Now Yuma include supporting teachers to actively engage students in a learning model that emphasizes critical thinking, inquiry and problem-solving; focusing on student mastery of skills and knowledge by providing authentic learning experiences and high-bar assessments; enabling personalized, future-oriented conversations with students and families that reinforce the importance of postsecondary education for every student; offering additional academic supports to ensure mastery of skills and knowledge by all students; and providing multiple pathways to college and career success including advanced placement, dual enrollment, and career and technical education.

The Class of 2015 will be the first group of graduates to reap the full rewards of Ready Now Yuma by having participated in the high expectations initiative for their entire high school career.

TGen Provides Scientific Starting Blocks For Helios Scholars

PHOENIX, Ariz. — July 27, 2011 — As the Olympics begin today, Arizona’s future leaders in biology and medicine will spring from scientific starting blocks at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

The 45 interns in the Helios Scholars Program at TGen will complete eight weeks of scientific investigations with a daylong symposium today at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

Under the mentorship of TGen researchers — who provide one-on-one instruction — Helios Scholars use leading-edge technology to help discover the genetic causes of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and many types of cancer.

This is the sixth year of TGen’s Helios Scholars program, funded for 25 years through a $6.5 million grant from Helios Education Foundation. Helios is focused on creating a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida by investing in initiatives that improve education at all stages of the continuum and create opportunities where all students are prepared to attend and succeed in postsecondary education.

“TGen’s summer intern program is a prime example of why Helios believes in the transformational power of education and in the importance of creating opportunities for student success,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “Helios Scholars at TGen get a head start in advancing their professional goals in a hands-on program. At the same time, they are potentially making breakthroughs that could benefit actual patients.

”TGen’s Helios Scholars Program is open to high school, undergraduate and graduate level students, including those in medical school.

“Our collaboration with the Helios Education Foundation is helping prepare a new generation of scientific investigators for Arizona,” said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen’s President and Scientific Director. “We enable them to explore the biosciences beyond the classroom, engaging their research skills through critical work in state-of-the-art laboratories.”

The internships help students from all backgrounds — selected from a competitive pool of applicants — sharpen their research skills as they prepare for careers in science and medicine.

“TGen’s cultivation of the scientific interests of these students is an investment in Arizona's future. We’re enhancing the skill sets they will need to succeed in today’s high-tech, knowledge-based economy," said Brandy Wells, TGen’s Education and Outreach Specialist. “It is amazing what these students have been able to accomplish in such a short time.

”TGen's past summer interns boast an array of impressive accomplishments, including publishing scientific abstracts and peer-reviewed articles, gaining acceptance into medical and graduate school and winning scholarships and prizes.

The application for next year’s Helios program opens in January 2013. For more information about TGen and the internship program, visit www.tgen.org/intern.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida by investing in initiatives that create opportunities for postsecondary education success. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years (Grades 5-12) and Postsecondary Scholarships. As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students to succeed academically and to compete in a globally competitive economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $115 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

Press Contact:
Israel Barajas
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Helios Education Foundation
Office: 602-381-2281
Mobile: 602-999-9786
ibarajas@helios.org

About TGen

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.

Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
syozwiak@tgen.org

D-Backs Team Up Helios Education Foundation To Offer $1 Million In College Scholarships

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation announced a partnership with Helios Education Foundation and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation to create the D-backs Helios Scholars program that will send 40 Arizona High School seniors to college over the next five years. The D-backs will contribute $500,000 to the D-backs Helios Scholars program that Helios Education Foundation will match for a total donation of $1 million.

“The D-backs understand the importance of education and are proud to partner with highly-reputable organizations such as Helios and Arizona College Scholarship Foundation,” said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. “We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to receive an advanced education and for many of our recipients this year, they will be the first in their family to attend college.

”Tomorrow, the D-backs will recognize the first eight D-backs Helios Scholars in a special pregame ceremony on the field prior to the first pitch at 5:10 p.m. D-backs players and team representatives will present the scholars with a scholarship certificate, a new laptop computer (courtesy of Insight and Lenovo), a bike and a D-backs backpack full of gifts and supplies for college.

The D-backs Helios Scholars program will provide scholarships named in honor of D-backs players and coaches who have made a generous contribution to the program. The scholarships will be awarded to college-bound high school seniors in Arizona to attend any four-year college or university in Arizona (valued at $24,000 each). Eight recipients will receive scholarships named in honor of the following players and coaches: Luis Gonzalez, Aaron Hill, Jason Kubel, Wade Miley, Miguel Montero, Charles Nagy and Chris Young.

Among the 2012 recipients are academically gifted students with incredible stories of personal triumph, leadership, strength, hope and perseverance. Five of this year’s eight recipients are first-generation college students.

“Helios Education Foundation is proud to be working with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation to help well-deserving students realize their dreams of achieving a college education,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “The triumphs and accomplishments of these students are commendable and help exemplify the true impact of surrounding our students in a culture of high academic expectations and postsecondary education attainment.”

The scholarships will be administered by the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation and will target students who have completed a college preparatory program, demonstrate academic strength and a compelling desire to attend college, with a priority given to students with limited financial resources. In addition to the scholarship funding, each student will have access to an Arizona College Scholarship Foundation mentor to support their education needs.

Helios Education Foundation $4M Investment Helps Science Foundation Build a Statewide STEM Knowledge Management System and Launch the STEM School Pilot Initiative

Helios Education Foundation is investing more than $4 million through a three-year grant to build a statewide STEM Knowledge Management system and to fund the Helios STEM School Pilot initiative which is a new and critical part of Science Foundation Arizona’s (SFAz) recently launched Arizona STEM Network.

Helios and SFAz will work to identify, through an upcoming RFP process, several schools across the state to be selected as Helios STEM Pilot School sites. These Pilot sites will be given seed funds and technical support to integrate quality STEM education into their classrooms. In addition, these sites will be provided the resources and technical assistance needed to integrate STEM education in whole-school and district settings.

With 15-year-olds across the country scoring lower than their international counterparts in mathematics¹, and with Arizona students performing among the lowest in the country in science², Helios and SFAz are working to transform science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teaching and learning in Arizona.

Helios’ investment of more than $4 million to fund the Arizona STEM Network’s Knowledge Management System and the Helios STEM School Pilot initiative will help SFAz:

Build out and implement the next phase of the Arizona STEM Network,
Research and develop effective models for STEM education that can be replicated in classrooms statewide,
Integrate best practices of STEM teaching and learning into Arizona schools and districts in support of higher expectations and academic achievement,
Leverage effective education practices and teaching advances,
Provide web-based tools for the implementation of Common Core standards,
Improve data-driven decision making and measurements of progress, and
Create opportunities for the business sector to engage more meaningfully with schools.

The Arizona STEM Network will drive access to effective STEM education by providing a centralized infrastructure, tools, resources and metrics needed by educators, businesses and donors to improve educational outcomes and achieve collective impact for Arizona students.

"The Helios STEM School Pilot and associated tools will enable us to develop and validate effective models for education that can be replicated to reach more kids and teachers throughout Arizona,” said Darcy Renfro, VP of education and coordinator for SFAz’s Arizona STEM Network. “This is a big step to helping us reach our collective goals for greater student achievement and success long term.”

The Arizona STEM Network will develop these models for quality STEM integration across multiple schools and districts and create a system for capturing, organizing, measuring and disseminating information to help broaden the impacts and availability of STEM education in Arizona. This initiative will provide a proof of concept and implementation models for STEM education reform that can be replicated throughout the state.

“We are forging an expanded path toward education improvement by developing an implementation plan and knowledge structure for educators that fills gaping holes in previous educational reform efforts,” said William Harris, CEO and president of SFAz. “Useful tools and information, experttechnical assistance, strategic connections between parents, students, schools, teachers, administrators, employers and the community will take advantage of the things we know that work in the classroom to improve student achievement.”

Better Decision Making through New Online Tool

Additionally, Science Foundation Arizona in collaboration with its partner Maricopa County Educational Service Agency (MCESA), led the development of the STEM Immersion Matrix tool in response to a need articulated statewide: teachers, principals, superintendents and other administrators want accessible models, qualified information and technical assistance to help bring STEM into their daily operations. The tool is available for all Arizona schools at www.sfaz.org/stemimmersion.

A suite of web-based tools will assist teachers and administrators in implementing quality STEM programs aligned with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards all aimed at improving student success. This process will also help test and validate the STEM Immersion Matrix as a quality diagnostic tool and STEM implementation guide which can be used by all Arizona Schools.

“Arizona is at a crossroads in education where we have to be more intentional about embedding STEM education into our classrooms if our state is going to deliver students who are academically prepared to compete in a global workforce,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “Helios is focused on better preparing students to succeed in college and career, and that starts with increasing rigor, relevance and proficiency in STEM, but it also means raising the quality and content knowledge of our educators. We believe the Helios STEM School Pilot will bring all of these things together, and we are excited to be working with Science Foundation Arizona to move the needle forward in STEM education in Arizona.”

Preparing Arizona for Economic Success

These changes, anchored by the Helios STEM Pilot School initiative, come at a time when global economies are becoming even more knowledge-focused and more reliant on a highly-skilled, 21^st century workforce.

Studies show that a growing science and engineering workforce contributes to an economy's capacity for innovation, and as economies become more knowledge-intensive, science and engineering-related skills will be needed in jobs not traditionally considered part of the STEM workforce, such as managers, sales representatives, and even financial analysts1.

Arizona’s economic future depends on its ability to graduate students prepared to succeed in college and in careers that will demand high-level, STEM-related skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical thought, creativity, collaboration and innovation.

Creating a college-going culture for all students that supports advancements in academic preparedness with an emphasis on STEM education, especially in whole-school settings, is a critical component in Arizona’s competitiveness and its future economic success.

_______________________________________________________

1 “Science and Engineering Indicators: 2012 Digest” l Arlington, VA (NSB 12-02) l January 2012

2 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) “The Nation's Report Card: Science 2011”

Need for Common Core State Standards

Prior to the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), every state had its own set of academic standards, meaning students in each state were learning at different levels. The CCSS ensures a more seamless education for high mobility students. All students must be prepared to compete with not only their American peers in the next state, but with students from around the world.

The CCSS:

Are aligned with college and work expectations
Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills
Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards
Are internationally benchmarked so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society
Are based on evidence and research

Click on links below to watch a video highlighting the initiaitve and the CCSS website.

Common Core Standards Video

Common Core State Standards Website

Brian Williams Announces 2012 Education Nation Teacher Town Hall

As part of 2012's 'Education Nation' Week, MSNBC will air the third annual 'Teacher Town Hall' live on Sunday, September 23. The week-long event runs from September 21 to 28 and includes the National Summit hosted at The New York Public Library. The Town Hall will be hosted at the NYPL's Stephen A. Schwarzman building and NBC is collecting questions for participants leading up to the event via Facebook and Twitter.

From midday to 2pm teacher discussion will be moderated by Brian Williams, anchor of 'NBC Nightly News'. Tamron Hall, from MSNBC and Jenna Bush Hager from NBC News will facilitate questions from the audience. NBC News' Chief Education Correspondent Rehema Ellis will also take part by moderating and reporting on online conversation with teachers from around the country. The two hour live event will focus on the most critical challenges and opportunities facing America's teachers and will celebrate examples of great teaching from classrooms across the country.

Watch the announcement video

TGen Provides Scientific Starting Blocks For Helios Scholars

The 45 interns in the Helios Scholars Program at TGen recently completed their eight weeks of scientific investigations with a daylong symposium at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

Click on the link below to watch a video highlighting some of their work and achievements.

Helios Scholars Program at TGen 2012

Philanthropy's Role in Advancing STEM Education Is Vital

By Paul Luna, President/CEO, Helios Education Foundation
Published in Philanthropy News Digest on September 12, 2012

We live in a globally competitive economy that demands a highly-skilled workforce — a workforce of critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Now more than ever, our nation's P-20 education system is being challenged to meet these demands by equipping students with high-level skills and graduating them prepared to compete and succeed.

While it is inspiring to see nationwide momentum building around the importance of ensuring that America's students are scientifically, mathematically, and technologically prepared for the global twenty-first century economy, there is work to be done. And philanthropy has a vital role to play in that work.

Researchers, educators and our political leaders have spent years connecting economic prosperity and global leadership to the valuable skills developed through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. And their focus on the issue has moved us closer to a point where STEM is a widely embraced national imperative.

From economists to policy makers to parents, there is growing recognition that efforts to develop the problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills of all students — not just those pursuing STEM careers — translates into personal, societal, and economic benefits. These are the skills that will fuel long-term innovation and productivity in all industries, including technology, health care, clean energy, and national security.

Indeed, with the adoption of the internationally benchmarked Common Core Standards and assessments, increased cross-sector collaboration, improved data sharing across states and educational systems, and broader public awareness, tangible advancements are being made to ensure that we are building a globally competitive and world-leading STEM workforce.

For example, the adoption of Common Core Standards will make a world-class education available to nearly every student in the country. Common Core sets a precedent that excellence is expected in every classroom. And while we all know that widespread adoption of the standards will take time and be difficult, it must be done if we are to improve on our current global academic rankings of twenty-first in science and twenty-fifth in math.

Even in the midst of these advances, however, the pace of progress must be accelerated.

As U.S. employers desperately search for skilled workers, nearly six hundred thousand high-wage jobs go unfilled each year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM-related occupations is projected to grow two times faster over the next decade than the average for all other occupations. It is also reported that 65 percent of individuals with bachelor's degrees in STEM- related fields earn more than their peers with master's degrees in non-STEM occupations.

Business and industry are clamoring for a workforce rich in twenty-first century skills — skills like those cultivated through STEM education. And they rely on the P-20 education system to supply the workforce pipeline with individuals who are creative, critical thinkers prepared to keep America on the cutting-edge of innovation.

At the same time, schools are clamoring for quality teachers with the expertise and skills needed to inspire the next generation of STEM workers and leaders. We must prepare our teachers, beginning in the lower grades, to provide learning opportunities where students see the relevancy of what they are learning through the application of those skills to the world around them.

With opportunity on our doorstep, one of the greatest values foundations and philanthropists can offer is a shared voice around the critical importance of STEM education for students and the nation.

Foundations, in particular, are uniquely positioned to help shape and encourage dialogue on the state and national levels, convene diverse groups around common goals, develop strategic partnerships, foster innovation, facilitate collaboration, contribute expertise, leverage public and private resources, and, when appropriate, bring proven practices to scale.

While market data tells us we must increase the production of STEM-skilled workers and better connect workforce talent with available opportunities, it is imperative that we also strive to build a high-expectations culture that celebrates rigorous academic experiences, with an emphasis on STEM skills and knowledge for all students. And, in the traditional American spirit, we must do it now — or watch as other countries continue to pass us by.

Indeed, as I write this, more than 40 percent of all degrees awarded in China are awarded in STEM fields, while less than 13 percent of U.S. degrees are awarded in STEM. What's more, only 17 percent of engineering students in the U.S. are women, while fewer than 14 percent are African American or Hispanic.

Helios Education Foundation is committed to advancing the academic preparedness of students in Arizona and Florida, and STEM education is at the heart of our efforts.

Through our partnerships, we are focused on increasing rigor and relevance in the classroom, enhancing STEM knowledge and skills in teachers, creating unique STEM experiences for students both inside and outside the classroom, fostering a college-going culture that leads students to STEM and other high-demand careers, and facilitating systems-wide learning and coordination as well as best practice implementation.

We recently invested over $4 million in Science Foundation Arizona's Arizona STEM Network to further develop a statewide resource for administrators and teachers who want to learn and share STEM programs, knowledge, and practices from both inside and outside the state. Our collective goal is to pilot more STEM-focused schools across Arizona, increasing access to rigorous, engaging STEM education for all students, including those from underrepresented populations.

In many states, STEM education has become a uniting force for government, businesses, nonprofits, and educators eager to work toward visionary and productive goals designed to create opportunities for students and to meet the needs of industry and employers.

With the philanthropic community assuming its seat at the table and providing continued support for STEM education initiatives, we are all helping to lay a foundation of creative innovation and critical thinking that bodes well for our future.

D-backs Honor Helios President and CEO for his Leadership in the Hispanic Community

The Arizona Diamondbacks hosted their 14th Annual Hispanic Heritage Day to help kick off Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) on Sunday, Sept. 16 at a game between the D-backs and the San Francisco Giants.

Fans were encouraged to arrive early as festivities began at 11 a.m. along the Plaza and 4th Street and included Lucha Libre USA wrestling matches, food trucks, tailgate games and inflatables. In addition, there were Folklorico dancers and Mariachi performers throughout the ballpark prior to the game.

D-backs players and coaches wore their customary black jerseys with “Los D-backs” across the front for the fifth consecutive season.

The D-backs also honored Helios Education Foundation’s President and CEO Paul J. Luna with their 2012 Hispanic Community Leadership Award. This award recognizes prominent community and business leaders who have contributed significantly to the Hispanic community. Paul was recognized on the field prior to the game and had the honor of throwing out the first pitch.

¡Felicidades Paul!

Helios STEM School Pilot Grant

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) is issuing this Request for Proposals to schools and districts to build integrated, rigorous and relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities. All public schools and districts and not-for-profit public charter schools in Arizona are eligible to apply for this three-year grant.

Final Award recipients, determined through this competitive RFP process, will become part of the Helios STEM School Pilot, commencing Spring 2013.

You can read and download the RFP by clicking here.

Letters of intent are due: October 5.
Proposal submissions are due: November 28.

Contact: Beth Broome, bbroome@sfaz.org

Helios and Science Foundation Arizona Issue Statewide RFP to Fund Helios STEM School Pilot Sites

Through a strategic partnership between Helios Education Foundation and Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz), today a competitive request for proposals (RFP) is being issued to fund Helios STEM School Pilot sites in Arizona. The RFP will make grants of up to $500,000 available to schools and districts to implement STEM education curricula in classrooms.

The Helios STEM School Pilot initiative is part of SFAz's newly launched Arizona STEM Network and is designed to improve student outcomes and success rates, increase student readiness for advanced math and science courses, and better prepare students for college and career success.

Participation in the Helios STEM School Pilot will be determined by a competitive RFP process for all public and not-for-profit public charter schools and districts across the state to build interdisciplinary, integrated, rigorous and relevant STEM education opportunities for students regardless of their geographic location, academic ability and socioeconomic status.

The RFP application is available online at www.sfaz.org and requires applicants to submit a letter of intent by October 5, 2012, and provide their final proposals by November 28, 2012. Eligible proposals will be reviewed by an external review panel. Finalists will also be evaluated through site visits to determine the overall quality of the proposals, the leadership and strength of the design team and the potential impact on students, schools and the broader community. Winning applicants will be notified on or before March 1, 2013. Funds will be awarded over a three-year period and will include support from full-time STEM technical advisors.

"Science Foundation Arizona is committed to making our schools internationally competitive by providing the tools and resources essential for success. Helios has provided us a great opportunity to build something that is sustainable, measurable and can positively impact communities across our state," said William Harris, CEO and president of SFAz.

In submitted applications, schools and districts must communicate a shared vision and commitment to STEM education, utilize the newly created STEM Immersion Matrix tool available for all Arizona schools at www.sfaz.org/stemimmersion to guide their implementation plan, and clearly articulate their goals and strategies for integrating STEM education into their schools and classrooms. Applicants will also need to demonstrate community impact and sustainability, and must provide a minimum matching contribution of 15 percent in-kind or in cash.

Through whole-school implementation and the integration of STEM education, schools will be working to implement quality STEM programs aligned with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, validate replicable models of STEM teaching and learning as well as improve data-driven decision making and measurements of progress.

Professional development opportunities for teachers will be available through the process, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to make learning more relevant to students. In addition, school evaluations will focus on how STEM teaching and learning practices may help decrease failure rates in math and science and increase student engagement in STEM activities outside of the classroom.

The RFP is part of Helios Education Foundation's $4 million investment in SFAz to help build the Arizona STEM Network and identify and encourage effective STEM practices that will lead to sustained, systemic and transformational educational improvements in Arizona.

"Our hope is that these Helios STEM Pilot Schools will become provable models of effective best practices on how to immerse whole schools and districts in STEM education and provide students with the high-level analytical and critical thinking skills they need to succeed in today's globalized economy," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "Through our partnership with Science Foundation Arizona, we're working to increase curriculum rigor and relevance around STEM education, laying the groundwork for students to succeed in college and career," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna.

The partners define STEM education as an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to learning that provides project and problem-based and relevant experiences for students, equipping them with critical thinking, problem-solving, creative and collaboration skills.

Speak Up for Education!

Helios Education Foundation is proud to partner with Expect More Arizona in making education a top priority in our state. Join us, and thousands of Arizonans statewide, in sending a unified message that a world-class education for all Arizona students is critical to Arizona's future and our overall quality of life. Vote 4 Education is a campaign to encourage Arizona voters to make education a priority during the elections and throughout the year. By participating in the 10/10 Day of Action, you'll help increase the visibility of education statewide and rally your friends, family and neighbors to Vote 4 Education too!

Here are some fun and easy ways you canshow your support of education on 10/10:

Wear a Vote 4 Education t-shirt.
(Volunteers who organize a group activity can get a free Vote 4 Education shirt bycontacting info@ExpectMoreArizona.org).

Host a House Party
Talk to your friends and neighbors about Vote 4 Education by hosting a house party, canvassing your neighborhood with door hangers or planning a street party.

Download a Vote 4 Education sign and put it in your car, home or office window.
Download the sign

Show Facebook and Twitter that you Vote 4 Education! Make Vote 4 Education your Facebook and/or Twitter profile picture and Facebook Timeline image. Learn More.

Send a tweet or post a Facebook message showing your support of world-class education in Arizona. Use hashtag #Vote4Ed

Arizona Mayors To Gather For Education Roundtable Tuesday

Mayors of Arizona will be gathering October 9, 2012 to announce their Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable in a press conference.

The new alliance will be used to improve education throughout Arizona, according to a news release from the mayor's office. As Mayor Rothschild said, "This is another important tool we have to improve education in Southern Arizona and statewide. I am delighted to be working with other concerned mayors and education professionals on this most important task."

The Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable will give mayors, who typically have limited opportunities to become involved in their public schools, the chance to share ideas, learn from more experienced peers and experts, and participate in new, place-based convenings and discussions among mayors, their staff, urban superintendents, school district leadership, and community members.

The initial framework for the work of the Arizona Mayors Educational Roundtable is a focus on getting all students to be college and career ready, with the understanding that individual cities may work to reach that goal in different ways, depending on school districts and community priorities.

Foundations Help 12 State Partnerships Expand Associate Degree Completion for Students Transferring from Community Colleges to Universities

Five national foundations announced the recipients of $6.4 million in grants supporting a multi-state initiative to help more students who have transferred from community colleges to four-year colleges and universities complete their associate degrees. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation, and USA Funds have joined forces in the initiative, “Credit When It’s Due: Recognizing the Value of the Quality Associate Degree.”

The initiative is designed to encourage partnerships of community colleges and universities to significantly expand programs that award associate degrees to transfer students when the student complete the requirements for the associate degree while pursuing a bachelor’s degree. This approach is commonly known as “reverse back” or “reverse transfer.” The funding will support expansion of programs in 12 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon. The projects were selected from a competitive grant proposal process.

Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO of Lumina Foundation, underscored the key benefits of systematizing how we award associate degrees: “Credit When It’s Due will provide a way to fairly credit community colleges for their work in preparing transfer students, clarify the value of sub-baccalaureate degrees by awarding them consistently, help individuals – especially those who stop out of college before earning a baccalaureate degree – by providing them a postsecondary credential with proven currency in the labor market, and promote efforts to more clearly define the learning outcomes inherent in all associate degrees.”

Bill Moses, Program Director for Education at the Kresge Foundation, underscored the timeliness of Credit When It’s Due: “As tax revenues have dropped, state legislatures have reduced funding for America’s public universities. This is often putting public university tuition beyond the reach of many students, so many are trying to cut costs by spending time at a community college first. ‘Credit When It’s Due’ helps to ensure that students struggling financially can get a marketable credential on what is an increasingly long path to a bachelor’s degree.”

Carl Dalstrom, president and CEO of USA Funds, noted: “This initiative more equitably recognizes transfer students’ academic achievement, as well as the significant contributions that community colleges make to enhance our nation’s educational attainment levels. We believe these students and their colleges deserve full credit for their achievements.”

“Obtaining a postsecondary education is critical for today’s students who are competing in a globalized economy that demands high level 21st century skills,” said Helios Education Foundation’s President and CEO Paul Luna. “The Credit When It’s Due initiative not only underscores that value but it recognizes the academic achievement of students who have earned the credits needed for an associate degree. One of the reasons why Helios is so excited to support this initiative is that it strengthens the collaboration between Florida’s college and state university systems around creating a college-going culture and advancing a college completion agenda. That’s good news for students, employers and even Florida’s economic future.”

Lumina and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations will assist the Office of Community College Research and Leadership at the University of Illinois to collect data on the results of these scale-up activities in the states. “A key interest,” explains Elise Miller, Program Officer at the Gates Foundation,” is to learn if reverse transfer makes a difference in baccalaureate-degree completion for students awarded the associate degree on route to the baccalaureate – and if so, for which students. We have learned from some pilot efforts that receiving the associate degree does have a motivational impact, encouraging some students to keep pursuing the baccalaureate. For others, receiving the associate degree helps them secure better employment while they’re continuing in school part-time.”

“There are many important lessons to be learned by conducting research on the data we can collect through the work of these states. Most projects will work with 100% of the community colleges and public universities in their states – so this will be a unique and major push to fully engage transfer associate degrees as a key strategy within a state’s degree completion goal,” said Holly Zanville, program director at Lumina Foundation, heading up the “Credit When It’s Due” work.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Helios Education Foundation
The Kresge Foundation
Lumina Foundation
USA Funds

Project Descriptions & Contact Information for Each “Credit When It’s Due” Site

Funders	CWID project in:	Awards 2012-14	Contact for further info -- Name/title/email/phone
Kresge Foundation	Arkansas	$500,000	Edward (Ed) L. Franklin, Executive Director, Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges, efranklin@aatyc.org, 501-371-0404
Lumina Foundation	Colorado	$450,000	Kim Poast, Associate Deputy Director, Access & Student Services, Colorado Department of Higher Education, kim.poast@dhe.state.co.us, 303-866-3154
Helios Education Foundation	Florida	$495,000	Carrie Henderson, Coordinator of Student Success, Florida Department of Education, carrie.henderson@fldoe.org, 850-245-9464
Kresge Foundation	Hawaii	$434,000	John Morton, Vice President for Community Colleges, The University of Hawaii System, jmorton@hawaii.edu, 808-956-7038
USA Funds	Maryland	$500,000	Danette Howard, Secretary of Higher Education, Maryland Higher Education Commission, dhoward@mhec.state.md.us, 410-260-4558
Kresge Foundation	Michigan	$500,000	Adriana Phelan, Vice President, Michigan Community College Association, aphelan@mcca.org, 517-372-4350
Lumina Foundation	Minnesota	$500,000	Mike Lopez, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, mike.lopez@so.mnscu.edu, 651-201-1673
Lumina Foundation	Missouri	$500,000	Rusty Monhollon, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs, Missouri Department of Higher Education, Rusty.Monhollon@dhe.mo.gov, 573-751-5221
Lumina Foundation	New York	$500,000	Casey Vattimo, SUNY System Administration, Casey.Vattimo@suny.edu 518-320-1670
USA Funds	North Carolina	$450,000	Joni Worthington, Vice President for Communication, University of North Carolina General Administration, Worthj@northcarolina.edu 919-962-1000
Lumina Foundation	Ohio	$500,000	Kim Norris, Director of Communications, Ohio Board of Regents, knorris@regents.state.oh.us, 614-728-2138
Lumina Foundation	Oregon	$450,000	Elizabeth Cox Brand, Director of Research and Communications, Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, Elizabeth.coxbrand@state.or.us, 503-947-2454
Lumina Foundation; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation	OCCRL, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	$20,000 $590,000	Debra D. Bragg, Professor & Director, Office of Community College Research & Leadership, Department of Education, Policy, Organization and Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, dbragg@illinois.edu 217-244-9390

Rural Community Teachers in Arizona To Get Boost In Math Professional Development

With Arizona Common Core Standards for Mathematics being implemented statewide, Helios Education Foundation is helping three rural counties, Gila, Graham and Greenlee, build capacity and use interactive technology to provide relevant, high-quality professional development to 5th-9th grade math teachers. Helios is investing $1.2 million over three years into the Arizona Rural Tri-County Education Innovation Initiative (ARTEII) which will collectively impact 700 teachers in 50 schools across 22 districts.

The ARTEII vision is to develop and build the capacity to use interactive and progressive technology-based applications to change professional development delivery in the rural tri-county area. These technologies will create strong links within and among the schools and communities, providing the vehicle for implementing a strong system for professional development, classroom instruction, communication and teacher and principal collaboration.

“With the limited resources in rural Arizona, ARTEII serves as a catalyst of change and will engage the community to work together to develop and implement a cutting-edge blended model for the delivery of professional development,” said Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez, Vice President and Program Director for Helios Education Foundation. “The use of technology will help better prepare these teachers to provide quality math instruction to their students plus help them work together in learning communities to enhance their depth of content understanding.”

The partners are working closely with the University of Arizona College of Mathematics which will provide the leadership and training using the Intel Mathematics Program. This researched, evidence-based 80-hour training program will address improvements to teacher skills in areas showing the greatest need based on test scores and high school dropout rates.

“We are excited to be working with the University of Arizona’s Institute for Mathematics and Education in offering the Intel Mathematics Program (IMP) training and professional learning communities in our tri-county area,” said Dr. Linda O’Dell, Gila County School Superintendent. “We anticipate that our partnership with the University of Arizona through ARTEII will elicit other interesting and unique opportunities that support our rural teachers in their efforts to increase student achievement in mathematics.”

The Tri-County area was among the first group of counties to benefit from the State of Arizona County Communications Network (SACCNET) project, which has furthered the advancement of increased broad-band capacity for schools and communities statewide.

“Our counties have worked hard to ensure connectivity to our schools and outlying communities,” said Donna McGaughey, Graham County Superintendent. “In addition to other technology grants, advances made through SACCNet to secure required bandwidth will benefit online learning communities and other technology-based activities expected as part of this project”. “Distance Learning has been and continues to be one of the many tools in our teachers’ instructional kits.”

ARTEII seeks to create Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for teachers and administrators, within their own school and districts. Inclusive of this model is increasing the capacity and expectations for students to be college and career ready in mathematics.

“In our rapidly changing world, students must be prepared for college and careers with more and better information than any generation in the past,” said Tom Powers, Greenlee County School Superintendent. “ARTEII will offer teachers in our tri-county area many opportunities to improve their instructional skills and support students in attaining the academic preparation needed to succeed in college and careers.”

Voting ‘Yes on Prop 204’ is a Vote for Arizona’s Future and Our Children
By Vince Roig, Chairman, and Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation

In November, the nation will engage in the very democracy our country was founded on when we vote to elect the next President of the United States. But as Arizonans go to the polls, we have another key vote to cast on Election Day — a vote for education.

Arizona’s economic future is inextricably linked to our state’s ability to provide a high-quality, P-20 educational system. And by investing in a strong educational system, we open the door to opportunities for Arizona and our children by preparing them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s global economy.

With Arizona’s prosperity currently at stake as we face the end of the one-cent sales tax benefiting education, Helios Education Foundation stands in support of Proposition 204 and in favor of a long-term, dedicated source of revenue to fund education. Prop 204 renews and makes permanent the three-year temporary sales tax passed by voters in 2010, ensuring that 80 percent of the revenue generated will be dedicated to education.

While no one initiative is a silver bullet, Prop 204 moves us closer to filling the financial gaps eating away at the very fabric of our educational system. In fact, without it, our state could face a budget shortfall of up to $1 billion, resulting in more devastating cuts to education and further impeding our ability to prepare our students for success in an increasingly competitive college and career environment.

The report card is out; Arizona has yet to make the grade on its constitutional mandate to appropriately and adequately fund education. According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, state legislators cut $671 million from the K-12 budget and deferred $1 billion in payments to schools between fiscal years 2008 and 2012. As a result, when compared to other states, we consistently rank at the bottom for per-pupil funding.

Supporting Proposition 204 is a vote for education, our children and Arizona’s economic future.

Right now, across grades, the academic performance of Arizona students, especially minorities and women, in math and science is low. In fact, only 34 percent of 4^th graders and 23 percent of 8th graders score at or above proficient in math. At the same time, Arizona business leaders report not being able to find enough talent with skills in science, technology, engineering and math to fill current and projected jobs opportunities.

Fortunately, Arizona has joined 44 other states in adopting the rigorous, internationally-bench marked Common Core State Standards for math and English, and is collaborating on the Next Generation Science Standards. Arizona is also part of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), a collaboration to develop a higher bar assessment of student achievement aligned with these important new standards.

Arizona’s adoption of higher standards and assessments signifies that excellence is expected for every student and in every classroom. Unfortunately, critical components of these mandates remain unfunded or under-funded, including teacher training and much needed technology upgrades for the PARCC test.

We must change course. We must invest in high quality education for all Arizona students.

Prop 204 could provide as much as $180 million toward the implementation of Common Core and other under-funded education reforms, such as Move On When Reading which requires that students be reading at grade level by third grade or be held back; teacher and principal evaluations which will be heavily linked to student performance; and the new A-F school grading system requiring districts and charter schools to improve the performance of their lowest achieving students.

In addition, Prop 204 would establish scholarships for in-state community college and university students, fund General Educational Development (GED) programs and invest in career and technical education programs in high schools and community colleges that graduate students ready to enter the workforce.

Accountable to Arizona voters, Proposition 204 also earmarks some resources for a statewide accountability database system and ties a portion of funding to student performance, mandating periodic audits to ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely and deliver results. Most importantly, local school boards, whose members are elected by and accountable to voters, are responsible for the funds and are able to invest them in their local districts for the greatest impact on teacher quality and student achievement.

The world’s ever-evolving, knowledge-based economy demands more graduates who are innovative, critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers. By investing in the academic success of our children and grandchildren, and those of our neighbors, we will naturally address the workforce needs of our state and nation. A commitment to ensuring all Arizona students receive an excellent education also contributes to our overall quality of life, making Arizona a great place to work, live and raise a family.

With government, business, philanthropy and others at the table, we can create a high-performing educational system that produces high-demand graduates. But we must engage and put our children’s education first. Our state needs a long-term, stable solution to education funding, a dedicated source of revenue to help build a high-performing system.

Even in tough economic times we must act with the future in mind, putting our children and our state at the forefront of our decision-making. Prop 204 is a step in that direction.

Happy New Year!

The Board and Staff of Helios Education Foundation wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.

Apply to be a TGen Helios Scholar

Apply Today! Instructions and link below.

Do you want to experience what it's really like to be a scientist?

Helios Scholars at TGen is a paid, eight-week summer internship program in biomedical research open to Arizona high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical school students. Interns work full-time on a research project under the mentorship of a TGen scientist to unravel the genetic components of diabetes, neurological disease and cancer. At TGen North in Flagstaff, interns focus their summer research on public health and pathogens such as Valley Fever and antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Internships are available in all areas of translational bioscience: laboratory and clinical research, computational biology and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration.

As a part of the comprehensive program, Helios Scholars also: attend educational seminars to boost their professional skills, learn about bioscience career options, practice scientific writing, present their research, attend social networking events, and create a scientific poster.

The program capstone is a formal research symposium where interns present their project results and reflect on what they have accomplished during their tenure at TGen. Several interns are nominated to deliver oral presentations at the event.

Past interns boast an array of impressive accomplishments: published scientific abstracts and manuscripts, top national student rankings, acceptance into first-rate graduate and medical schools, and national awards and scholarships.

For more information:

Please read/print the 2013 application instructions before applying:

2013 Helios Scholars Application Instructions
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2013 Application: Login or get started!

Helios Appoints Steve Wheeler, Statewide Visionary and Recognized Community Leader, To Its Board of Directors

Helios Education Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on creating opportunities for every individual in Arizona and Florida to achieve postsecondary education success, announced today the appointment of Steve Wheeler to its Board of Directors. He joins eight other board members in providing strategic guidance and oversight of the Foundation’s $600 million endowment and over $125 million in community investments across both states.

“Having Steve Wheeler’s voice on our Board of Directors broadens the diversity of leadership and vision on the Board and continues to move us toward creating a culture where all students are successful in postsecondary education,” said Founding Chairman Vince Roig. “The stakes are high in today’s classrooms, and students will be expected to meet or exceed even higher academic standards in order to succeed. Through our investments, community engagement, staff expertise and board leadership, Helios is working to better prepare students for success, and Steve will be a tremendous asset in the continued evolution of that work.”

Steve is currently Chairman of the Board of Scottsdale Healthcare Corp., a community healthcare system in Arizona with approximately $1 billion in annual revenues; Director and Vice Chair of the Flinn Foundation, a $200 million privately endowed grantmaking organization focusing on biomedical research, education and the arts; Director and past Chairman of the Valley of the Sun United Way and a Trustee of the Phoenix Art Museum.

“I truly feel honored to be joining Helios’ Board of Directors,” said Steve Wheeler. “At its core, this work is about advancing academic preparedness and college and career readiness, all critical parts of building a globally-competitive and vibrant economy. Preparing our students to attain an education beyond high school is paramount, and I look forward to contributing to that cause through my participation on the Helios Board.”

Steve retired as Executive Vice President of Customer Service and Regulation for Arizona Public Service Company in 2010. Prior to that, he was a managing partner of the 450-attorney, southwestern law firm of Snell & Wilmer, where he was Chairman of its Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law practice group and a member of the firm’s five-person Executive Committee.

He was previously Chairman of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Fiesta Bowl, President of the Arizona Theatre Company, Chairman of the Commission on the Arizona Environment and Chairman of the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. Through gubernatorial appointment, he has also been involved in state initiatives on childhood education, transportation and the environment.

He is a graduate of Princeton University and Cornell Law School, where he was Managing Editor of the Cornell Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif (top 5 percent academically).
In addition to Steve, Helios’ board members include Vince Roig, Founding Chairman; Don Aripoli, M.S.Ed, Ph.D; Mark Fernandez; Tom Herndon; Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation; Ioanna Morfessis, Ph.D; Jane Roig; and Maria Sastre.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating a high expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida by investing in initiatives that create opportunities for postsecondary education success. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years and Postsecondary Success.

Helios is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to transform education systems, create a college-going culture, increase curriculum rigor, improve academic results and remove barriers to college access and completion. Since 2006, the Foundation has invested over $125 million in numerous education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida.

Florida College Access Network (FCAN)

Helios invested $200,000 in FCAN through a planning grant to help the organization galvanize a statewide network focused on helping low-income, first-generation students prepare for, transition to and succeed in postsecondary education.

Science Foundation Arizona and Helios Education Foundation Reveal Finalists for the Helios STEM School Pilot Program

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) named 14 finalists for the Helios STEM School Pilot program, which is part of a strategic partnership and $4 million investment by Helios and SFAz to help build and support the Arizona STEM Network.

Multiple applicants will be selected as Helios STEM School Pilot sites and announced in March to receive up to $500,000 in financial and technical support to implement STEM programs and activities for the next three years. These activities will include assisting them in the successful implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, as well as equipping their teachers with the knowledge, resources and skills they will need to provide their students access to quality STEM learning experiences. In addition, SFAz will identify models of effective implementation of STEM practices in a variety of schools and districts that can be sustained, measured, and replicated.

The 14 finalists for this program represent a diverse range of geographic and demographic communities from around Arizona. Similarly the programs represented in the proposals of the finalists span across multiple grade levels and represent a varied array of educational opportunities. Finalists include:

Alhambra Elementary School District (Phoenix)
Altar Valley School District (Tucson)
Arizona Academy of Science (Phoenix)
Bagdad Unified School District (Bagdad)
Canyon Ridge School (Surprise)
City High School (Tucson)
Coconino Accommodation District (Flagstaff)
Congress Elementary School (Congress)
Flagstaff Unified School District (Flagstaff)
Mesa Unified School District (Mesa)
Salt River Elementary School (Scottsdale)
Scottsdale Unified School District (Scottsdale and Paradise Valley)
W.F. Killip Elementary School (Flagstaff)
Yuma Elementary School (Yuma)

Finalists were selected from a statewide pool of over 60 applicants who participated in a competitive request for proposals (RFP) to help schools and districts implement STEM education practices in classrooms and to help formulate successful models for the future.

"We have heard from participants that this process has helped a number of the schools define their common vision and prepare for the next step in STEM education," notes Darcy Renfro, coordinator of the Arizona STEM Network at SFAz. "The RFP process for all applicants has been meaningful for the overall development of their individual STEM initiatives."

The Helios STEM School Pilot program is part of the Arizona STEM Network by SFAz and is designed to improve student outcomes and success rates, increase student readiness for advanced math and science courses, and better prepare students for college and career success.

Public and not-for-profit public charter schools and districts across the state were encouraged to participate in the RFP process to build interdisciplinary, integrated, rigorous and relevant STEM education opportunities for students regardless of their geographic location, academic ability and socioeconomic status. Proposals received at least three mail reviews and three panel reviews from STEM experts around the country. The 14 finalists will be evaluated through site visits to determine the overall quality of the proposals, the leadership and strength of the design team and the potential impact on students, schools and the broader community. Selected applicants will be notified in March 2013. Funds will be awarded over a three-year period and will include support from full-time STEM technical advisors.

"The interest and level of engagement in this RFP process from a variety of schools in a number of communities has been inspiring," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "From the very beginning, this effort has been about creating systemic and sustained improvements in education. Our ultimate goal is to learn how STEM teaching and learning supports high academic expectations and achievement, and we're looking forward to learning from the diverse approaches the pilot schools will implement as they integrate STEM strategies into their schools."

Professional development opportunities for teachers will be available through the process, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to make learning more relevant to students. In addition, school evaluations will focus on how STEM teaching and learning practices may help increase success in math and science and increase student engagement in STEM activities outside of the classroom.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating a high expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida by investing in initiatives that create opportunities for postsecondary education success. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years and Postsecondary Scholarships.

As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students to succeed academically and to compete in a globally-competitive economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $125 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

About Science Foundation Arizona

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization initiated in 2006 by the Greater Phoenix Leadership Inc., Southern Arizona Leadership Council and the Flagstaff Forty in conjunction with the executive and legislative branches of state government. SFAz serves as a catalyst for high-wage, knowledge-based jobs and economic diversity through administration and strict oversight of research, development and education grants to public education and other non-profit research performing institutions. For more information, visit www.sfaz.org.

In Memoriam: Rita Hylle

Helios Education Foundation’s first employee and its Grants Administrator and Special Assistant to the Founding Chairman, Rita Hylle, passed away on Friday, January 18, 2013, in Mesa, Arizona.

Cherished by Helios’ Board of Directors and staff, Rita’s welcoming, out-going personality, her wit and warm sense of humor put a smile on the faces of everyone she touched. She shared a passion for education and for an improved quality of life for every community.

Rita will be remembered for her warmth and her organized, determined, “can-do” attitude that came through in all of her endeavors. She settled for nothing but the best for everyone around her and applied a business focus with a service mentality to everything she did.

Rita’s laughter, her caring, her selflessness, her commitment to education and her smile will be missed by all those who knew her, but especially by her extended family at Helios Education Foundation.

Paul Luna Honored at YWCA 2013 Tribute to Leadership Gala

On Saturday, February 23rd, YWCA Maricopa County celebrated its 20th annual Tribute to Leadership event. Tribute to Leadership is the YW’s largest fundraising event of the year, providing essential services to seniors, home-delivered meals to impoverished elderly and disabled adults, financial education to women and families, and essential awareness programs to eliminate discrimination and promote gender equity.

The eleven individuals honored have all made substantial contributions to eliminating discrimination, empowering women, and serving as champions to their community. For the first time in YWCA history, Tribute to Leadership honored not only women, but also men, including Helios Education Foundation President and CEO, Paul Luna.

Luna is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of Helios Education Foundation, cultivating strong community relationships and initiating strategic partnerships in Arizona and Florida for the growing organization. Prior to his role at Helios, Luna served as President of Valley of the Sun United Way, where he led a community-wide fundraising effort approaching $50 million.

Luna has spent his career promoting, mentoring, and advocating on behalf of women within the organizations he has led and the partnerships he has cultivated. At United Way, he was integral in the creation of a unique program called DV STOP, domestic violence safe temporary overflow program, which ensured women fleeing violence found safety even when the shelters were full. He has been involved with Chrysalis Domestic Violence Shelter over the years, and has been recognized by the organization for his efforts to empower women and get them on the road to independence.

“It is an honor to be able to celebrate such exceptional individuals,” said Dana Campbell Saylor, CEO of YWCA Maricopa County. “They have truly made incredible contributions to our community as well as extended their hearts through their passion and commitment.”

Arizona Receives National Attention as a “Pacesetter” for its Statewide Commitment in Addressing Early Literacy from the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading

Arizona is recognized for its innovative collaborative approach in Read On Arizona—a statewide initiative focused on early childhood literacy.

[Pictured: Superintendent John Huppenthal, Ralph Smith, and Paul Luna]

PHOENIX, Ariz. (February 28, 2013)—Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Head Start State Collaboration Office, First Things First, Helios Education Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable, and other partners gathered at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix recently to celebrate Arizona being recognized as a “Pacesetter” by the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading. The event recognized “Read On Arizona,” the new statewide, innovative public/private collaborative of agencies, foundations, and community stakeholders working to improve language and literacy outcomes for Arizona’s children from birth to age 8 (infant to third-grade).

Read On Arizona builds on the momentum that was created around regional efforts in response to the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading, and is broader in scope to address the significant challenges statewide that Arizona faces in reaching its grade level reading goals.

Ralph Smith, Managing Director of the National Campaign For Grade Level Reading was on hand to present the Pacesetter award and said, “Arizona’s commitment to third-grade reading as a statewide priority is off to a promising start. Communities across the state have joined forces to help each other succeed. And the exemplary leadership of Arizona’s foundations has inspired us all.”

The Read On Arizona collaborative believes that when Arizona reads, Arizona thrives, and it is helping communities intentionally align literacy services to develop an early literacy system that delivers the right intervention, at the right time, for the right child. The collaborative effort has the bold but achievable vision that all of Arizona’s students will be reading at or above grade level by the end of third-grade by 2023, so that every child is on track for college and/or career success. As part of Arizona’s Statewide Literacy Plan, the first Arizona Literacy Director will function as a critical resource to support Read On Arizona in its implementation of a 10-year strategic literacy action plan.

The literacy celebration speakers included: City of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton; President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, Paul Luna; Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Huppenthal; Managing Director of the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading, Ralph Smith; and State Literacy Director, Terri Clark.

“Early emergent literacy is essential for setting a student on a path for academic and career success,” said Paul Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “Read On Arizona gives communities the resources they need to prepare children for kindergarten and get them reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Helios is pleased to support this collaborative because this work ultimately lays the foundation for student academic success for years to come.”

Arizona statute (ARS 15-701), known as Move on When Reading, takes effect for the 2013-2014 school year. Students scoring “far below” on Arizona’s AIMS reading assessment test may be retained in the third-grade until they meet the rigorous reading specifications set forth in the statute. Reading by third-grade marks a milestone when children shift from learning to read and begin to read to learn.

"The implementation of more rigorous academic standards puts us on track to greatly increase the literacy skills of Arizona's children," said John Huppenthal, Arizona Superintendent of Education. "I join our other partners when I say we're excited by the path we see unfolding and believe Read On Arizona will direct us toward the bold but achievable goal of reading success for all of Arizona's young children."

Terri Clark, the new Arizona Literacy Director said, “Read On Arizona embodies the collaborative approach that is needed to create real and sustainable solutions to the early literacy crisis we’re facing in Arizona with only 26 percent of Arizona 4th graders being proficient in reading at grade level. Now is the time for action.”

Numerous community leaders, city and business officials, educators, and parents who are committed to working toward improving the number of children attaining reading success also attended the celebration, including: City of Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord; Office of the Governor’s Director of Education Innovation, Rebecca Gau; State Board of Education Deputy Director, Christine Thompson; Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton’s Teacher College Dean, Mari Koerner; Maricopa Community College System Chancellor, Rufus Glasper; Yuma County Superintendent and State Board of Education President, Tom Tyree; Valley of the Sun United Way CEO, Merl Waschler, First Things First CEO, Rhian Alvin; Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust President and CEO, Judy Jolley Mohraz; Arizona Community Foundation Chief Strategy Officer, Jim Pitofsky; and corporate representatives from Target and KPMG among many other community stakeholders.

The initial development of a collective plan to address the important issue of children reading proficiently at the end of 3rd grade was spearheaded by three funding partners—Helios Education Foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and the Arizona Community Foundation—who reached out to partner with four United Ways: Valley of the Sun United Way, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, United Way of Northern Arizona, and the United Way of Yuma County. The State Department of Education, First Things First and Arizona Head Start State Collaboration Office also played key roles in committing statewide efforts to “put a stake in the ground” around third-grade reading.

To view more photos from the event, visit our Facebook page.

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About Arizona Community Foundation
Established in 1978, the Arizona Community Foundation is a statewide family of charitable funds supported by thousands of Arizonans. With four regional offices serving communities across Arizona, ACF is among the top 25 community foundations in the nation with more than $500 million in trust and endowment assets, and is confirmed in compliance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Last year, ACF and its affiliates awarded more than $36 million in grants and scholarship funding to some 2,500 nonprofit organizations, schools and government agencies. For more information visit www.azfoundation.org.

About Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Department of Education serves Arizona’s education community, ensuring every child has access to an excellent education. For more information visit http://www.azed.gov.

About Arizona Head Start State Collaboration Office
The Arizona Department of Education–Early Childhood Unit administers the Head Start State Collaboration grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish linkages among Head Start, childcare, social welfare, health and state funded preschool programs and K-12 Education. For more information visit www.azed.gov/early-childhood/head-start.

About First Things First
First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. To learn more, visit www.azftf.gov.

About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
A private independent foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust honors Virginia Galvin Piper’s philanthropic commitment to changing lives and strengthening community in Maricopa County (Arizona). By investing in nonprofits and encouraging strategic planning for the future, Piper Trust strives to make Maricopa County a stronger, more nurturing, vibrant community. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $300 million in local nonprofits and programs. The Trust had total grants paid of $21.9 million in fiscal year 2012. Piper Trust grant making areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations. For more information visit www.pipertrust.org.

Helios Partners with SRI International to Create Center for Digital Learning

Foundation Invests $1 Million in Center, Enabling Florida to Become a Leader in Digital Learning and Innovation

(TAMPA, Florida) -- Helios Education Foundation is partnering with SRI International by investing $1 million to seed a Center for Digital Learning in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Center will create a portfolio of digital learning projects to enhance student achievement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

While the Center will not limit itself to Florida projects, Florida will be central to its mission. The Center’s goals include:

Supporting Florida-based demonstration projects and research that will position the state as a leader in implementing digital learning materials and techniques
Evaluating promising digital learning models
Creating improved methods for student collaboration and assessment
Becoming a national hub of innovation in digital learning

"Digital learning is gaining momentum and it is a critical teaching and learning tool in today’s classroom,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “But we want to learn more about how digital learning can improve student success. That’s why we’re excited about this partnership with SRI International. This new Center will provide insights into effective, efficient and measurable methods of using digital learning in the classroom.”

Studies show that digital learning can help drive student achievement, teacher effectiveness and classroom practice because:

Digital learning materials focus on the “big ideas” that accelerate student progress in a subject
Teachers can receive better tools, training and support
Multiple representations and dynamic visualization of content can be created to fit curriculum to different student learning styles
It offers opportunities for enhanced student collaboration
It provides real-time assessment and feedback

“There is no higher priority for the U.S. than to educate our children so they can succeed in an increasingly competitive world,” said Curtis R. Carlson, Ph.D., president and CEO, SRI International. “We share Helios Education Foundation’s commitment to the Center for Digital Learning which will build the next generation of innovative teaching and learning approaches with the power to positively transform education.”

Helios’ funding will enable the Center to hire staff, develop a pipeline of prospects and projects and build awareness of work across school districts and the state of Florida. Over time, the Center anticipates additional project funding from the federal government, the state of Florida, foundations and other funders.

“SRI’s work in the Center for Digital Learning will focus on the key elements that determine success in digital learning — teacher professional development, digital content and the technology platform used to deliver content," said Dennis Beatrice, Senior Advisor in SRI’s Education Division. "The Center’s projects will provide essential tools to advance the field and help show why digital learning represents the best way to improve student achievement.”

SRI is an established leader in digital learning and has conducted $30 million of research and development in the field over 20 years. Through the organization’s work with the SunBay Digital Math program, student achievement gains have been documented for all groups of students in classrooms in Florida, Texas and the United Kingdom.

In 2009, Helios partnered with SRI, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and Pinellas County schools on the SunBay Digital Math program which trained 30 teachers in 10 schools and touched more than 2,500 students in Pinellas County, Florida.

SRI has conducted eight education projects in Florida, supported by more than $9 million in funding. In addition to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, SRI has worked with the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida, the University of Miami, the Miami-Dade School District, and Florida Virtual High Schools.

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About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida by investing in initiatives that create opportunities for postsecondary education success. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years and Postsecondary Scholarships.

As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students to succeed academically and to compete in a globally-competitive economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $125 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information, visit www.helios.org.

About SRI International
Innovations from SRI International have created new industries, billions of dollars of marketplace value, and lasting benefits to society — touching our lives every day. SRI, a nonprofit research and development institute based in Silicon Valley, brings its innovations to the marketplace through technology licensing, new products, and spin-off ventures. Government and business clients come to SRI for pioneering R&D and solutions in computing and communications, chemistry and materials, education, energy, health and pharmaceuticals, national defense, robotics, sensing, and more. Visit www.sri.com.

Science Foundation Arizona and Helios Education Foundation Select Districts and School Sites for STEM Pilot Program

Sites will receive $1.85 million in Financial and Technical Support for STEM Programs

PHOENIX (April 9, 2013) – Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) and Helios Education Foundation today announced the winning school sites selected for the Helios STEM School Pilot program. The initiative is part of a strategic partnership and investment by Helios and SFAz to help the Arizona STEM Network develop a coordinated and effective STEM education system that provides the infrastructure, resources and metrics needed to improve educational outcomes and achieve collective impact for Arizona students.

Alhambra Elementary School District, K-8 (Phoenix)
Altar Valley School District, K-8 (Tucson)
Bagdad Unified School District, K-12 (Bagdad)
Congress Elementary School, K-8 (Congress)
Salt River Elementary School, K-8 (Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Scottsdale)
W.F. Killip Elementary School, PK-5 (Flagstaff)
Yuma Elementary School, K-6 (Yuma)

The purpose of the Helios STEM School Pilot program is to identify models of effective implementation of STEM education teaching and learning that can be sustained, measured and replicated throughout Arizona in the future. Helios STEM School Pilot funding and support will assist sites with the integration of STEM programs aligned with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards and will equip teachers with the knowledge, resources and skills they will need to provide students access to quality STEM learning experiences. For all Arizona schools, the Arizona STEM Network has made its online STEM Immersion Guide available at www.sfaz.org/stemimmersion to assist schools with their own STEM implementation plan regardless of their participation as a Helios STEM School Pilot site. The STEM Immersion Guide helps educators clearly articulate their goals and strategies for integrating STEM education into their schools and classrooms.

“Participating STEM pilot sites from pre-kindergarten to the high school level are helping to create a path that will shape Arizona’s education system and ready both teachers and students for Common Core State Standards,” said William Harris, president and CEO of SFAz. “The STEM education models that will be developed through the pilot will help us catalyze change in our education system to improve the state’s long term global competitiveness.”

The Helios STEM School Pilot program is part of the Arizona STEM Network led by SFAz and is designed to improve student outcomes and success rates, increase student readiness for advanced math and science courses, and better prepare students for college and career success.

“The Helios STEM school sites that have been selected through this RFP process now have an even greater opportunity to improve student academic performance by immersing their students in STEM education,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “But teachers and administrators across these districts will also benefit from onsite technical assistance, enhanced professional development and additional resources to aid in better preparing students to be successful throughout their academic life and through college and career.”

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About Helios Education Foundation

About Science Foundation Arizona

Helios Education Foundation to Be Lead Sponsor of NBC News’ Education Nation in Phoenix May 2-10

Click here to visit our Education Nation section to view live streaming video, see schedule of events, and more.

Foundation Seeks to Engage Top Education Leaders, Teachers, Students and Others in Solutions for Preparing Every Arizona Student for College and Career Success

PHOENIX (April 17, 2013) – Helios Education Foundation is the lead sponsor of NBC News’ Education Nation “On-the-Road” Tour scheduled for Phoenix, Arizona, May 2-10. The Phoenix tour includes a series of panels and events hosted by NBC News correspondents, local Arizona leaders, educators, parents and students on Arizona’s most pressing education issues. In addition to education-focused events, programming will highlight the challenges and opportunities in Arizona education today.

NBC News is partnering with NBC’s affiliate station KPNX in Phoenix to create a local forum for sharing information, exchanging ideas and inspiring change.

“Education has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities,” said Helios Education Foundation’s Founding Chairman Vince Roig. “Helios’ interest in bringing Education Nation to Arizona is really to focus the conversation on education and engage more Arizonans in a forum that celebrates excellence and encourages collaboration around solutions.”

Education Nation Phoenix will begin Thursday, May 2 with an Opening Ceremony at the Arizona Science Center at 12 p.m. On May 3 and 4, Education Nation will host three locally-televised events at the Herberger Theater Center:

Friday, May 3 will consist of a Phoenix Summit that will cover topics including early childhood education and other K-12 issues. A special panel discussion on College and Career Readiness will also be featured.
Saturday, May 4 will include NBC News’ Teacher Town Hall that brings local teachers together in a unique educator-only forum to discuss what works in the classroom and highlight the challenges of today’s education system. A Student Town Hall that same day will create a space for students to convene and share their experiences, ideas and concerns about Arizona’s schools.

A live stream of the Phoenix events will be available online at http://www.helios.org/EdNationAZ/ and www.educationnation.com.

“In order for Arizona to develop a globally competitive workforce and a viable economy, we must work collaboratively to improve our education system and create a college-going culture where every student is academically prepared to succeed in college and career,” said Helios Education Foundation’s President and CEO Paul Luna.

Since launching Education Nation in September 2010, NBC has hosted the “On-The-Road” tour in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Denver, Atlanta, Miami, Detroit and New Orleans.

"The 'Education Nation On-The-Road' tour has engaged communities across the country to come together and try to find solutions to both local and national education issues. We are excited to work with Helios Education Foundation and others to expand the dialogue about how we can improve education in Phoenix and the state of Arizona," said Soraya Gage, General Manager of Education Nation.

About Education Nation
Education Nation seeks to create a thoughtful, well-informed dialogue with policymakers, thought-leaders, educators, parents and the public, in pursuit of the shared goal of providing every American with an opportunity to achieve the best education in the world. These discussions cover the challenges, potential solutions and innovations spanning the education landscape. By providing quality information to the public, NBC News hopes to educate Americans so they can make decisions about how best to improve our education system both in the near and long terms, and to shine a spotlight on one of the most urgent national issues of our time.

About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating opportunities for individuals to succeed in postsecondary education by advancing the academic preparedness of all students and fostering a high expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years and Postsecondary Success. As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students for college and career and, ultimately, to compete in a globally-competitive economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $125 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

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STEMming the Decline in Math and Science Skills

USF's latest partnership with Helios Education Foundation aims to install 80 subject-specific teachers in Hillsborough County middle schools within four years.

TAMPA, Fla. (May 15, 2013) - Aiming to boost U.S. global competiveness through a focus on the mathematics and science performance of American schoolchildren, Helios Education Foundation and University of South Florida are partnering to build a teacher preparation pipeline that will place 80 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers in Hillsborough County public middle schools by 2017.

The Helios STEM Middle School Residency Program will begin this summer, funded by a $3.16 million investment from Helios to USF's College of Education (COEDU), making the gift the Foundation's largest single investment in USF to date. The investment is the latest to the college as part of the USF System's $600 million USF: Unstoppable Campaign.

"In order to prepare today's students for the 21^st century globalized economy, we must first ensure that our teachers are prepared by providing them with the necessary training and professional development they need," said Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. "This innovative, new residency-based program at USF will not only help enhance teacher effectiveness in the STEM areas, but it will provide the training necessary to ensure they are prepared to teach more rigorous content standards."

During summer 2013, instructors in COEDU's Consulting Office for Research (CORE) will engage in planning activities to familiarize themselves with the new program's goals and tailor coursework so that it focuses on middle level education and the lesson needs of young adolescents and/or STEM teachers. The first of two planned cohorts of 40 prospective mathematics and science teachers each will begin classes during fall 2013 and complete two semester-long practicums by the end of the spring semester 2014.

The following year, as the second cohort of 40 teachers begins classes, participants in the first group will engage in yearlong residencies, co-teaching alongside appropriately credentialed teachers in high-needs schools.

By the time both cohorts finish the program, HCPS officials estimate 20,000 middle school students will have benefitted from classrooms with their additional support. In addition, it is expected that completion of the teacher education program will enhance the quality, effectiveness, and, most importantly, the retention of program graduates, resulting in long lasting impact for as many as 100,000 students over a 10-year period.

USF and Helios Education Foundation have a rich history of collaboration including the Foundation's investment in the Florida College Access Network (FCAN), an organization that empowers communities to work constructively alongside schools and build partnerships with universities, colleges, community organizations and businesses to improve college preparation, access and completion for all students.

"The University of South Florida is immensely grateful to our friends and partners at Helios Education Foundation for their continued confidence in our education programs, and for yet another opportunity to contribute to the quality of instruction in local schools," said USF President Judy Genshaft. "By helping to develop highly qualified and effective math and science teachers, USF is continuing to play a leading role in preparing young learners for greater educational attainment while strengthening the economic future of our state and region."

In 2011, Helios and USF launched the Accelerated STEM Academic Pipeline (ASAP) teacher development program. In addition to the more than $840,000 in funding provided by Helios for that project, the Foundation has invested millions of dollars toward improving STEM education overall across Arizona and Florida.

While there have been numerous calls to enhance STEM education in the U.S. - starting with the Carnegie Corporation's landmark 1989 report "Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century" and continuing through the Obama administration's 2009 announcement of its Educate to Innovate campaign - key findings by the National Assessment of Education Progress and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) still show U.S. students under-performing their peers from many less-developed nations. Results from PISA, in particular, indicate that the performance of U.S. 15-year-old students on tests of mathematical and scientific literacy consistently dropped in relation to student performance in other nations between 2000 and 2010.

Among the biggest factors responsible for the decline, say experts, is the reality that up to 93 percent of middle grades students in the U.S. are taught mathematics or physical science by teachers without a degree or certificate in the appropriate field - a real problem given other studies intimating that subject-specific content and pedagogical knowledge are essential if teachers are to teach effectively.

The USF: Unstoppable Campaign is a comprehensive fundraising effort by the University of South Florida System to celebrate the energy, vision, and future of one of the country's most exciting and engaged universities. Our people and programs, our ideas, our research, and our solutions comprise an ambitious plan to enhance healthcare, science, technology, education, business, the arts, and global partnerships.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating opportunities for individuals to succeed in postsecondary education by advancing the academic preparedness of all students and fostering a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida. The Foundation focuses its investments across the education continuum in three key impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years and Postsecondary Success. As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its leadership, expertise and financial resources to better prepare students for college and career and to compete successfully in a globally-competitive economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $125 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez Honored with National Science Award

Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez, Helios Education Foundation's Vice President and Program Director for Arizona Transition Years, Teacher and Curriculum Initiatives, has received the National Science Board's 2013 Public Service Award for her expertise and leadership in the field of K-12 science and math education.

Dr. Vasquez is the first K-12 educator to receive the prestigious award and joins the ranks of previous recipients including: Alan Alda, actor, director and author; Craig Barrett, former Chairman and CEO, Intel Corporation; and Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist.

"Helios Education Foundation couldn't be more proud of Jo Anne's achievements and of her receiving the prestigious Public Service Award from the National Science Board," said Helios' President and CEO Paul J. Luna. "Jo Anne is not only one of the country's foremost experts in science, technology engineering and math (STEM) education, but she has amassed a vast amount of knowledge in K-12 and college and university pedagogy. Above all, Jo Anne is an educator at heart who is still passionate about the success of every student, and we are privileged to have her as part of our Helios team."

Dr. Vasquez' career-long experience teaching, mentoring and working with science and math teachers makes her a critical asset on Helios' Community Investment team where she helps lead the Foundation's STEM education initiatives.

"I am honored to have been awarded the National Science Board's 2013 Public Service Award," said Vasquez. "I appreciate the National Science Board and the National Science Foundation for recognizing my contributions to and avocation for the need to provide continued, quality professional development for math and science teachers. Research has shown that highly skilled teachers are a key factor for preparing all students for postsecondary success."

Prior to joining Helios, Dr. Vasquez served as Director of Professional Development and Outreach at Arizona State University's Center for Research on Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology.

She has been a classroom teacher and district science specialist for Mesa Public Schools as well as an adjunct professor of science education at Arizona State University.

She is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a Master's in Early Childhood Education and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. She is the only K-12 educator appointed to the National Science Board (NSB), which is the governing board of the National Science Foundation.

"Jo Anne Vasquez has been and continues to be a strong and convincing voice for classroom teachers, and has learned first-hand the art and science of teaching in the K-12 classroom," said NSB Chairman Dan Arvizu.

She is a Past President of the National Science Teachers Association, National Science Education Leadership Association, Arizona Science Teachers Association and the International Council of Science Education. Throughout her career, she has mentored thousands of teachers, for which she has earned many awards, including science education's highest, the Robert H. Carlton Award.

Author of several science textbooks and books on science teaching, Vasquez' latest publication, STEM Lesson Essentials for Grades 3-8, was inspired by research she conducted while serving as a member of the NSB. In addition, Vasquez contributed to the 2007 NSB report, National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education System.

Promise Kept on Ending Tax, Now What about Education?

The article below was originally published at AZCentral.com.

As some supporters of the 1-cent sales tax passed in 2010 and opponents of its permanence celebrated its recent expiration, it was hard for many of us to ignore the dark cloud of uncertainty that now engulfs Arizona education.

Seven months ago, those who advocated hard, and often unfairly, for the sales tax’s demise promised to prioritize education and have a plan before the tax sunset. Yet, we sit here today without a plan to restore any meaningful amount of the substantial cuts made to education over the past three years -- or to address the near billion dollar shortfall ahead.

Promises made, promises kept? We guess that depends on where you sit. If you are a student in a classroom, or a parent of one, or even a growing business that is banking on a skilled workforce in the future, it’s highly likely that you’ve been snubbed.

Last month, Helios Education Foundation partnered with NBC News to bring Education Nation to Phoenix. There were several days where national and local attention was focused on education in our state. Leaders from education, government and business all professed that Arizona’s children deserve not only the best education system in the nation, but one of world-class excellence.

With the loss of $900 million in annual sales-tax revenue and nearly $540 million in tax cuts to purportedly fuel job growth underway— both of which impact education — where will the resources to achieve world-class excellence come from? The budget being considered by the Legislature includes more than $170 million in education funding to support Common Core implementation, teacher professional development, technology enhancements and performance incentives.

It doesn’t even come close to fixing the gaping hole that exists.

We are often perplexed by Arizona leaders who seem unfazed by our state’s consistent ranking at the bottom for per-pupil spending and crowning as the nation’s leader in cuts to education during the economic downturn. It’s even more mind-numbing when there is talk about creating a vibrant Arizona with a skilled, highly educated workforce out of a system that consistently receives superficial investment.

In our statewide work, we encounter so many people who truly care about the future of our state, our education system and our children. We are fortunate to partner with many organizations that share our commitment to advancing the academic preparedness of our students.

That includes bar-raising measures such as Arizona’s Common Core Standards and fostering a high expectations culture that encourages every student to pursue a postsecondary certificate or degree. It is this work, these people and these organizations that motivate us to believe in Arizona’s future and our collective ability to prepare our children for college and a career in a global economy.

That being said, kudos to our leaders for celebrating kept promises. Now, what about the promises to Arizona’s children about delivering a world-class education?

Vince Roig is founding chairman and Paul Luna is president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.

Helios Education Foundation Expands Community Investment Team with Addition of Program Specialist

Julie Norwood works with the Community Impact Program Directors in the Phoenix office. She provides both program and administrative support in implementing the Foundation's strategic, investment goals. She brings more than 10 years of experience working with foundations, government and nonprofits.

Helios Education Foundation Names Braulio Colón Vice President and Program Director for Postsecondary Education Success Initiatives

Helios Education Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on creating opportunities for every individual in Arizona and Florida to achieve postsecondary education success, today named Braulio Colón as Vice President and Program Director for Postsecondary Education Success Initiatives in Arizona and Florida.

Colón joins the Foundation's Community Investment team under the leadership of Linda Thompson, Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, where he will help the Foundation engage partners across both states and lead the implementation of the Foundation's new theory of change focused on strengthening student support programs critical to college persistence and completion.

Colón has extensive experience in college access and completion programs and in efforts aimed at helping first-generation and under-represented students gain access to and succeed in postsecondary education.

"We are thrilled to add Braulio to the Foundation's Community Investment team and we are confident that his leadership and expertise will help advance Helios' ongoing efforts to make strategic and impactful investments in postsecondary education in Arizona and Florida," said Helios' Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Barbara Ryan Thompson. "Our core mission is to ensure that every individual in Arizona and Florida has the opportunity to attend and succeed in postsecondary education and we plan to enhance that work even further with the addition of Braulio."

In both Arizona and Florida, fewer than two thirds of full-time students complete a four-year degree in six years and fewer than 20 percent complete a two-year degree within three years. High remediation rates, 59 percent in Arizona and 54 percent in Florida, are a leading deterrent to postsecondary completion.

With predictions indicating that by 2020 more than 60 percent of jobs and the majority of the fastest growing occupations will require some form of postsecondary education, Helios is working to remove the barriers to college access and completion and to better connect critical student supports, such as academic advising and scholarships, to a coherent program of study that leads to degree attainment and career advancement.

"There is no other issue more important to the future of our communities than education," said Braulio Colón. "I am honored to join the team at Helios and I look forward to working with my colleagues and our community partners across both states to make an impact in the lives of students pursuing college success."

A first generation college student himself, Colón grew up in Orlando, Florida and attended the University of South Florida (USF), graduating with dual Bachelor degrees in Mass Communications and Africana Studies. He later earned a Master of Arts in Public Administration from USF.

Prior to joining Helios, Colón served as director of ENLACE Florida, a statewide network promoting college readiness, access and success and subsequently served as founding director of Florida College Access Network (Florida C.A.N.!), where he worked with colleges and universities, school systems, businesses, community organizations and other groups to strengthen local efforts to improve college and career readiness, access and completion for all students.

Colón also worked for the Florida Department of Education as Regional Field Director and for the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System as General Manger for Communications and Public Partnerships.

Helios Education Foundation Helps Direct Resources to "Opportunity Youth"

Helios Education Foundation has invested $150,000 to help fund an Opportunity Youth Grant through the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions. The collaborative, led locally by the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, will harness the power of cross-sector collaboration to make substantive progress for opportunity youth, defined as Americans 16-24 who are disconnected from education and work.

The Aspen Institute is working with similar collaborations in 21 cities and towns across the nation.

"Imagine a community where K-12 and higher education leaders, foster care programs and the justice system, philanthropy and the private sector all came together to build successful pathways for our forgotten youth," said Melody C. Barnes, former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and Chair of the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions. "Today we are making 21 grants to communities that are committed to pulling together these different sectors, to create genuine second chance opportunities for our nation's most vulnerable young adults. We applaud each and every one of these communities for tackling the challenge and building collaborations that can change the life trajectory for opportunity youth."

Each year, the overall cost to the United States from opportunity youth is over $250 billion - including lost revenue, earnings, and increased social services. In 2011 the lifetime societal cost of opportunity youth was $4.75 trillion according to research conducted by Queens College, City University of New York and Teachers College, Columbia University.

The collective impact work will bring stakeholders together from all sectors of the community to improve education and employment outcomes for opportunity youth. Simultaneously, the Aspen Forum will convene roundtable discussions around the country with mayors, community leaders, philanthropies, and businesses to explore successful community collaborations and share best practices.

New Study Shows Arizona and Florida Rank in Bottom Third for Overall Child Well-Being

In laying the foundation for success in school and beyond, the ages between birth and eight years old are the most critical in a child's development. Ensuring young children have access to quality early learning environments, regardless of race, income or geography, provides many societal benefits.

However, according to a recent report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, both Arizona and Florida have work to do to ensure that all children are being given the opportunities they need to succeed.

KidsCount 2013, a recently released study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranked Arizona 47^th and Florida 38^th in overall child well being. The overall well-being analysis looks at poverty, education, health, family and community factors.

Both states have seen little to no improvement from last year's report according to Dr. Karen Ortiz, Vice President and Program Director, Early Childhood Education Initiatives at Helios Education Foundation.

"While these findings aren't surprising," said Ortiz, "they should be concerning to everyone in the early childhood arena. Now more than ever, we must recognize the importance of the earliest years of life in setting the foundation for future academic success."

Additionally, Arizona is 48^th in the nation in the number of children, ages 3-5, attending preschool. Florida ranks much better in this category, coming in at number 7. Studies show that high-quality early childhood education helps prepare young children to succeed in school and become better citizens; they earn more, pay more taxes and commit fewer crimes. Preschool and kindergarten are keys to higher success rates later on in life.

The lack of access to high-quality, coordinated and aligned early childhood learning has a rippling effect on young children and on their ability to succeed in later grades. Helios believes that from birth to eight years of age, a child is in the most significant development stage. Quality learning environments should be available regardless of race, income or geography, ensuring that more children will have success in school very early on and be reading at grade level by the end of third grade.

In 2012, Helios shifted its focus in the early childhood education impact area from programmatic funding to building a coordinated early childhood system of early learning opportunities for children, families, early childhood practitioners and teachers of children 0-8 across multiple communities. The goal is to create coordination and alignment of services, programs and funding to develop a seamless system so children have greater opportunities to access high quality learning environments that give children the opportunity to succeed in the early grades regardless of their age, community or choice of early learning setting.

"It is critical that our communities come together to address the earliest years and strengthen early childhood systems so our children are better prepared to succeed across the education continuum," said Ortiz.

To learn more about Helios Education Foundation's focus on early childhood education, click here.

Helios Education Foundation Provides Lead Gift for Yarnell Memorial Scholarship Endowment

The Yarnell Memorial Scholarship Endowment has been established at the Arizona Community Foundation to endow scholarships for the children of the 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and other fallen firefighters. The goal is to build the fund to at least $1 million, which will continue to grow-thanks to the power of endowment-over the next 12-16 years, until the children are of age to apply for college scholarships.

Helios Education Foundation is proud to provide the lead gift of $100,000 for the endowment. ACF and its affiliated Yavapai County Community Foundation are contributing at least $50,000. Arizonans are invited to make gifts to help grow this endowment.

"Like all Arizonans, the board and staff of Helios Education Foundation are mourning the brave firefighters who lost their lives in the Yarnell fire," said Vince Roig, Founding Chairman, Helios Education Foundation. "While we know there are many immediate needs for the families and communities directly impacted by the fire, we want to honor the sacrifice of the fallen firefighters through the establishment of this scholarship endowment. The fund will support the educational future of their children and, we hope, provide some comfort and security for each of the families."

ACF and Helios collaborate on a number of education-related partnerships each year. This new partnership allows both organizations to put their resources and strengths to best use for the firefighters' families.

In addition to the scholarship fund, the Arizona Community Foundation continues to raise funds for disaster relief as well. To learn more, visit the Arizona Community Foundation.

TGen Experience Helps Helios Scholars Prepare for Future

Arizona's future leaders in biology and medicine graduated today from one of the nation's premier scientific internship programs, sponsored by Helios Education Foundation and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). The 45 interns in the 2013 Helios Scholars at TGen summer internship program completed eight weeks of biomedical investigations and presented their findings at a daylong scientific symposium July 26 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

Under the mentorship of TGen researchers - who provide one-on-one instruction - Helios Scholars use cutting-edge technology to help discover the genetic causes of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. This is the seventh class of Helios Scholars at TGen, funded for 25 years by Helios Education Foundation. Helios is focused on creating opportunities for individuals to succeed in postsecondary education by advancing the academic preparedness of all students and fostering a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida.

"TGen's summer intern program is one of the premier examples of how students can become immersed in the sciences and see a real connection between the work they're doing in labs and future career opportunities in the field," said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. "At Helios Education Foundation, we believe in the transformational power of education. The Helios Scholars at TGen program is helping prepare students for academic success while potentially making scientific breakthroughs that could improve the lives of future generations."

The program is open to high school, undergraduate and graduate level students, including those in medical school.

"Our partnership with the Helios Education Foundation is helping prepare a whole new generation of biomedical investigators for Arizona," said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen's President and Research Director. "We help them explore the biosciences beyond the classroom, honing their skills through participating in potentially life-changing research projects."

The internships help students from diverse backgrounds - selected from a competitive pool of nearly 500 applicants - sharpen their research skills as they prepare for careers in science and medicine. In addition to technical skills, students participate in professional development seminars that broaden their knowledge and skills in science communication, networking, career development, business etiquette and public speaking. The ultimate goal of the seminars is to produce savvy, polished future scientists and physicians.

"Many of this year's Helios Scholars were born after the start of the Human Genome Project," said Brandy Wells, TGen's Manager of Science Education and Outreach. "These students of the genome-age are torchbearers for future medical discoveries, based on a precise understanding of the genetic underpinnings of human disease."

On-Field Ceremony Honors This Year's DBacks Helios Scholars

On Saturday, August 10, the Arizona Diamondbacks introduced the 2013 DBacks Helios Scholars in an on-field presentation which included Helios Founding Board Chair Vince Roig and President and CEO Paul Luna.

Each of the scholarship recipients are academically gifted students with incredible stories of personal triumph, leadership, strength, hope and perseverance. Seven of the eight students are first-generation college students.

The scholarships, administered by the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation, are awarded to college-bound high school seniors in Arizona to attend any four-year college or university in Arizona. It is a competitive process in which students must demonstrate academic strength and a compelling desire to attend college. A priority is given to students with limited financial resources. In addition to the scholarship funding, each student will have access to a mentor to support them throughout their college education.

Students were presented with a scholarship certificate, a new laptop computer (courtesy of Insight and Lenovo), a bike and a D-Backs backpack full of gifts and supplies for college.

Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation announced a partnership with Helios Education Foundation and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation to create the D-backs Helios Scholars program that will send 40 Arizona High School seniors to college over five years. The D-backs recognized eight scholars at a game last season to kick off the program in which the team will contribute $500,000 to the D-backs Helios Scholars program that Helios Education Foundation has matched for a total donation of $1 million.

"Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for every individual in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education," said Vince Roig, Founding Chairman, Helios Education Foundation. "We can't do that work alone and the Diamondbacks and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation are two of our valued partners to help motivated students achieve post-secondary education."

Providing the STEM for Student Growth: Bay Area Educators Put Students on the College and Career Path

Four Tampa Bay area middle schools are beginning the new school year with a special focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Last week, 30 educators from Largo, Greco, Booker, and Mulberry middle schools participated in a two-day workshop where they developed plans to help their students become college and career ready with a STEM focus.

The workshop was facilitated by College For Every Student (CFES), a nonprofit organization committed to raising the academic aspirations and performance of underserved youth so that they can prepare for, gain access to, and succeed in college.

"Recognizing that a STEM education ensures that all students are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21^st century workforce, schools all over the country are shifting their attention to STEM," said CFES President & CEO Rick Dalton. "There will be 9.2 million STEM jobs by 2020 so it's critical to recruit and train students in these fields and to set them up for success."

The CFES STEM Scholars program incorporates strategies and approaches that CFES has developed over 22 years. Each school will identify 100 or more low-income students in grades 6-8 who will participate in the three CFES core practice programs -- Mentoring, Leadership through Service, and Pathways to College. These programs have proven effective with a 95 percent college-going rate for grade 12 CFES participants.

During the workshop, educators developed approaches to bring their CFES STEM program to life. Some schools talked about creating a robotics club, while others are eager to partner with local organizations to build community gardens.

All students in the program will participate in ongoing college exposure, regular service projects with a STEM focus, interact with professionals working in STEM fields and receive leadership training.

Stacy Carlson, Vice President and Program Director of Florida Transition Years for Helios Education Foundation, spoke to the group. "This is a great opportunity for our Tampa students," she said. "CFES is an organization with a proven track record for success, and in working with them over the last few years, it's evident that they are passionate about helping our Florida students become college and career ready for the STEM fields."

Helios Education Foundation has invested $800,000 in the CFES STEM Program. With a goal of creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education, STEM education is a priority for Helios.

CFES has developed partnerships with area colleges that will support the program's goals. Students from the University of South Florida will serve as mentors for the CFES STEM Scholars in the four participating middle schools.

Rollins College will provide financial aid and admissions workshops as well as campus visits for CFES STEM Scholars. Said David Erdmann, dean of admissions at Rollins, "The president of Rollins, Lewis Duncan, who teaches space plasma physics, will share his repertoire of magic tricks with a science twist,"

"We're excited about the Tampa Bay STEM program," said Dalton. "We're off to a great start. Our CFES STEM Scholars will learn that the sky is the limit."

Helios Education Foundation Founding Chairman, Vince Roig, Named 2013 Afterschool Champion

Education advocate and founding chairman of Helios Education Foundation, Vince Roig, has been named the 2013 Afterschool Champion by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence.

Roig will receive the award on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the 12^th Annual Arizona Statewide Afterschool Conference & Awards of Excellence Luncheon at the Phoenix Convention Center, North Building Ballroom, in downtown Phoenix. Also at the luncheon, innovative afterschool programs and staff from around the state will be recognized for their exemplary work in delivering quality youth development programs.

Roig joins an impressive list of past honorees that includes former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Lattie Coor, Eddie Basha and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

"Vince Roig's entire career has been focused on and dedicated to education," said Melanie McClintock, executive director, Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence. "His efforts have touched the lives of students at every level of the educational spectrum."

Roig holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in secondary education. He founded Helios Education Foundation, the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education, in 2004. The Foundation has invested millions of dollars in education-related programs and initiatives in three impact areas: Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years and Postsecondary Success.

Before founding Helios, Roig was president and chief executive officer of Southwest Student Services Corporation, a full-service provider of student loan products and services. He serves or has served on the boards of numerous organizations including: Teach for America National, Stand for Children National, Take Stock in Children, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board, Stand for Children Arizona Advisory Committee, Valley of the Sun United Way and the Phoenix Art Museum. He also currently serves as chair of the board for the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation.

Helios Education Foundation and the Rays Baseball Foundation Announce 2013 Scholars

In 2012, Helios Education Foundation and the Rays Baseball Foundation teamed up to provide $1 million in college scholarships for students participating in Take Stock in Children in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Pasco counties over a five year period.

The partnership is aimed at giving students the financial resources and mentorship support they need to successfully achieve a postsecondary education at any Florida state college. On Saturday, August 24, the Rays and Helios recognized the first class of Rays/Helios scholars during a pre-game presentation at Tropicana Field.

We are so proud of the following students for being named a 2013 Rays Helios Scholar: T'shani Anderson, Tatyanna Bailey, Austin Bennett, Devin Bowers, Joshua Boyd, Julien Max Brinkley, Victoria Camara, Matthew Claxton, Tessa Delgo, Nicole Desrosiers, Sawyer Figlow, Moesha Foster, Giancarlo Gamboa-Barrios, Lisbeth Gorgonio, Azaria Green, Jacy Grimes, Diante Henry, Juan Leis-Pretto, Sarah Marin, Kareena Mathew, Elijah Mclaughlin, Julia Menke, Ariana Monzon, Stephanie Nicholas, Scarlett O'Hara, Gevauni Pal, Dante Pascarella, Niko Perrotta, Christian Phillips, Iyanna Reynolds, Lilybeth Ruiz-Vasquez, Idelisa Santana, Alyssa Sessions, Andres Soto, Lincee St. Amand, Faith Stinnett, Devontay Taylor, Henry Tillman, Kevin Townsend, Alexander Turner, Tyler Vining, Brian Watkins and Suha Zeinelabdin.

About the Rays Baseball Foundation

The Rays Baseball Foundation, the official charity of the Tampa Bay Rays, focuses primarily on youth and education programs in the Tampa Bay region that make a measurable difference in the community. Since 2008, the Rays Baseball Foundation has proudly invested more than $3 million in youth and education programs in the Tampa Bay area. Key contributors to the Foundation include Rays owners, players, sponsors, fans and employees. For more information visit raysbaseball.com/community.

About Take Stock in Children

Take Stock in Children provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. The program offers students college scholarships, mentorship and hope for a better life. The program's comprehensive services start in middle school, continue through high school and include helping students transition to college. Take Stock in Children's programs are based on the principle that given extensive support, motivation and accountability, children will work hard to ensure that they graduate from high school and attain a college degree. For more information, please visit takestockinchildren.org.

Helios Education Foundation Makes Additional Investment in Ready Now Yuma

By providing students with a rigorous, high expectations curriculum within a college-going environment, Helios Education Foundation and Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) are working to increase the number of students entering and succeeding in postsecondary education.

"The Ready Now Yuma initiative is helping students maximize their full potential by providing every student with a performance-based, student-centered curriculum," said Antonia Franco, Vice President and Program Director, Transition Years, Student, Family and Community Initiatives and Helios lead on the Ready Now Yuma implementation. "In addition, we are changing belief systems by promoting a college-going and career- readiness culture where every student is offered multiple pathways to education success."

In addition to an initial investment of $3.9 million over five years, Helios Education Foundation has committed an additional $440,000 to implement an evaluation plan as well as further expand the communications and community engagement efforts.

"Overall, these additional funds will further Ready Now Yuma's goal of preparing every student to graduate college and career ready," said Toni Badone, YUHSD Superintendent.

Helios is committed to the evaluation of its initiatives to ensure that the goals and objectives are being met as well as to ensure that key knowledge and best practices are being collected. The goal is to take this information and share it with other initiatives and the broader education community.

"Through all of Helios' investments, including Ready Now Yuma, we are interested in learning everything we can about how to help students graduate college and career ready," said Linda Thompson, Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, Helios Education Foundation. "Supporting a robust evaluation effort for Ready Now Yuma will contribute to that learning. In addition, we continue to be committed to furthering a college-going culture in Yuma through increased communication and community engagement activities."

The evaluation process will be led by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. During the process, researchers will be interviewing stakeholders, parents, teachers and students as well as conducting classroom visits to determine how Ready Now Yuma has rolled out across the district. The evaluation will help document the design and implementation of Ready Now Yuma as well as capture both the challenges and successes they have encountered along the way. In doing this, other districts will have the opportunity to replicate what the Ready Now Yuma initiative has accomplished.

Arizona's Early Education Work Highlighted in National Conversation

The U.S. Department of Education's "Strong Start, Bright Future" Back-to-School bus tour stopped in Arizona this week emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all students benefit from high-quality educational opportunities.

As part of Secretary Duncan's focus on education in Arizona, a group of early education experts and advocates gathered at Rio Salado Community College in Phoenix to discuss Arizona's work in early education with leadership from the US Department of Education and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Karen Ortiz, Helios' Vice President and Program Director for Early Education Initiatives participated on a panel along with representatives from Chicanos Por La Causa, First Things First, Read On Arizona, the Arizona Department of Education, Rio Salado Community College, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University.

The panelists discussed key issues in early education including: access to high quality early learning experiences for all children, providing opportunities for professional development for early care providers and the need to align early education and K-3 teaching strategies.

Dr. Ortiz shared the role that Philanthropy plays in helping to strengthen the early childhood education system in Arizona.

"We know that the early years - birth through age 8 - provide the foundation for children to be successful throughout the education continuum and ultimately achieve postsecondary success," said Ortiz. "However, we also know that programmatic funding alone isn't going to change the game. We need to align and coordinate our efforts so that children and families have the supports they need to be successful."

In addition to the panel discussions, Dr. Libby Doggett, from the US Department of Education and Ms. Linda Smith from the US Department of Health and Human Services discussed the national priority of making high-quality preschool available to every child in America and significantly expanding and improving services to young children.

To learn more about the Back to School bus tour, visit http://www.ed.gov/blog/.

Helios Education Foundation Sends Five Arizona Student Delegates to NBC News' "Education Nation" Summit at the New York City Public Library

Helios Education Foundation, in partnership with Be a Leader Foundation, is sending five Arizona student delegates to participate in NBC News' "Education Nation" Summit at the New York City Library in New York City this weekend.

The national Summit is a culmination of the 2013 Education Nation Tour which stopped in Phoenix in May, 2013. At the event in Phoenix, policymakers, education leaders, teachers and students came together to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing education in Arizona. Key topics such as early literacy, school funding, workforce preparedness, teacher training and student engagement were discussed.

"We are looking forward to continuing the conversation, started in May, at the National Summit this weekend," said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. "We also know that it is critical to include students in any conversation related to education. We need to hear their thoughts and perspectives as they are the most important beneficiaries of a strong education system."

This year's Education Nation theme focuses on "What It Takes" for us as a nation, to ensure students are successfully prepared for college, career and beyond, and will focus on student and teacher voices and stories throughout to frame the conversation. Leading experts and stakeholders - from parents and teachers, to policymakers and employers - will delve into critical factors that impact students' chances of success - including: well-trained teachers; access to higher education; active parenting; community support; early education; safe learning environments; attention to personal learning; high standards; and workforce readiness.

The student delegates from Arizona will participate in the "Student Town Hall" moderated by Melissa Harris-Perry, MSNBC Host, on Sunday, October 6. They are all sophomores in high school and participate in Be a Leader Foundation programs. All of them have strong academic aspirations and are leaders among their peers. The following is a list of the student delegates:

Socorro BarraganNieves (Franklin Police & Fire High School, Phoenix)
Esther Avila Rodriguez (Carl Hayden High School, Phoenix)
Epimenio Negrete Jr. (North High School, Phoenix)
Jasmine Betancourt (Mesa High School, Mesa)
Yaqub Elmi (Red Mountain High School, Mesa)

"Our students are thrilled to have been selected by Helios and NBC News to participate in this conversation," said Melissa Trujillo, President and CEO, Be a Leader Foundation. "They are looking forward to sharing their perspective on what it takes for students to succeed. In addition, this experience will expose them to a once in a lifetime national education conversation. Not only will this be our students' first time in New York City but for some of them, this will be their first time on an airplane."

Click here to view the events via livestream. This year's Summit will stream live online at EducationNation.com and the NBC News YouTube Channel. Click here to learn more about the Education Nation Phoenix event last May and view videos of the events.

Higher Standards, Rigorous Assessments Improve Schools, Cultures and Student Trajectories

This opinion-editorial originally ran in the Tampa Bay Times on Monday, October 14, 2013.

In light of Helios Education Foundation's commitment to improving education in Florida, listening to the contentious debate about higher standards and rigorous assessments is both difficult and frustrating.

For more than five years, leaders and educators within Florida and across our nation have worked hard to raise the academic bar for our students and to better position Florida for long-term prosperity in the development of the state-led Common Core Standards and rigorous assessments. Governors, education chiefs, teachers and parents came together to ensure higher expectations and greater alignment across states so that families moving from Massachusetts (arguably some of the best schools in the nation) to Florida, Arizona or any other state can expect consistent, high standards across our schools.

The writing is on the wall for Florida and our nation, and it's about more than students and families. It's about Florida's economy, competitiveness and overall quality of life. We must better prepare our students for college and career or our future is at risk. And, based on our current student performance, the threat is far too real.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a mere 35 percent of Florida fourth graders are proficient in reading. Only 28 percent of our eighth graders are proficient in math. More than 176,000 of Florida's high school graduates require remediation upon entry into community college. Furthermore, we have too few students going on to college and too few adults with high quality certificates and degrees. If the bar isn't raised now, we are perpetuating a workforce pipeline that is undereducated, underskilled and underprepared to compete nationally and internationally.

Higher standards and rigorous assessments raise the bar and set Florida on a continued path to prosperity.

Those opposing the state-led Common Core Standards view them as the federal government interfering with local control. They are not. In fact, the standards provide teachers and schools incredible flexibility in their choice of curriculum as well as in how they engage students to meet the standards and master critical skills and knowledge. There is a misconception that states were required to adopt the standards. They were not. Florida's state and education leaders voluntarily adopted them to ensure all students have access to an excellent education and graduate college and career ready.

Florida is a nationally recognized leader in education. The reforms that have taken place in our state to improve student academic performance from birth through postsecondary are considered some of the most progressive and impactful policies in decades. What makes Florida great is that we shun complacency and continuously strive to ensure every student receives an excellent education. The Common Core State Standards and a more rigorous, aligned assessment move us closer to achieving a world-class educational system that is internationally benchmarked and prepares our students to compete in a knowledge-based global economy.

We must stop arguing over the voluntarily adopted standards and focus our attention on how best to support our schools, teachers, students and families through this transition to a more rigorous academic environment. This much-needed transformation in our classrooms challenges our teachers to engage students differently: facilitating discussion, fostering collaboration, cultivating curiosity, and developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It also requires teachers to improve their craft, which demands ongoing professional development, access to timely and relevant student performance data, and supportive, engaged communities.

Helios Education Foundation has championed and invested in education solutions that advance academic preparedness and foster college-going cultures for all students for nearly a decade. Through our partnerships, we have seen the powerful impact rigorous, high expectations academic environments have on student success. We have also witnessed the transformational power of rigorous, high-bar assessments on school cultures and the postsecondary aspirations of students. Together, they can change student trajectories, better preparing them for college and career and positioning Florida as a contender for world-class talent and economic opportunity.

As a state heralded for bold leadership in education, now more than ever, Florida needs our leaders, educators and families to stand firm in our commitment to implementing the Common Core State Standards and forthcoming rigorous and aligned assessments. By participating in the Florida Standards Public Meetings this week, this is our chance to state loud and clear that our commitment is to preparing our students for college and career, and positioning Florida for long-term economic prosperity.

Leadership often requires making tough decisions and the fortitude to stay the course. Our students are depending on us.

NCAN Elects Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, as New Director

Members of the National College Access Network (NCAN) unanimously elected Mr. Paul J. Luna to its national board of directors for a three-year term. Mr. Luna is President and Chief Executive Officer of Helios Education Foundation, an NCAN member based in Phoenix, AZ.

"I am truly humbled and honored to be given the opportunity to serve on the board of directors of the National College Access Network (NCAN)," said Mr. Luna. "I believe that the synergies that exist between NCAN and Helios will aid the broader effort to widen pathways to postsecondary education success for all students, especially for first-generation students and those from other underrepresented populations."

Helios is the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education and it is committed to creating a high-expectations, college-going culture in both states by investing in initiatives that prepare students for college and career success.

Created in 2004 through the sale and conversion of Southwest Student Services Corporation and with an initial endowment of $525 million, Helios made its first investments in education in 2006. Since that time, the Foundation has invested over $133 million in programs and initiatives across its impact areas of Early Childhood Education, the Transition Years and Postsecondary Success that are changing lives through education.

Mr. Luna is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the Foundation, cultivating strong community relationships, and initiating strategic partnerships in Arizona and Florida. Prior to his role at the Foundation, Mr. Luna served as President of Valley of the Sun United Way where he led a community-wide fundraising effort approaching $50 million.

A graduate of Stanford University, Paul holds a degree in Civil Engineering. He serves as a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Center for the Future of Arizona Board of Directors, Arizona Community Foundation Board of Directors, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and is the Founding Chair of the Expect More Arizona Board of Directors.

Planning Grant from Helios Education Foundation Helps Prepare Teachers for the 21st Century Classroom

Arizona Science Center has been awarded a planning grant of more than $260,000 by Helios Education Foundation in an effort to help improve classroom instruction in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) areas. This project will help teachers further integrate critical components such as problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration into teaching methods.

Educators are facing a critical time as innovations and advancements in technology, science, and engineering are outpacing their ability to adapt how students are taught. The need for a STEM-literate and STEM-skilled population is ever-increasing to respond to the global challenges of the 21^st century. It is critical that our teachers are able to prepare our students to succeed in this ever-changing environment.

This planning grant will create STEM Teaching and Learning Continuums with partner districts around the state. The purpose is to provide professional development and learning opportunities for teachers in the STEM areas. The project is aimed at developing strategies for leadership, mentoring, coaching and teaching which will ultimately improve classroom instruction.

The initiative will be implemented in Flagstaff Unified School District; J.O. Combs Unified School District with the collaboration of the Pinal County Educational Services Agency; and Scottsdale Unified School District. These districts were selected after an exhaustive screening process substantiated their commitment to enhancing STEM education.

One of many formal educational programs offered by Arizona Science Center, the STEM Teaching and Learning Continuums is in its planning year, with a goal of developing the infrastructure for continued investment that will impact hundreds of educational leaders and teachers and thousands of students in Arizona school communities.

"When the class of 2020 - today's sixth-graders - graduate, they'll enter a job market in which 70 percent of jobs are STEM-based or require STEM skills," said Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO, Arizona Science Center. "It's imperative that communities pull together at this critical juncture to prepare both teachers and students, as technological advancements are outpacing our ability to adapt to how we teach our students."

Through the initiative, Arizona Science Center will work with participating school districts to customize research-based solutions, with engagement ranging from professional learning and development sessions, to one-to-one leadership and instructional coaching, and independent reflective practice models. Specific strategic plans will be created for educational leadership across the districts, as well as professional learning and development for leaders, teachers, and content for students in a specified K-12 continuum.

"This new initiative is a distinct addition to Helios' portfolio of STEM investments, because it seeks to create continuity and intentionality for the students' experiences in STEM learning across the education pipeline. It provides an overarching goal of creating a system wide change in the teaching of STEM at all levels," said Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez, vice president and program director of STEM Teaching & Learning Initiatives, Helios Education Foundation.

"Student achievement is largely dependent on teacher quality," added Humphrey. "The best way to boost teacher quality is through targeted, customized professional development programs."

Services will be managed and provided through the Professional Learning and Development department, the teacher and educational leadership professional development and training arm of Arizona Science Center, under the leadership of Dr. Sharon Kortman, principal investigator on the project and vice president of learning at Arizona Science Center.

"We have a unique opportunity to develop a partnership model with formal and informal learning institutions, higher education, parents and the community, and with business and industry for a collective responsibility for student learning," said Dr. Sharon Kortman. "We look forward to this inclusive engagement of all leaders, all teachers, and all students in rigorous and relevant learning opportunities that can be replicated to other learning communities."

Horizon Research, Inc. will lead a comprehensive evaluation of the program to document district and school system changes, changes in teaching practices and curriculum, changes in students' attitudes toward STEM and lessons learned.

With more than 30 years of experience in formal and informal learning, Arizona Science Center is uniquely poised to lead the initiative. The organization serves more than half a million Arizonans annually, in addition to the nearly 300,000 impacted during the 2012-2013 school year by the Professional Learning and Development department.

US Students Lag Behind their International Counterparts in Global Achievement Exams

The 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores were recently released and U.S. students slipped further down in the international rankings. U.S. students scored below the international average in math and roughly average in science and reading, compared with other countries that participated in the assessment.

Overall, U.S. students rank 17th in reading, 21st in science and 26th in math, trailing nations such as Solvakia, Portugal and Russia. These rankings have remained roughly the same since the PISA assessment started in 2000, indicating that our students are not improving at the same rate as other countries.

The PISA exam, which is administered every three years to 15-year-olds, is designed to gauge how students use the material they have learned inside and outside the classroom to solve problems. Administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the exam is designed to measure whether students can apply what they've learned in school to real-life problems. Nearly 6,100 U.S. students participated in this round of testing out of a total of 510,000 students world-wide.

In addition, Florida, was one of three states who opted to boost their participation in PISA to get more state-specific data. On average, Florida students scored below the global average in math and science and near the global average in reading.

"The countries who consistently perform the best on international assessments are countries that have consistent and high standards across each grade level," said Jo Anne Vasquez, Vice President and Program Director, Arizona Transition Years STEM Teaching and Learning Initiatives. "That's one reason we continue to support the full implementation of Common Core State Standards which provide increased rigor for our students and are grade-level consistent from state to state."

U.S. students have historically ranked low on international assessments. One important consideration is the United States' commitment to educating all students where in many other countries, formal education is reserved for the elite. However, data like this is an indication that we must work to increase the rigor in our classrooms. It is our responsibility to ensure that our students are prepared to succeed in college and career as well as compete with both their national and international peers.

Click here to learn more about the PISA scores.

Helios Education Foundation Helps Expand Associate Degree Completion

Research recently released suggests more than 27,000 community college students in the U.S. were eligible for an associate's degree before they transferred to a four-year institution but were unaware. Perhaps even more concerning is about half of those 27,000 students held no postsecondary credential four years after they transferred. The research, conducted by the Office of Community College Research and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was a baseline study to identify the potential impact of the Credit When It's Due Initiative. Additional reports about the implementation of the initiative will be conducted. Click here to view the full baseline report.

In 2012, Helios Education Foundation was among five foundations who partnered to create the "Credit When It's Due" initiative to support higher education systems and institutions in developing policies and practices that facilitate associate degree attainment for community college students who transferred to a four-year college or university without first obtaining an associate degree. Helios specifically provided funding to support the initiative pilot at 10 community colleges and four universities in Florida.

Called a "reverse transfer," the ability to transfer credits earned at a university to the community college previously attended to meet unfulfilled associate degree requirements is a great benefit to students. It promotes educational achievement and academic success by recognizing the effort students put into their postsecondary education. This, in turn, raises the completion rate for colleges - and higher performance could mean increased funding for institutions that are often facing budget constraints.

"This initiative is a win-win for students," said Braulio Colón, Vice President & Program Director, Postsecondary Education Initiatives at Helios Education Foundation. "They have earned this degree and by providing opportunities for ‘reverse-transfer,' they have an additional postsecondary credential that opens up continued educational and job opportunities for them. Obtaining a postsecondary education is critical for today's students who are competing in a global economy that demands high level, 21st century skills. As a foundation focused on creating opportunities for postsecondary success, we are excited about the implications of this work for students."

It also helps lead to greater economic benefits for the community. Research shows that degree holders:
• Pay more taxes
• Buy more goods and services
• Require less government support through social service programs*

Nationally representative data shows that 78 percent of students who transfer from a community college to a university do so without an associate degree. Data also show of those who transfer, 65 percent transfer to a university with 45 or more college credits; yet despite the large number of credits earned, 43 percent still lack a college degree four years later.

The Credit When It's Due Initiative intends to help identify strategies and create "reverse transfer agreements" between community colleges and four-year institutions so that these students can receive the associate degree they have earned. Helios' support of this initiative provided funding to create these agreements between: Florida Atlantic University, Indian River State College, Palm Beach State College, Florida International University, Broward College, Miami-Dade College, University of North Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville, University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, Pasco Hernando Community College, St. Petersburg College, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Early results show that, within these institutions, there are nearly 2,100 students eligible for a reverse transfer.

*Is More Better: The Impact of Postsecondary Education on the Economic and Social Well-Being of American Society

Helios Education Foundation Expands Marketing Communications Effort with Addition of Phoenix-Based Director

Lindgren will work closely with Ian Smith, the Foundation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, to develop and implement strategic marketing communications campaigns in support of the Foundation’s current investment of over $125 million in education initiatives in Arizona and Florida and in support of future activities.

“The expansion of Helios Education Foundation’s marketing communications team comes at a pivotal time for us as we seek to engage even broader audiences about the critical need to better prepare all students for the 21^st Century’s globalized economy,” said Foundation Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Barbara Ryan Thompson. “Rebecca has demonstrated a passion for and commitment to education and that, coupled with her expertise, make her a valuable addition to our staff.”

Lindgren brings more than 14 years of professional marketing and communications experience in the private and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining Helios Education Foundation, she served as Marketing and Communications Director for Expect More Arizona, a high expectations movement dedicated to world-class education for all Arizona students. In that role, she was responsible for brand planning and internal and external communications including a multi-media advertising and public relations effort.

“I am very honored to join Helios Education Foundation,” said Lindgren. “It is a privilege to be part of an organization that is focused on improving lives through education and on helping ensure that all students are prepared for college and career success.”

Rebecca is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University where she earned a Masters Degree in Mass Communication. She also holds an undergraduate degree in Communications from Pepperdine University. She is currently on the board of Phoenix Day and was a member Valley Leadership’s Class XXIX.

Happy New Year from Helios Education Foundation

Best wishes for a new year filled with hope, joy and peace. Click here to view the animated Helios 2014 New Year message.

Paul J. Luna, Helios Education Foundation President and CEO, Joins America's Promise Alliance Board of Directors

America's Promise Alliance has elected Helios President and CEO, Paul J. Luna, to its board of directors.

“We’re excited to have a leader like Paul Luna join our board of directors,” said John Gomperts, president and CEO, America's Promise Alliance. “He has a deep passion for improving the lives of our children and creating stronger, more resilient communities. That passion, combined with his extraordinary expertise in education, leadership, policy and community mobilization, will prove exceptionally valuable as we ramp up the work of the GradNation Campaign in the coming years.”

The America’s Promise board of directors provides strategic counsel regarding the organization’s mission and work, including the GradNation Campaign. GradNation is a large and growing movement of dedicated individuals, organizations and communities working together to raise the national high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020, with no school graduating fewer than 80 percent of its students on time.

"I am humbled and honored to be given the opportunity to serve on the board of America’s Promise Alliance,” said Luna. “Helios Education Foundation is focused on creating opportunities for students in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education and that work is done by advancing student academic preparedness and fostering a high-expectations, college-going culture around those students. I’m excited that there is true synergy between our organization and America’s Promise Alliance, and I look forward to working with them to shine a spotlight on the solutions needed to ensure greater student achievement.”

Other members of the Alliance’s Board of Directors are: Alma J. Powell, chair; C. Gregg Petersmeyer, vice chair; Donna Barksdale, secretary; Barksdale Management Corporation; General Colin L. Powell, founding chairman, USA (Ret); James L. Barksdale, president and CEO, Barksdale Management Corporation; Daniel A. Casey, immediate past chair, YMCA of the USA; Angela Diaz, M.D., M.P.H, director, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center; Dan Domenech, executive director, American Association of School Administrators; Daniel Erickson, member, Youth Impact Network, America’s Promise Alliance; Raul Fernandez, chairman, ObjectVideo; Harold E. Ford, Jr., managing director and senior client relationship manager, Morgan Stanley; Brian A. Gallagher, president and CEO, United Way Worldwide; Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., president, Amachi Program; Daniel Hamburger, president and CEO, DeVry Inc.; Larry Klane, global financial institutions group leader, Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company; Charlene Lake, senior vice president, public affairs and chief sustainability officer, AT&T; Dr. John E. Maupin, Jr., president, Morehouse School of Medicine; Rhonda Mims, president, ING Foundation; Andrea Mitchell, chief foreign affairs correspondent, NBC News; Michael Parham, interim general counsel, RealNetworks, Inc.; Kathy Havens Payne, senior director, education leadership, State Farm Insurance Companies; Michael K. Powell, president and CEO, National Cable & Telecommunications Association; Jin Roy Ryu, chairman and CEO, PMX Industries, Inc. & chairman and CEO, Poongsan Corporation (Korea); Richard D. Stephens, former senior vice president of human resources and administration, The Boeing Company; Carmita Vaughan, founder, C. Vaughan & Associates.

Helios Education Foundation Helps Improve Literacy and Language Skills with Literacy Connects

Helios Education Foundation recently partnered with Literacy Connects to improve literacy and language skills among infants, children, adults and families in neighborhoods around schools in the Sunnyside Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona. Literacy Connects is the largest nonprofit literacy provider in Arizona and promotes literacy through educational opportunities from birth through adulthood.

Over the next three years, the project, funded by Helios Education Foundation, is expected to serve more than 5,800 children and adults directly, and another 3,400 indirectly. The goal is to increase families’ literacy levels and educational expectations. Key strategies to achieve that goal include: focus on improving reading skills and scores among students at targeted elementary schools, encouraging greater involvement of parents in their children’s and their own education, and developing closer links between the schools and community organizations that provide birth-through-adult educational programming.

Helios Education Foundation is committed to investing in the success of young children as it lays the foundation for success in school and beyond. By strengthening early childhood systems to promote language acquisition and emergent literacy for children, birth through age eight, more Arizona and Florida children will enter kindergarten ready to succeed and be reading at grade level by the end of third grade.

The Literacy Connects Infusion Project model, which was piloted in August 2013 at Mission Manor Elementary School, provides research-based literacy programming for children birth through age eight in the surrounding community. The project addresses critical needs such as kindergarten readiness, reading at grade level by third grade, English language reading and writing, one-on-one literacy support, and opportunities for learning through creative expression and arts integration such as painting, drawing, dance and drama.

The grant will allow the project to provide remedial and enrichment services, such as tutoring and afterschool activities to learners of all ages around schools in the Sunnyside Unified School District.

Literacy Connects and project partners, including United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Pima Community College Adult Education, Sunnyside Parents as Teachers, and Pima County Public Libraries, will:

support area early childhood centers with professional development, including student advocacy and helping families successfully bridge between early childhood programs and kindergarten
offer tutoring, and educational workshops to help adults build skills in basic literacy, English language reading and writing, and college and career readiness
offer elementary school children reading coaches, opportunities for creative expression, and whole-family learning events
support teachers with programs and professional development

The pilot program was created with input from Tucson Unified and Sunnyside Unified school districts, state education officials and staff from the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, who reviewed existing program outcomes, assessed needs and agreed a more collaborative, systems-based approach was needed to boost literacy. In the Sunnyside Unified School District, 22 percent of students are classified English Language Learners while another 11 percent are recently reclassified former English Language Learners. The graduation rate was 67 percent in 2009. In the Sunnyside neighborhood, 47 percent of people over age 25 do not have a high school diploma.

With the assistance of more than 1,700 well-trained volunteers, Literacy Connects’ programs touched more than 47,000 people last year. Click here for more information about Literacy Connects.

$1.5 Million Grant Allows the Florida College Access Network to Support Regional Networks

Helios Education Foundation has announced a three-year, $1.5 million grant to the Florida College Access Network (Florida C.A.N.!), aimed at boosting the number of Floridians who hold a college degree or high-quality postsecondary credential. The funds will help Florida C.A.N.! support the development of local college access networks (“LCANs”) throughout the state that are comprised of regional leaders representing local governments, businesses, school districts, higher education institutions, nonprofit agencies and foundations working together to build a college-going culture in their communities.

Florida C.A.N.!’s Big Goal is for 60 percent of working-age Floridians to hold a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential by the year 2025. It works to achieve this goal through thought leadership on policies to increase college readiness, access and completion and by supporting collaborative initiatives to increase attainment rates at the local level. Florida C.A.N.! will utilize some of the Helios funds to provide grants to local college access networks working to achieve these goals.

“We are grateful to have Helios as a partner in this important work,” said Florida C.A.N.! executive director Laurie Meggesin. “Florida needs a well-educated workforce to compete in the 21^st Century global economy, yet there is a significant gap between Floridians’ current education levels and employers’ workforce needs. A high school diploma is simply not enough today for many Floridians to qualify for well-paying jobs. Communities can work together to close the achievement gap and in the process, raise the quality of life for their residents as a whole. The Helios grant will go a long way in helping to support such efforts.”

Paul Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, said “It is critical that we continue to provide students with pathways to postsecondary success, and creating local college access networks helps to achieve that goal. Helios is pleased to support the work of Florida C.A.N.! whose leadership in this area will help to ensure more Florida students earn a postsecondary degree or credential.”

New Report Finds that Performance-Based Scholarship Program Helps Young Latino Men Succeed

A report recently released by MDRC titled “Moving Forward” indicates that performance-based scholarships have a positive effect on student success in postsecondary education.

College graduation rates for Latino students, especially Latino male students, are lower than the national average. In fact, 2009 data shows that Latino students in Arizona public universities were less likely to graduate than their White peers. One out of every two Latino students who began college finished their baccalaureate degree within six years of enrollment, while 58 percent of White students graduated.*

In addition, national research indicates that Hispanic students -- particularly males -- may be more likely to forego college for work, enter college less prepared and be more reluctant to ask for help. They tend to be debt-averse and are less likely to seek financial assistance in the form of college loans.

In 2010, Helios Education Foundation partnered with MDRC, a national nonprofit research firm, to offer 500 low-income Hispanic male students a Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona a financial assistance program that was structured as a series of incentive payments.

The program, called the Adelante Performance Award Program, was designed with three main goals in mind: first, to help make college more affordable to low-income students; second, to structure scholarship payments to provide an incentive for good academic progress; and third, to encourage and directly reward participation in student services.

Students who were eligible for the Adelante Performance Award Program could receive up to $4,500 in total over three semesters. Payments were contingent on their meeting academic benchmarks throughout the semester and participating in student support services such as advising, tutoring and workshops.

By offering the financial assistance at strategic points throughout the semester and the bulk of the payment only upon successful completion of courses, Helios and MDRC sought to tie financial aid to performance.

"Performance-based scholarships combined with required participation in student supports represent a new wave of thinking in financial aid and service delivery," comments Linda Thompson, Helios Education Foundation's Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer. "These needs-based awards use financial incentives to motivate changes in behavior, and unlike merit aid, performance-based scholarships reward future, rather than past performance."

Recent analysis of the program has shown positive early effects, according to a recent random assignment study by MDRC. Results from two semesters of follow-up include:

The program increased full-time enrollment in students’ second semester. In their second semester in the program, students in the program group were 13.2 percentage points more likely to enroll full time compared with a control group mean of 48.8 percent (a 27 percent increase). Other research shows that full-time enrollment is associated with academic success and graduation.
The program increased the number of credits earned. Students in the program group earned almost two full credits more than those in the control group over the first year of the program.

The program had a small but positive effect on semester-to-semester retention. Students’ second semester in the program saw a small, 4.6 percentage-point increase in registration (a 6 percent increase over a control group registration rate of 74 percent). Click here to read the full MDRC report.

*Dropped? Latino Education and Arizona’s Economic Future. Morrison Institute for Public Policy.

Moving Toward a Public Policy Agenda

As Helios Education Foundation works to create opportunities for students in Arizona and Florida to become college- and career- ready and to complete some form of postsecondary education, the role of public policy in informing education reform philanthropy has emerged as a key priority. In order to develop a strategic and comprehensive public policy agenda informed by reliable research and investment evaluations, last year the Foundation created a new Department of Policy, Research, and Evaluation and set out to identify a Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer to lead those efforts. On January 21^st, Charles Hokanson joined Helios Education Foundation in this new role.

Hokanson is an experienced education policy professional whose career has bridged the worlds of nonprofit, think tank, foundation, and public sector policy development and executive management. Most recently, as President and CEO of Hokanson Consulting Group LLC, Hokanson provided strategic and public policy advice, especially in the areas of preK-12 education reform and postsecondary education, to a number of nonprofit, foundation, trade association, and government clients, including the U.S. Department of Education and the Maryland and Ohio State Departments of Education.

Hokanson previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education and as President of two leading education reform nonprofits, the Alliance for School Choice (501c3) and Advocates for School Choice (501c4). He also served as professional staff member/education counsel to now-Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, where he was a key staff negotiator on the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and led the Committee’s efforts to reform and re-authorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Earlier in his career, after serving as the President and Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Hokanson joined the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP before taking on simultaneous research and management positions at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and Thomas B. Fordham Foundation.

Charles graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University, earning a BA in History and American Studies and an MA in History, before earning JD and Master of Public Policy degrees at the Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Throughout his career, Hokanson has played key advisory and leadership roles in shaping and implementing policies related to complex issues such as standards and assessments, school funding, high-quality teachers, school choice and charter schools, special education, and programs focused on improving the education of children from low-income families and high-need communities. In recent years, he has consulted on grant funding for the U.S. Department of Education’s $4B Race to the Top initiative and the i3 innovative grant program.

As Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Hokanson will lead Helios Education Foundation’s Center of Excellence for Policy, Research, and Evaluation and will be instrumental in the development of a public policy agenda around Helios’ three impact areas of Early Grade Success, College and Career Readiness and Postsecondary Completion.

Read On Arizona Receives National Recognition for Early Literacy Work

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading recently recognized Read On Arizona for their efforts to mobilize civic, business and community leaders toward the goal of improving early reading. Read On Arizona is among two states and 37 communities who have been named 2013 Pacesetters.

Started in 2013 by a group of six founding partners, Read On Arizona is a statewide public/private collaboration committed to developing an early literacy system that improves language and literacy outcomes for Arizona’s children from birth through age eight – delivering the right program at the right time to every child. To accomplish this goal, Read On Arizona built a statewide early literacy collaborative involving education agencies, philanthropic organizations and community stakeholders at the local, county, regional and state levels to collectively raise awareness and coordinate early literacy services more effectively.

As a founding partner of Read On Arizona, Helios Education Foundation is proud of the work being done throughout the state to increase language and literacy skills for young children.

“The Read On partnership is touching lives throughout Arizona by providing information and resources to help families ensure their children are on track to read at grade level by the end of third grade,” said Karen Ortiz, Helios Vice President and Program Director, Early Childhood Education. “Third grade reading is an academic milestone that lays the foundation for success throughout the continuum. Through the work being done by Read On Arizona, we are helping to ensure more children are on the pathway toward success”

Reading by third grade marks a milestone when children shift from learning to read and begin reading to learn. Students who haven't mastered reading by then often struggle academically and are at risk of dropping out of school.

“We are extremely grateful for the commitment of all of our collaborative partners and the dedication of the 12 Read On communities who make up Read On Arizona,” said Terri Clark, Arizona State Literacy Director. “The collective efforts on creating an early literacy system in Arizona will reap benefits for children and families far into the future.”

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, who awarded this prestigious recognition, is a national movement to improve high school graduation rates by increasing the number of children from low-income families who hit the critical milestone of reading proficiently by the end of third grade.

Helios Names Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez as Vice President of Educational Practice

Helios Education Foundation has named Dr. Jo Anne Vasquez as the new Vice President of Educational Practice. In this newly formed role, Dr. Vasquez will be contributing to strategies around Helios’ investments and will be creating alignment of those strategies throughout the education continuum.

As Helios works toward its mission of creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education, the Foundation has developed an Education Reform Agenda in which Early Grade Success, College and Career Readiness and Postsecondary Completion are identified as the most critical reform priorities.

In light of this Education Reform Agenda, the Foundation has adjusted its investment strategy as it relates to STEM education. Helios will continue to elevate STEM education as a key component of college and career readiness but will no longer be funding projects that are exclusively focused on STEM. Instead, the Foundation will actively seek investments in which STEM is a component of a larger effort toward increasing academic rigor and relevance for students.

Dr. Vasquez will play a critical role in helping to align the Education Reform strategies as well as in providing technical assistance and support to partnerships in the areas of education reform including Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, STEM education and assessments.

Helios Education Foundation Expands Marketing Communications Effort with Addition of Tampa-Based Director

Under the leadership of Ian Smith, the Foundation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Rodriguez will work closely with her counterpart, Phoenix-based Marketing Communications Director Rebecca Lindgren, to develop and implement strategic marketing communications campaigns in support of the Foundation’s over $138 million in education investments in Arizona and Florida and in support of future activities. In addition, Rodriguez will lead the Foundation’s Latino marketing communications efforts and serve as the organization’s Spanish-language spokesperson.

“Helios Education Foundation’s marketing and communications team is critical to our efforts in Arizona and Florida as we work to engage broader audiences in key issues in education,” said Barbara Ryan Thompson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Aileen’s stellar communications background and commitment to creating education opportunities for students in Florida make her a strong addition to our communications team.”

With more than 16 years as a communication professional, Rodriguez has led communications and public relations efforts for organizations in non-profit, government and the private sector. Prior to joining Helios Education Foundation, she was principal of her own consulting firm specializing in public affairs, public relations and outreach. Previous roles include serving as Communications Director for the Tampa Bay Host Committee for the Republican National COnvention, Gulfcoast Regional Director to United States Senator Mel Martinez and Community Liaison for the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

“I am extremely honored to be part of the Helios Education Foundation family and look forward to contributing toward the Foundation’s mission of increasing postsecondary education success,” said Rodriguez. “As a former USF Latino Scholarship student, I truly appreciate the impact Helios is making in education and am excited to be part of an organization committed to improving lives through education.”

Ms. Rodriguez is a graduate of the University of South Florida where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational and Interpersonal Communication. She currently serves on the boards of the Florida Public Relations Association's Tampa Bay Chapter; Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.; the Housing and Education Alliance; WEDU Public Television’s Community Advisory Board; the University of South Florida's Latin Community Advisory Committee and the Tampa Bay Campus Community Advisory Board for Ana G. Mendez University System.

Ms. Rodriguez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. She lives in the Tampa Bay area with her husband and two children.

Sunshine State Scholars Program Recognizes Florida's Top STEM Students

Recently, Florida's highest-achieving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students joined their peers statewide to be honored during the 2014 Sunshine State Scholars program.

The two-day awards and recruitment event celebrated the accomplishments of these elite students and provided a unique venue for Florida's colleges and universities to recruit their talents. Each school district selected the top eleventh-grade STEM scholar to participate in the program

"These students are truly remarkable and represent the future of innovation in our state," said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. "I am so pleased that Florida businesses and industries have come together to support this important program."

The Sunshine State Scholars program is hosted by the Florida Education Foundation in partnership with the Division of Florida Colleges, the State University System of Florida, and the Florida Department of Education.

Event sponsors of this year's program include AT&T, Helios Education Foundation, Universal Orlando Resorts, Atkins, Gulf Power Company, The Florida Lottery and The Mosaic Company.

"Florida’s best higher education institutions and leading industries join together to honor our state's top STEM talent and introduce them to all the Sunshine State has to offer in college and career choices,” said Dominic M. Calabro, Chairman of the Florida Education Foundation. “The investment we make today in these young leaders will encourage many more students to pursue postsecondary careers in high-skill, high-wage jobs that help grow Florida’s economy.”

"Helios Education Foundation is committed to changing lives through education and ensuring that every student in Florida graduates college and career ready,” said Paul Luna, Helios Education Foundation President and CEO. “We join you in celebrating the accomplishments of our outstanding Florida STEM scholars who will graduate academically prepared to succeed and thrive in tomorrow's globally competitive workforce."

Click here to learn more about the Sunshine State Scholars Program.

SRI International and Educational Research Collaborators to Expand Innovative Digital Math Curriculum in Florida

SRI International, together with its research collaborators, has been awarded a $12 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grant by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement to expand and validate an innovative middle school digital mathematics program in Florida schools. SRI Education researchers developed the SunBay Digital Math program to help teach challenging middle school math concepts by integrating technology, standards-aligned curriculum and teacher professional development into a powerful package that boosts student learning.

Based on two decades of research on how students learn key mathematical ideas with technology, SunBay uses visual dynamic representations to foster reasoning and support collaboration that increases student achievement in mathematics. The program has shown learning gains through studies in Florida, Texas and England.

“Florida's middle schools—and middle schools nationwide—are at a critical juncture as they strive to increase student achievement in mathematics that meets college- and career-readiness standards,” said Jeremy Roschelle, Ph.D., co-director of the Center for Technology in Learning at SRI International. “As a top-rated proposal for i3 funding by the U.S. Department of Education, this project will demonstrate that SunBay is effective with today's standards that focus on deep, conceptual understanding and skills in mathematics that help prepare students for future success. We are particularly encouraged by past results showing that SunBay can enable high-need students to learn important advanced mathematics concepts, leading to algebra and beyond.”

SRI is partnering in this program with school districts in Broward and Palm Beach counties, where the curriculum will be validated; the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning, which will provide professional development and support for teachers in Broward and Palm Beach counties; the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, which will investigate innovative approaches to professional development; and the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) at the University of Pennsylvania, which will lead the evaluation efforts.

“We are honored to be a part of this ambitious effort to prepare our middle school students for success in high school, college and the increasingly competitive global marketplace,” said Donald Pemberton, Ph.D., who directs the University of Florida Lastinger Center. “SRI International and the other partners in this project are leaders in their fields and we welcome the opportunity to use our expertise to help make a difference for the future of our state.”

SRI and its partners will conduct a multi-year randomized control trial across schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties to determine SunBay's effectiveness as measured by new college- and career-readiness assessments. A second, concurrent study will include volunteer teachers from another school district, or “innovation district,” in which variations of the SunBay materials will be used to decrease costs, as well as determine which teacher professional development practices are most effective. Ultimately, upon favorable results of the study, SRI and its partners will provide training and toolkits schools can use to implement SunBay programs, with the ability to scale throughout Florida and the nation.

"As a SunBay partner since 2009, we have learned that professional development is the key to supporting and engaging middle grade teachers in implementing innovative, dynamic technologies,'' said Vivian Fueyo, Ph.D., Interim Regional Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at USF St. Petersburg and principal investigator of the i3 project at USFSP. "The i3 grant provides the opportunity for us to investigate innovative approaches to professional development."

Helios Education Foundation, a key funding partner, is providing 50 percent of the required matching funds for the i3 grant. The funding will be used to make SunBay Digital Math as cost effective as possible, to improve instructional and teacher development processes, to recruit school districts to contribute to the scale and sustainability of the effort, and to identify and enable broad adoption of effective practices to introduce digital technologies into the classroom.

"As technology continues to become more infused in today's classroom setting, digital learning is gaining momentum and is a critical teaching and learning tool,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “We know that the understanding of algebraic concepts is a gateway to future academic achievement, and the Sun Bay digital math curriculum increases student achievement and prepares students for college and career success. Helios is proud to have provided the seed funding to innovate a promising idea like SunBay Digital Math, and this i3 grant is an opportunity to take this effective initiative to scale.”

Previously, Helios funded the pilot test of SunBay Digital Math in Florida. The pilot test was the basis of the validation study being pursued in the i3 grant. SunBay is located within SRI's Center for Digital Learning, located at SRI's St. Petersburg campus, and was funded through a $1 million Helios investment from which a portion of the i3 match is being drawn. The Duke Energy Foundation, an early and consistent supporter of SunBay Digital Math, is providing additional matching funding for the i3 project.

Paul J. Luna Honored as 2014 Man of the Year by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce honored Paul J. Luna as the 2014 Man of the Year at the 56th Annual Black and White Ball.

"Each of our award recipients has contributed not only to the health and progress of our community, but the overall strength and prosperity of our state," said AZHCC President/CEO Gonzalo A. de la Melena, Jr. "These are people with a stake in the success of Arizona's future, and that's exemplified through their work and community service."

Among the 2014 honorees is Congressman Ed Pastor, winner of the Advocacy Award, and former Pinnacle West Chairman Bill Post, selected to receive the Legacy Award.

"Ed Pastor and Bill Post have left indelible and venerable marks on our community during their long and accomplished careers," said de la Melena, "and we're proud to add them to the long list of Arizona influentials we've honored over the years."
Here's the complete list of AZHCC's 2014 award recipients and links to their online biographies:

Advocacy Award, U.S. Congressman Ed Pastor
Legacy Award, Bill Post, former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Pinnacle West Corporation
Woman of the Year, Annette Musa, Arizona Market President for Comerica Bank, prn.to/1o4uv6r
Man of the Year, Paul J. Luna, President/CEO, Helios Education Foundation
Entrepreneur of the Year, Clarence McAllister
Corporation of the Year Award, CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company

The Black & White Ball is Arizona's longest running formal gala and the Hispanic Chamber's largest annual fundraiser. It honors the achievements of business and community leaders statewide. Nearly 1,100 people attend the event every year. The theme this year is Noche de Garibaldi, a tribute to the history and influence of Mariachi music in Mexico and the United States.

Click here to learn more about the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the 2014 business awards.

Helios Launches 2013 Annual Report

If students are to be prepared to compete in a fast-paced, knowledge-based, globally-competitive economy, the bar must be raised to reflect the rigor required to succeed in tomorrow’s workplace. Click above to learn more about how Helios is working to build and support education systems to support student success.

Vince Roig, Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation, Named 2014 Hero of Education

Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has named Vince Roig, Helios Education Foundation’s Founding Chairman, as its 2014 Hero of Education. Vince was honored on April 10, 2014 at the Heroes of Education dinner where he was recognized for his decades-long leadership in helping thousands of students succeed in education.

As part of his remarks, Vince discussed the continued academic disparity among low-income and Latino students in Arizona at a time when more jobs will require some form of postsecondary education. He announced a new Helios investment of $2 million in partnership with Maricopa Community College District focused on ensuring more Latino students achieve a college degree.

“I am very humbled and honored to receive the 2014 Heroes of Education award and to be joining a list of well-respected previous award winners who have made a difference in the education landscape in Arizona,” said Roig. “While I am encouraged by everything that has been done to better prepare Arizona’s students for the future, I am concerned about the growing disparity in the academic achievement of our Latino students. With Helios’ new partnership with Maricopa Community College District, we are putting a stake in the ground around the importance of ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed because their academic success will determine the future economic success of Arizona.”

In a recent report by the Center on Education and the Workforce at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, researchers predict a 16 percent growth in jobs in Arizona by the year 2020, but a majority of those jobs will require some college education or higher. Nationally, 65 percent of all jobs will require some form of postsecondary education and training by 2020, according to that same report. In its Dropped report, the Morrison Institute of Public Policy at Arizona State University indicates that 65 percent of Latino adults in Arizona have no education beyond high school.

“With this new investment, the partnership between the Maricopa Community College District and Helios Education Foundation is strengthened with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all students achieve a postsecondary education,” said Dr. Maria Harper-Marinick, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Maricopa Community College District. “We are grateful for Helios’ vision and commitment to enabling us to provide comprehensive academic supports for students that will help them realize their dreams of attaining a college degree.”

This new partnership with MCCD is part of Helios Education Foundation’s larger commitment to support postsecondary completion initiatives that help all students pursue, persist and achieve a postsecondary degree, but especially underserved students and other students from underrepresented populations.

The partnership includes comprehensive student supports and resources, such as financial assistance, mentoring and academic support, opportunities for parent and family engagement, academic planning and other services. Students will be engaged throughout their community college experience with supports toward Associate’s degrees and/or certificate completion, as well as transition into baccalaureate degree granting institutions. The partnership will initially focus on two Maricopa colleges over the next three years.

Don't Call Them Dropouts

America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, is taking the first step in changing the conversation about young people that do not finish school on time. In an unprecedented report that includes first-hand accounts from young people, “Don’t Call Them Dropouts” puts a human face on the statistics. The just released report tells personal stories of students who don’t graduate from high school and sheds new light on how to help.

According to “Don’t Call Them Dropouts”, students who leave high school without graduating say they do so not out of boredom or lack of motivation, but because they are overwhelmed by the effects of toxic living conditions on their daily lives, including homelessness, violent surroundings, abuse or neglect, catastrophic family health events, and the absence of caring adults who can help them stay in school.

“This report gives a voice to the thousands of students who have disappeared from our structured classrooms and we've heard firsthand the reasons why so many of them have disengaged,” said Paul Luna, Helios Education Foundation President and CEO and board member of America’s Promise Alliance. “The dropout crisis isn’t just about those forgotten students, it's about us, it’s about all students, it’s about our community and it’s ultimately about our future. We must recognize the urgency of these efforts and pool our collective resources to put all students, including those who have dropped out, on a path toward postsecondary education success.”

In the largest nationwide study of its kind to date, young adults who left high school without graduating spoke at length about their lived experiences and reasons they did not complete high school on time. As the nation reaches the all-time high of an 80 percent on-time high school graduation rate, this report listens deeply to what the remaining 20 percent say is happening in their lives, and what they need to stay in school. Their answers defy some common beliefs about why they do not graduate on time, while giving deeper meaning to others.

The “Don’t Call Them Dropouts,” report is based on research conducted by the America’s Promise Alliance Center for Promise at Tufts University and was funded by Target. It is part of the GradNation campaign to reach the national goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020.

Click here to view the full report and view the Don't Call Them Dropouts Documentary video.

Vince Roig, Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation, Honored as Most Admired Leader

Vince Roig, Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation, was recently honored by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of the most admired leaders of 2014. This group of leaders was identified by the Business Journal for their leadership and commitment to building a stronger community.

"True leadership is about being true to your word and following through, but it's also about being an example and rolling up your sleeves to get the job done," said Roig. "Leaders must have a clear vision and the willingness to make the hard decisions that move the organization forward. They also need to surround themselves with smart people who can communicate the vision and are true to that vision."

Click here to read more.

Arizona Loses More than $7.6 Billion in Lost Economic Activity with Each Class of Arizona Dropouts

The more than 18,000 Arizona students who dropped out of high school this year will produce $7.6 billion less economic activity over their lifetimes than if those same students had graduated, according to a new report by the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable.

Cutting the dropout rate in half would generate $3.8 billion more in economic benefits to the state for each graduating class.

Key takeaways from the study include:

Each Arizona high school dropout results in a $421,280 loss in economic activity over his or her lifetime. This figure includes lost earnings, increased health care and crime-related costs, lost economic productivity and lost tax revenue.

In the City of Phoenix, the number is higher: each dropout results in a $463,500 economic loss – creating a $1.42 billion economic loss per graduating class.
In Arizona, each dropout will earn $271,040 less over the course of their lifetime than counterparts who graduate. Dropouts face higher risks of unemployment and economic insecurity.
Each dropout will cost taxpayers an additional $98,520 more in crime-related expenses over the course of their lifetime.
Of the $7.6 billion in Arizona economic loss, $1.5 billion represents lost revenue and increased expenses for state and local governments.
In 2012, Arizona’s disconnected youth population – that is, young people who are neither in school nor working – was 183,200, or 22 percent of population aged 16 to 24. This disconnected population results in an aggregate economic loss of more than $127 billion.

The full report is available at: http://azmayors.org/resources/college-and-career-readiness/.

The report was commissioned by the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable, an initiative of Helios Education Foundation and WestEd, which brings together mayors of Arizona’s larger cities to share data, promising practices and strategies that can help address local challenges affecting students’ educational and career success.

“We appreciate the leadership of the Mayors Roundtable in shedding more light on a critical issue like the impact of the dropout rate on our state’s future economic viability,” said Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “Having the Mayors hold these statewide discussions will help enable our communities to identify and respond to the contributing factors and set goals that will re-engage students and put them back on the path toward college and career readiness.”

“Beyond the profound consequences to individuals and their families, we are now able to quantify the impact of school dropouts on Arizona’s economy,” said Paul H. Koehler, director of WestEd’s Policy Center and coordinator of the Mayors Roundtable. “This report should serve as a clarion call to action for state educators, policy makers, and all Arizonans.”

Helios Announces $2 Million Partnership to Increase Latino Degree Attainment

Vince Roig, Helios Education Foundation’s Founding Chairman recently announced a $2 million investment in the Maricopa Community College District (MCCD) focused on ensuring more Latino students in Arizona achieve a college degree. The newly created partnership will help address the continued academic disparity among low-income and Latino students at a time when more jobs will require some form of postsecondary education.

“While I am encouraged by everything that has been done to better prepare Arizona’s students for the future, I am concerned about the growing disparity in the academic achievement of our Latino students,” said Roig. “With Helios’ new partnership with Maricopa Community College District, we are putting a stake in the ground around the importance of ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed because their academic success will determine the future economic success of Arizona.”

In a recent report by the Center on Education and the Workforce at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, researchers predict a 16 percent growth in jobs in Arizona by the year 2020, but a majority of those jobs will require some college education or higher. Nationally, 65 percent of all jobs will require some form of postsecondary education and training by 2020, according to that same report. In its Dropped report, the Morrison Institute of Public Policy at Arizona State University indicates that 65 percent of Latino adults in Arizona have no education beyond high school.

Increasing College and Career Readiness, Access and Attainment in Florida

Currently in Florida, only 37 percent of adults have an associate’s degree or higher. However, workforce development estimates indicate that by 2018, 59 percent of jobs in Florida will require some form of postsecondary education and training. In addition, research shows that there will be fewer jobs available for individuals who only possess a high school diploma. Increasing the number of students who attain and complete a postsecondary degree is not only critical for individual success but also for the economic stability of the state.

Through the leadership of the Florida College Access Network (Florida C.A.N!), more Florida students will now have access to resources to help them access, persist and complete a postsecondary education. Over the past several months, Florida C.A.N! has expanded its reach to 16 Florida counties covering 38 percent of the state’s population. With support from Helios Education Foundation, Florida C.A.N! is developing Local College Access Networks, called LCANs, which are community-based strategic alliances devoted to dramatically increasing college and career readiness, access and attainment, particularly for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education. LCANs commit themselves to lowering the barriers for students pursuing education and training beyond high school. In the past few months, five LCANs have been established.

“This community-based strategy brings together community representatives from the K-12 system, higher education, business, philanthropy, government and nonprofits to collaborate and develop strategies that are unique to each community,” said Stacy Carlson, Vice President and Program Director, Florida Transition Years. “The leadership that Florida C.A.N! is providing to this effort is helping more Florida students and adults have the information and opportunities they need to pursue and graduate with a postsecondary certificate or degree.”

The five Florida LCANs will work to organize community leaders to increase the community’s postsecondary educational attainment level to 60 percent by the year 2025. This will, in turn, lay the foundation for a vibrant economy, healthy community, and strong workforce equipped to compete in a 21st century global economy. The LCANs focus on student success by establishing a system of data gathering and analysis, reporting results, and holding partners accountable for performance. The LCANs will primarily coordinate and mobilize college access efforts within each community.

CPLC and Helios Education Foundation to Encourage Latino Parents to Advocate for their Children’s Education & Health

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) was awarded a $480,000 grant by Helios Education Foundation to empower parents residing in Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, and Yuma counties.

The funding will support a two-year program that will facilitate training to local organizations to teach parents about family literacy and advocacy for their children in education and health services. The parents will be trained in the Abriendo Puertas curriculum, the nation's first evidence-based parent leadership program designed by and for Latino parents with children ages 0-5.

“Parents understand that education is the foundation for a brighter future, but they may lack the necessary skills that can help them navigate through the complexities of the educational and healthcare systems. The right tools will enable parents to be more informed and better support their child’s life success,” said Edmundo Hidalgo, President and CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa. “We cannot possibly do this alone. It is through coalitions and our combine efforts and diverse expertise that we can help build stronger, healthier communities. Thus, we appreciate the support of Helios Education Foundation and look forward to working with family service providers to create a lasting impact in the lives of Latino children across Arizona,” continued Hidalgo.

The program will serve more than 2,000 Latino parents in communities throughout Arizona over the next two years. The trainings will be strategically located in Yuma, Tucson, Phoenix & Flagstaff.

“Helios Education Foundation is proud to partner with CPLC to bring Abriendo Puertas to families in Arizona,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. “Currently, more than half of school-age children in Arizona are Latino. We must ensure Latino parents have the resources they need to help their children enter school ready to succeed and read at grade level by the end of third grade. The Abriendo Puertas program will help do that.”

CPLC believes that by creating educational opportunities, we empower individuals and families to be healthy and self-sufficient.

About Chicanos Por La Causa
Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) is a community development corporation (CDC) that provides services in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. Since 1969, CPLC has been changing lives by developing self-sufficiency and instilling empowerment in those we serve. Our focus areas are economic development, education, housing, and social services. CPLC provides a better life through offering business and employment opportunities; ensuring everyone has the solid foundation of an education; providing hope through a pathway of recovery, restoration, and resiliency; and ensuring that a safe, secure, affordable home is available to every individual we serve. Today, we have 48 programs & services, 700 employees, and 60 offices, making CPLC the third-largest Hispanic non-profit in the nation and one the leading organizations in Arizona. For more information, visit www.CPLC.org

Economic Development and Higher Education Leaders to Launch Regional Talent Develoment Network

In response to the need to build and retain talent in South Florida, economic development leaders and higher education institutions in Miami-Dade County have united to create a regional talent development network that will provide internships to students in key industries and align academic curriculum with industry needs.

Florida International University President Mark B. Rosenberg announced the launch of the Talent Development Network on Wednesday, in collaboration with the Beacon Council’s One Community One Goal (OCOG) Academic Leaders Council (ALC.)

“Miami’s academic leaders fully support the region’s economic development plan and our local industry – we are committed together to preparing our students for the jobs of tomorrow,’’ said Rosenberg. “The OCOG Talent Development Network is evidence of collaborative innovation to blur the lines between industry and academia.”

The Talent Development Network will provide local college students with on-the-job experience in one of OCOG’s target industries: Aviation, Creative Design, Hospitality and Tourism, International Banking and Finance, Information Technology, Life Sciences and Health Care and Trade and Logistics.

Ignited by a $100,000 challenge grant by The Miami Foundation, the Talent Development Network has received support from numerous local companies and philanthropic groups, including the Peacock Foundation. Today, the program announced its newest investment – $100,000 from Helios Education Foundation.

“Aligned with Helios’ commitment to ensure students have support and guidance toward high-quality postsecondary certificate and degree pathways, the OCOG Talent Development Network is positioned to become an evidence-based model for state and national replication,” said Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of the foundation.

Beyond creating an internship culture in South Florida, the initiative seeks to address the historic disconnect between local academic institutions and economic development strategies.

“We are working together in an unprecedented way to prepare and retain tomorrow’s young professionals to strengthen and diversify South Florida’s workforce,’’ said Irma Becerra-Fernandez, FIU’s vice president for engagement.

FIU will lead the program in partnership with The Beacon Council and ALC's other member institutions: Barry University, Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade College, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, St. Thomas University and the University of Miami.

In addition to supporting talent preparation for target industries, the Talent Development Network will positively impact at-risk populations, by providing real-life experience and networking opportunities. Studies show students who participate in internships are more likely to succeed in college, graduate on time and find employment in their first year after graduation. These positive effects are more significant for minority populations.

Using technology modules to help employers and students create successful internships, the program will place its first cohort of interns with industry partners in Summer 2015. The program will be enhanced with supportive curriculum and mentoring to create a network of leaders who are informed and engaged with their community.

“A regional effort to prepare and retain talent is critical to building our creative class and ensuring Miami is globally competitive” said Javier Soto, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation, whose team was instrumental in the program’s conceptualization.

Helios Scholars Ready for the Future Following TGen Experience

The 45 interns in the 2014 Helios Scholars at TGen summer internship program have completed their program with a daylong scientific symposium at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

Arizona’s future leaders in biology and medicine worked for eight weeks in one of the nation’s premier scientific internship programs, sponsored by the Helios Education Foundation in partnership with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

At today’s symposium, students presented scientific posters and oral presentations about their biomedical investigations, which were conducted under the one-on-one guidance and mentorship of TGen researchers. Like their mentors, Helios Scholars use cutting-edge technology to help discover the genetic causes of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, infectious disease and many types of cancer.

This is the eighth class of Helios Scholars at TGen, funded for 25 years by Helios Education Foundation. Helios is focused on creating opportunities for individuals to succeed in postsecondary education by advancing the academic preparedness of all students and fostering a high-expectations, college-going culture in Arizona and Florida.

“TGen’s summer intern program enables students to learn first-hand what it is like to work in a professional scientific environment, and helps them discover the skills they will need to make important contributions in science and medicine,” said Helios Education Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna. “The Helios Scholars at TGen program is helping prepare students for further academic success and for meaningful careers that not only benefit them, but will improve people’s lives through breakthrough medical and scientific research.”

The program is open to Arizona high school, undergraduate and graduate level students, including those in medical school.

“Our partnership with Helios Education Foundation helps prepare a new generation of biomedical investigators for Arizona,” said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen’s President and Research Director. “As we help them explore the biosciences beyond the classroom, TGen provides them with opportunities to participate in potentially life-changing research that can benefit actual patients.”

Helios Scholars also participate in professional development programs in science communication, public speaking, and basic business etiquette. This year’s interns were selected from among more than 500 applications.

“Our students arrive here with a passion for science and medicine,” said Julie Euber, TGen’s Education and Outreach Specialist and supervisor of the Helios Scholars at TGen. “Participating in authentic research projects helps shape their skills and abilities, preparing them for a lifetime of discovery and achievement in the biosciences.”

The program application opens in January of each year for the following summer at www.tgen.org/intern.

2014 D-backs Helios Scholars Honored

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation launched a partnership with Helios Education Foundation and the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation in 2012 to create the D-backs Helios Scholars program that will provide 40 Arizona High School seniors with four-year college scholarships. The D-backs Helios Scholarship program represents a $1 million commitment to education for Arizona students with $500,000 in charitable support from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and a $500,000 match from Helios Education Foundation.

The 2014 recipients are academically gifted students with incredible stories of personal triumph, leadership, strength, hope and perseverance. All of this year's recipients are first-generation college students.

The scholarships will be administered by the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation and targets students who have completed a college preparatory program, demonstrate academic strength and a compelling desire to attend college, with a priority given to students with limited financial resources. In addition to the scholarship funding, each student will have access to an Arizona College Scholarship Foundation mentor to support their education needs.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

Tatianna Alvarado, Westwood High School

Eugenia Anane-Wae, South Mountain High School

Danielle Barrientes, Sunnyslope High School

Laura Bernier, Winslow High School

Miguel Chavira, Mesa High School

Jovanna Figueroa, Metro Tech High School

Kevin Nguyen, Amphitheater High School

Crystal Peralta, Westview High School

These are exceptional students who are making the commitment to pursue a four-year degree at an Arizona public university. Congratulations to each scholar and thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks for their partnership.

Helping Hispanic Students Achieve Postsecondary Success

The Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando (HHSFMO) announced today that it has been awarded a two-year, $1 million grant from Helios Education Foundation. The grant will support the establishment of a scholarship endowment and the development of a comprehensive strategic framework and business plan for the HHSFMO.

30 scholarship recipients were also announced today. All of the scholarship recipients are of Hispanic descent and enrolled in postsecondary institutions in Central Florida. In total, $150,000 in funds were awarded – $80K more than last year. The additional scholarships are also funded by the Helios grant, which accounts for 10 additional $5,000 scholarships per year for the next two years.

“It is indeed an honor for HSSFMO to establish a partnership with Helios Education Foundation, in support of Hispanic postsecondary education students in our region,” said HHSFMO Board Chair Adriana Comellas-Macretti. “This is a transformative opportunity that will allow us to develop a comprehensive plan to address our organizational leadership, communication, and resource development needs well into the future. Thanks to this partnership, the HHSFMO will also be able increase college enrollment and graduation rates for Hispanic students in Central Florida and provide funds to scholars for years to come.”

Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in Florida and Arizona to succeed in postsecondary education. Since its inception in 2004, the foundation has invested more than $142 million in education-related programs and initiatives across both states.

“Helios Education Foundation is proud to partner with the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando in providing scholarships to Hispanic students pursuing a college or university degree,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. “Every student in Florida deserves the opportunity to complete a postsecondary degree and we are committed to helping traditionally underserved students achieve that goal.”

Linda Thompson, Helios’ Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, was present to award scholarships to 10 recipients at today’s press conference.

To date, HHSFMO has awarded more than $ 950,000 to help 239 exceptional students attending local colleges and universities. This year’s scholarship recipients are:

Alessandro Abbati

Andrés Aranguibel

Richard Haddock

Karol Haugan

Katherine Moya Boquin

Nathalia Muñoz

Esperanza Pérez

Kathyeli Rivera

Katrina Rodríguez

Carla Sánchez

Nicole Bulla

Melinda Colon

Joshua Corder

Manuel Diz

Carmen Espinoza

Jashira López

Angela Martínez

Manuel Morales

Ivan Olórtegui

Nicolle Paz Mendoza

Molly Rendon

Bryan Rodríguez

Elizabeth Sabillon

Rafaela Saguia

Sara Sánchez

Diego Vázquez

Edwin Santos

Eduardo Verde

As in previous years, the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund has established generous partnerships with local organizations to provide addition scholarship. Among these are the Hispanic Bar Association, the Osceola Education Foundation, the Osceola/Kissimmee Hispanic Business Council, and Casa de Mexico. In addition, this year Rollins College and HHSFMO announced the establishment of a partnership to award one full-tuition scholarship each year to a new student entering at the Hamilton Holt School at Rollins in the fall under the Rollins Evening Emerging Leaders (REEL) Scholarship Program. All the scholarship recipients will be honored at HHSFMO’s annual Gowns and Guayaberas Gala on October 25, 2014 at Disney Contemporary Resort.

Arizona College Scholarship Foundation Expands Focus, Postsecondary Advocacy as College Success Arizona

Arizona College Scholarship Foundation and Arizona College Access Network (AzCAN) have officially merged under an organization newly named College Success Arizona. College Success Arizona will serve as a statewide voice for college access and success, particularly for low-income and Latino students. The organization will continue to provide scholarship and mentoring support to high-achieving, low-income students. The organization will also partner with other existing scholarship programs across the state to provide its proven student support services as a means of increasing college persistence and graduation rates.

The merger with AzCAN adds coordinated support to a network of more than 200 college access programs within a single organization. Arizona College Access Network, which provides standards, training, tools and learning opportunities for college access programs across the state, will become a program within College Success Arizona and will continue its efforts to expand partnerships with the state’s college access community. Rich Nickel, current president and CEO of Arizona College Scholarship Foundation will serve as president and CEO of College Success Arizona. Linda Jensen has joined the College Success Arizona team and will continue to serve as director of AzCAN.

“The mission of College Success Arizona is to build public will for college completion and, at the same time, provide a unique combination of scholarships and mentoring services that are actually increasing college graduation rates across the state,” Nickel said. “College completion, particularly for low-income and Latino students, is not just advantageous to individual students and their families; it’s imperative to the economic success of our state.”

“As we think about the future of Arizona, there is nothing more important to our economic growth and development than ensuring more individuals complete a postsecondary degree or certificate,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “College Success Arizona will help propel our state forward as it provides critical supports to students who are working toward the goal of postsecondary completion.”

College Success Arizona helps students across the state overcome barriers to getting into and persisting in college. It provides four-year scholarships to promising high school seniors. Currently, 70 percent of those scholars are first-generation college students and 85 percent are minorities. In addition to providing access and financial supports to students, College Success Arizona ensures success through a tested mentoring and support process that keeps all scholars on track and focused on earning a college degree. This process is being expanded to include a comprehensive set of face-to-face, virtual and peer mentoring opportunities for every student and a series of targeted resources and interventions on financial aid, the transition from community colleges to four-year institutions and freshman retention.

“Increasing the number of college graduates in our state is more than an education issue; it’s an issue of economics,” said Vince Roig, board chair of College Success Arizona. “College Success Arizona provides a needed voice in the state for college completion; it also provides the strategies and services that can significantly increase postsecondary graduation rates.”

To learn more about College Success Arizona, go to www.collegesuccessarizona.org. College Success Arizona can also be followed on Twitter (@CollegeAZ) and on Facebook (College Success Arizona).

About College Success Arizona

College Success Arizona is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization working to significantly increase the post-secondary attainment rate of students in Arizona, particularly for those who otherwise would not be able to attend or graduate. Since its inception as the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation in 2005, the organization has helped more than 700 low-income, high-potential students gain access to college and persist to earn their college degrees. For more information about College Success Arizona and its partners, visit www.collegesuccessarizona.org.

Helios Education Foundation and the Education Foundation of Sarastoa County Partner on Middle School Excellence Initiative

The funding will support a two-year project to address the precarious fall-off in academic achievement and motivation that often occurs when students reach grades 6, 7 and 8. Over the two-year grant period, more than 145 teachers from all eight middle schools will receive in-depth training to use technology-enhanced classrooms, present a more challenging curriculum, and deploy instructional strategies to engage all students as active learners. The funding will also provide tools to track and assess changes in student behavior and achievement.

Transformation of the classroom, teacher preparation, and the delivery of classroom instruction are three elements within the larger change framework taking place in Sarasota County. Classrooms are being redesigned to foster small learning communities where students learn from each other as well as from the teacher, scientific tools and manipulatives are available to each student in order to connect learning to life and integration of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) principles are igniting each student’s passion for learning. Funding for these systemic changes is provided by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Sarasota County Schools, the Education Foundation, and other community-based individuals, businesses and organizations.

“Our goal is to keep students on track through those middle grades, when so many lose ground,” said Susan Scott, Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. “We want every child to find their passion and a path to the future, and to stay on course for college and career. Thanks to Helios Education Foundation, our teachers and families will now have the tools they need to create an environment of high expectations that will benefit every student.”

In the near term, the project will serve more than 9,500 pupils attending Booker, Brookside, Heron Creek, Laurel Nokomis, McIntosh, Sarasota, Venice and Woodland Middle Schools in Sarasota County. “Dr. Page Dettmann, Executive Director of Middle Schools and our project leader, has designed the professional development component so that change will reach every corner of the school district and become a firmly embedded practice for years to come,” according to Scott.

“Helios Education Foundation is proud to partner with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and local schools to ensure that our students graduate high school ready for college and career,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. “Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every student in Florida and Arizona has the opportunity to succeed in postsecondary education, and we are confident that this partnership with the Education Foundation of Sarasota County will not only engage students during their middle school years but will also encourage their pursuit and completion of a postsecondary certificate or degree.”

About the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County, founded in 1988 as an independent 501(c)(3) organization, serves more than 41,000 students in 58 elementary, middle and high schools.

As the leading advocate for Sarasota County public schools, the foundation engages the community in support of a quality education for all children, producing and funding innovative initiatives that go beyond what tax dollars can provide. Since its inception, the foundation has provided over $16 million in direct support to Sarasota County Schools.

Through the generosity of our community, the foundation invests in every child’s success in the classroom and their preparation for the 21^st century workplace. With outcomes that reflect sustainable and fundamental change, the foundation’s projects and programs advance student academic achievement and attainment of skills needed to excel in the 21^st century, and enhance teacher expertise.

The foundation encourages donors with a passion for education to express their imagination in finding solutions, to make an investment in providing new opportunities for student learning, and to share the inspiration their generosity sparks in young people whose lives are forever changed. For more information, visit www.edfoundation.net or call 941.927.0965

Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation Annouce 2014 Scholars

In 2012, the Rays Baseball Foundation and Helios Education Foundation teamed up to provide $1 million in college scholarships for students participating in Take Stock in Children in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Manatee and Pasco counties over a five year period. On Friday, August 29, the Tampa Bay Rays and Helios will recognize a new class of scholars for 2013-14 during a pregame presentation at Tropicana Field.

The new scholars will be joined by the 2012-13 class, Take Stock in Children mentors and guests along with representatives from the Helios Education Foundation, the Rays Baseball Foundation and Rays outfielder Matt Joyce.

The Rays and Helios partnership is aimed at giving students the financial resources and mentorship support they need to successfully achieve a postsecondary education at any Florida state college.

2013-2014 Rays-Helios Scholars: From Hillsborough County: Ernest Aleman, Kevin Aquino, Kirstin Bassinger, Valeria Sofia Berroteran, Solanch Donate, Gabriela Flores, Ernesto Fraga Cadre, Saphire Gonzalez, Diana Madde, Natali Marte-Mendez, Rogelio Mendieta, Yuliana Moreno, Nicole Mosquera, Onyeka Nwagbuo, Steven Quirindongo, Iyanna Reynolds, Daniela Ricardo, Aider Rodriguez, Dominic Sardegna and Kevin Vale-Dunleavy. From Manatee County: Alyssa Caso, Analise Espinoza, Chandler Pridgeon, Robert Rawls and Michael Torres. From Pasco County: Shaneika Beharie, Aundrea Berry, Abigahil Estrada, Moises Guaderrama, Alexis Hernandez and Hannah Rick. From Pinellas County: John Andrade, Peter Andrade, Wayne Atkins, Jr., Justin Bradley, Ashunti Broughton, Adam Coon, Tia Ellis, Ronald Labrie Jyrieal McKinney, Danielle Morris, Hannah Schuster, Morgan Scudder and Ameer Williams. From Sarasota County: Autumn Byrd, Juan Marin, Bailey Pachter, Tyler Pachter, Lilybeth Ruiz-Vasquez and Juan Soto.

About the Rays Baseball Foundation

The Rays Baseball Foundation, the official charity of the Tampa Bay Rays, focuses primarily on youth and education programs in the Tampa Bay region that make a measurable difference in the community. Since 2008, the Rays Baseball Foundation has proudly invested more than $3.5 million in youth and education programs in the Tampa Bay area. Key contributors to the Foundation include Rays owners, players, sponsors, fans and employees. For more information, visit raysbaseball.com/community.

About Take Stock in Children

Take Stock in Children provides a unique opportunity for low-income and at-risk students, many from minority families, to escape the cycle of poverty through education. The program offers students college scholarships, mentorship and hope for a better life. The program’s comprehensive services start in middle school, continue through high school and include helping students transition to college. Take Stock in Children’s programs are based on the principle that given extensive support, motivation and accountability, children will work hard to ensure that they graduate from high school and attain a college degree. For more information, please visit takestockinchildren.org.

Braulio Colón, Helios Vice President and Program Director, Postsecondary Education Initiatives, recognized as Education Champion

Congratulations to Helios’ own Braulio Colón for being recognized as an American Graduate Champion for Education by WUSF PBS in Tampa.

Braulio’s passion for ensuring opportunities for all students started with his own personal story and led to his professional work with the Florida College Access Network, a statewide network that catalyzes and supports communities to improve college and career readiness, access, and completion for all students.

In his role with Helios, Braulio works in conjunction with the Foundation's community investment team to identify partnership opportunities and implement the Foundation's strategic postsecondary initiative goals in Arizona and Florida. To learn more about Helios' Postsecondary Completion work, click here.

Congratulations to Braulio for this well-deserved recognition!

Vince Roig Recognized with the Champion of College Access Award

Vince Roig was recently recognized by the National College Access Network (NCAN) with the Champion of College Access Award. This award is given to individuals who work to create opportunities for students to not only gain access to college, but to persist and complete a postsecondary education.

The award was given at NCAN’s national conference in Phoenix. The NCAN Board of Directors created the NCAN Awards of Excellence to recognize excellence in college access organizations, staff, executive or board leadership, and a Champion of College Access. All nominators and nominees, with the exception of the Champion of College Access recipient, must be NCAN members or board members in good standing. The nominees were reviewed by a committee comprised of NCAN member organizations and final decisions made by the NCAN Board of Directors.

As Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation, Mr. Roig has committed his entire career to ensuring students have the opportunity to pursue and complete a postsecondary degree. His passion comes from his belief that education improves lives and transforms communities.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award from an organization that has a passion for student success,” said Roig. “The work of NCAN is crucial to moving the needle on degree attainment and I am proud to support their work through the partnership with Helios Education Foundation.”

New Study Shows Performance-Based Scholarships Can Accelerate the Progress of Developmental Math Students in Community College

MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research firm, recently released new findings from a rigorous evaluation of the Mathematics Access Performance Scholarship (MAPS) program at two campuses of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida.

Using a modest financial incentive ($600 per semester over three semesters), the program increased the proportion of remedial math students who sought assistance at campus Math Labs and who completed a college-level math course or Intermediate Algebra within two years. It also modestly increased the number of credits students earned in the short term.

Community colleges across the country confront a clear challenge: too many students arrive on campus unprepared, get placed into developmental course sequences that they never complete, and end up dropping out. Developmental math is a particular problem: in one study, only 20 percent of students who were referred to developmental math passed a college-level math course — a course that is almost always required for graduation.

What Is the Mathematics Access Performance Scholarship (MAPS) Program?

Launched in 2010, MAPS provides an incentive for low-income students in developmental (or remedial) math to complete a three-course math sequence early, get help from on-campus Math labs, and strive for passing grades or better. Each semester for three semesters, students were offered a $600 grant, contingent on making at least three to five visits to the on-campus Math Lab and completing their math course with a grade of “C” or better. In addition, students who earned a “B” or better received a math textbook or book voucher for the next math course in the sequence. Students were eligible for the program if they were 18 or older, eligible for Pell grants, and were in need of Beginning Algebra (the highest level of developmental math).

This study of MAPS is part of MDRC’s national Performance-Based Scholarship (PBS) Demonstration, which is testing a variety of scholarship models with different populations in diverse settings. The study at Hillsborough was funded by the Helios Foundation and the Open Society Foundations. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the anchor funder of the PBS Demonstration.

What Did MDRC’s Study Find?

The MAPS evaluation was conducted at two of Hillsborough Community College’s campuses, Dale Mabry and Brandon. Eligible students were randomly assigned into either the MAPS program group or a control group that received regular campus services, but no incentive. Both groups were followed for two years. Key findings include:

MAPS students were much more likely to seek help at Math Labs: 87 percent of MAPS students visited Math Labs, compared with 49 percent of students in the control group.
MAPS students made more progress in their math sequences: MAPS students were 11 percentage points more likely to complete a college-level math course or Intermediate Algebra within two years (49 percent vs. 38 percent).
MAPS students earned more credits in the short term: MAPS students earned about 1.5 more credits over their first semester and a half than students in the control group (although this effect faded).
MAPS had no effect on semester-to-semester retention: Students in the program were no more likely to reenroll than students in the control group.

“These modest but positive findings at Hillsborough Community College align with those found at other colleges in MDRC’s national Performance-Based Scholarship Demonstration, indicating that grants contingent upon performance can give students a small push in the right direction,” said Lashawn Richburg-Hayes, Director of MDRC’s Young Adults and Postsecondary Education Policy Area.

“We’re gratified that HCC’s Mathematics Access Performance Scholarship program is providing our developmental math students with the kind of support that meaningfully boosts their academic success,” said Craig Johnson, Vice President, Academic Affairs, Hillsborough Community College. “As an institution, HCC has learned about using incentives successfully to influence specific students’ behaviors that can have a positive impact upon the students’ success.”

“We are encouraged by the impact of the performance-based scholarship program at Hillsborough Community College and the effect it had on helping students progress through and complete college-level math courses,” said Paul Luna, Helios Education Foundation’s President and CEO. “Our Foundation is committed to ensuring that all students achieve postsecondary education success, and collaborative investments in initiatives like this bring more opportunities to bear for students to succeed and graduate with a competitive certificate or degree.”

The report, Mapping Success: Performance-Based Scholarships, Student Services, and Developmental Math at Hillsborough Community College, is available on MDRC’s website: www.mdrc.org.

Students Engage in College and Career Readiness with Future Plans

Pinellas County Schools students are empowered to take charge of college and career planning with the launch of Future Plans™.

Future Plans™, a collaborative effort between Pinellas County Schools and the Pinellas Education Foundation and funded in part by Helios Education Foundation, is a college and career guidance program which evaluates student aptitudes, values and interests in alignment with 21^st century careers.

“Helios Education Foundation is focused on ensuring that all students graduate high school ready for college and career,” said Helios Education Foundation’s President and CEO Paul Luna. “Future Plans™ not only enables students in Pinellas County to make informed decisions about coursework during high school. It also better positions students for postsecondary education success by linking their academic preparation to 21st century careers.”

High school sophomores complete the Future Plans™ profile during the second semester of their academic year. Recognizing that each student is different, as is each path to success, the results of Future Plans™ can influence course planning for junior and senior years reflecting each student’s individual postsecondary goals. School counselors advise students toward academic coursework as well as postsecondary opportunities in alignment with each student’s Future Plans™ profile.

Access to postsecondary planning is available to all Pinellas County high school sophomores. While the program is cloud-based and accessible from any computer, the establishment of college and career labs at all eight Pinellas County high schools is a cornerstone of Future Plans™.

The outcome of this initiative is to ensure Pinellas County high school graduates are prepared to engage in and complete their postsecondary education in preparation for the 21^st century’s global economy.

Lessons from Florida's Third Grade Reading Retention Policy and Implications for Arizona

It is generally accepted that third grade is a critical pivot point for reading proficiency. More than a decade ago, Florida led the nation in implementing a policy that required that struggling readers be retained in the third grade and provided intensive remediation. The policy also included provisions obligating school districts to provide retained students with extra reading supports such as 90 minutes daily of reading instruction and assignment to a “high-performing teacher” in the retention year. Many states, including Arizona, took Florida’s example and implemented third grade retention policies.

As a Foundation engaged in both Arizona and Florida, Helios looked at Florida’s policy in light of Arizona’s recent adoption of the Move On When Reading legislation. In this brief, we provide an overview of the two policies, take a look at relevant data on student reading proficiency and identify the lessons learned from Florida that could inform the effectiveness of the Arizona policy.

Click here to read and download the report.

Helios Education Foundation Helps Provide Low-Income Students with Opportunity to Pursue a Postsecondary Education

AZ Earn to Learn (AZEL), an innovative savings to scholarship program at Arizona’s three state universities, has received a third round of funding from the Assets for Independence (AFI) program housed in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as well as an additional investment from Helios Education Foundation. The additional funding brings the total scholarship pool to nearly $12 million which equates to 2,500 scholarship opportunities for low-income students in Arizona.

AZEL provides eligible students with financial education, one-on-one financial coaching, college readiness training and ongoing financial literacy support. Students must also save $500 of their own money through an Individual Development Account (IDA), a special savings account proven to help low-income individuals develop assets such as homeownership, small businesses and higher education. When a student completes the program requirements, they receive an unparalleled 8:1 match of $4,000 in scholarship money per academic year - $2,000 from the federal government and $2,000 from the state universities.

“We are honored to be awarded another round of funding for AZEL which will allow us to grow the number of students who might not otherwise have access to higher education,” said Kate Hoffman, founder of AZEL and executive director of AZEL’s non-profit administrator Live the Solution. “Our sole focus is to increase access to higher education among disadvantaged students in Arizona and ultimately break the cycle of poverty through the benefits a college education offers.”

To qualify for AZEL, participants and their household must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and meet the requirements for admission to ASU, NAU, or UA. AZEL is supported by a network of community collaborators that includes the Arizona Board of Regents; Arizona’s public universities – Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona; financial institution partners; high schools; community colleges; nonprofit partners; and the AFI program.

“AZ Earn to Learn is a truly innovative and groundbreaking program providing critical need-based aid to students who otherwise might not have access to higher education, better preparing them for the financial and academic rigor of university life,” said Arizona Board of Regents President Eileen Klein. “I’m proud of our universities, which are leading the nation in this unique program.”

Arizona’s public universities were the first in the country among public universities to apply for federal funding to administer the AZEL savings to scholarship program using the IDA model. It is the largest federally funded AFI education IDA program in the country. AZEL continues to gain national attention as an innovative financial aid model given its financial literacy training, personalized success coaching, and unparalleled savings match. AZEL has been featured at a number of national conferences and meetings, including a U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Literacy and Education Commission meeting in February of this year.

AZ Earn to Learn also has received funding from Helios Education Foundation to conduct a strategic planning process. "We congratulate AZEL on the additional award of Federal funding. Helios Education Foundation is proud to be a partner with this program to help more low-income students achieve their post-secondary dreams," said Helios President and CEO Paul J. Luna. "It is critical that every student in Arizona have the opportunity to access and complete a post-secondary education and this program is helping break down financial barriers and empowering students and families to attain bright and successful futures."

Launched in January 2013, AZEL continues to grow and have a positive impact on students’ lives. Notable program statistics to date include:
• Since inception (combined Fall 2013 and Fall 2014 cohorts) 290 students have successfully saved $145,000 and received $1,160,000 in match for a total postsecondary investment of $1,305,000 towards tuition, books, fees, and other approved education related expenses
• 6,702 hours of financial education provided to 1,401 Arizona students as of mid-October
• 85 percent of participants identify as an ethnic minority
o 74 percent are first generation students
o 68 percent are women
• $25,230 is the median household income of students participating
• Over 65 percent of participating students identified science, technology, engineering and math fields as majors.

Vince Roig and Paul J. Luna Honored with University of South Florida President's Fellow Medallion Award

Helios Education Foundation Founding Chairman, Mr. Vince Roig and Foundation President and CEO, Mr. Paul J. Luna, were honored by Dr. Judy Genshaft with the University of South Florida President’s Fellow Medallion Award.

The President’s Fellow Medallion award, established in 1988 and conferred at the discretion of Dr. Judy Genshaft, is the university’s highest award for distinguished public service.

The award recognizes Helios Education Foundation’s innovative STEM Middle School Residency program which addresses the call to prepare effective teachers for the 21st century classroom by engaging them in extensive clinical experience supported by skilled practitioners. The program aims to produce, support and enhance the retention of mathematics and science teachers who enter the field ready to teach the rigorous content standards, understand the unique needs of adolescent learners and are prepared to teach diverse student populations, including those in high-need environments.

“Under your leadership, Helios [Education] Foundation and USF have built a rich history of collaboration that has benefited many in our community, region and state,” wrote Dr. Genshaft in a letter to Mr. Paul J. Luna.

“We are honored to be recognized by the University of South Florida with this award. One of the fundamental beliefs of Helios Education Foundation is that we cannot do this work alone. It takes valuable partners, like the University of South Florida, who are as committed to student success as we are, to ensure our students are globally competitive and prepared for the 21^st century workforce, “said Mr. Vince Roig, Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation.

Building a College-Going Culture by Increasing Access to the ACT

Through this initiative, the ACT exam is offered to all juniors across 14 partner high school districts. To date, more than 87,000 students in Arizona have taken the ACT over the past seven years. Helios’ investment in the ACT DCST initiative is part of our broader effort to ensure that more high school graduates are prepared to enter the workforce or take credit-bearing courses without remediation. Helios sees our investment in projects like this as just one mechanism in a comprehensive strategy of creating a college-going culture that leads to opportunities for students to succeed in college and career.

In addition, the ACT DCST initiative will provide critical data to assess students’ readiness for college and career and offer the opportunity for individual schools and districts to adjust their practices in support of more student readiness. Ultimately, we hope this work will encourage effective state-level policies and practices and not only increase student matriculation from high school into postsecondary education, but postsecondary completion as well.

The report focuses on the initial qualitative data we gathered specifically around building and sustaining a college-going culture in high school districts. Future reports will be available that will focus on the quantitative data around student achievement and college and career readiness.

Click here to read and download the brief.

Helios Education Foundation Partners with Take Stock in Children to Create Opportunities for Postsecondary Success

Helios Education Foundation’s partner, Take Stock in Children, has secured a $3 million U.S. Department of Education Investing in Innovation (I3) grant. The funds, secured with support from Helios Education Foundation, will institute school-wide mentoring and college readiness initiatives in select high schools within two Florida counties.

The innovative mentoring model called UNISON, Uplifting Non-cognitive Skills and Innovation through Student Opportunity Network, calls for an expansion of the Take Stock in Children 1:1 mentoring model. The school-wide approach will impact over 4,100 students over a four year period of time.

"Helios Education Foundation is committed to ensuring that every student in Arizona and Florida is prepared to succeed in college and career and we’re doing that by promoting a college-going culture within the two states we serve,” said the Foundation’s President and CEO Paul Luna. “That’s why we’re so excited and motivated by Take Stock in Children’s UNISON project. We are supportive of this initiative because it is taking a holistic approach to ensuring that students, parents and school administrators all work together to better position every student for postsecondary success.”

Helios Education Foundation Announces Election of Mr. Vada O. Manager to Its Board of Directors

Helios Education Foundation recently announced the expansion of its Board of Directors with the election of Vada O. Manager, an internationally-recognized global business and brand strategist. With the addition of Mr. Manager, the Foundation’s Board of Directors now consists of 10 members who each possess a strong passion for education and the visionary belief that every individual in Arizona and Florida should have the opportunity to pursue and complete a postsecondary education.

The Foundation’s endowment is approaching $700 million and since 2004, the organization has invested over $155 million in strategic education initiatives in Arizona and Florida that have provided over 8,000 college scholarships, supported the college-going aspirations of more than 135,000 students and trained over 16,000 educators.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Vada’s talent, strategic business expertise and global experience on Helios’ Board of Directors, and we look forward to the wealth of knowledge he will contribute to the work of the Foundation,” said Helios’ Founding Chairman, Vince Roig. “But most importantly, Vada brings an incredible amount of passion to this work of ensuring that every student achieves a postsecondary education, and it’s that passion that endures and will ensure that Helios continues to change lives through education in perpetuity.”

Mr. Manager began his career at the age of 20 as an appointed member of the Arizona Board of Regents while still attending Arizona State University. Before forming the Manager Global Consulting Group in 2009, Mr. Manager served as Senior Director of Global Issues Management for NIKE, Inc., with direct and indirect management responsibilities for NIKE’s global sourcing procedures, brand/marketing communications, litigation support and athlete, product and corporate issue management.

Mr. Manager also provided consultation to several of the company's key initiatives for online commerce and new business acquisitions such as the Starter and Converse brands. During his 12-year tenure, NIKE’s revenues grew from $6 billion to $18 billion.

“It will be a great honor to work alongside the Helios team in assisting aspiring students in reaching their full human potential by achieving a postsecondary education,” said Manager. “In my work with business and community leaders across the world, educational preparedness is a consistent topic of discussion and necessary investment.”

Prior to joining NIKE in 1997, Mr. Manager was a global executive at Levi Strauss & Co.’s headquarters in San Francisco. He has also served as Vice President of the Washington, D.C. based firm Powell Tate where he led a team to South Africa to assist in consulting with the newly elected administration of the late President Nelson Mandela. Mr. Manager holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona) and is an inductee in its Hall of Fame (College of Liberal Arts, 2000). Mr. Manager also performed post-graduate (non-degree) study at the London School of Economics. Mr. Manager’s combined expertise and education led to his election to Fortune 500 global specialty chemical company Ashland Inc. (NYSE-ASH) board of directors and to serve on the International Advisory Council of APCO Worldwide in Washington DC.

“As Helios celebrates its 10-year anniversary, we are truly proud of the impact our education programs and partners have made in Arizona and Florida,” said Helios’ President and CEO Paul Luna. “But as we look forward to the next 10 years and beyond, we are excited to have a visionary Board of Directors guiding this organization and, with the addition of Vada Manager and his expertise, we’re even more excited about the future of Helios and our education reform strategy across both states.”

Mr. Manager joins nine other members of Helios’ Board who provide strategic direction and oversight of the Foundation’s close to $700 million endowment. Other board members include: Vince Roig, Founding Chairman; Paul J. Luna, President and CEO; Don Aripoli, Emeritus Vice President for Student Affairs at Missouri State University; Dr. Ioanna Morfessis business and economic development executive and CEO of IO.INC; Jane Roig, former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Student Services Corporation; Tom Herndon, former Executive Director of the Florida State Board of Administration and Chief of Staff to two Florida Governors; Mark Fernandez, Senior Vice President/Chief Sales Officer for the MLB Tampa Bay Rays; Maria Sastre, President and Chief Operating Officer for Signature Flight Support and Steven Wheeler, retired Executive Vice President of Customer Service and Regulation for Arizona Public Service Company (APS).

New Partnership to Serve Students in Urban Phoenix

A new partnership with Helios Education Foundation is allowing New Schools For Phoenix to continue its mission to transform urban education in Phoenix and dramatically change outcomes for low-income students.

“This grant aligns our shared mission of ensuring that all students, regardless of zip code, receive a high-quality education,” said Andrew Collins, Senior Director of School Development for New Schools For Phoenix. “With only 8 percent of high poverty schools in Phoenix earning an ‘A’ letter grade, New Schools For Phoenix will improve a student’s opportunity by recruiting and training leaders to either open high performing schools or reform struggling urban schools and bridge the achievement gap that exists in our community.”

The $100,000 grant will support the leadership programs within New Schools For Phoenix, which are designed to help educators either start or replicate high-performing schools for low-income students or reform an existing public school. These leadership programs are at the heart of New Schools For Phoenix’s mission to identify, train and equip some of the most innovative minds in education to launch and lead excelling schools in the urban neighborhoods where they’re needed most.

“Helios Education Foundation is committed to ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO. “We know that it will take true collaboration and partnership to achieve that goal. We are pleased to partner with New Schools for Phoenix as they guide aspiring leaders in creating and replicating high-quality schools with the ultimate goal of accelerating student achievement for students in our community who need it most.”

New Schools For Phoenix focuses upon a 220-square-mile swath of urban Phoenix, home to 215 public district and charter schools serving about 136,000 mostly minority and low-income students. Currently, more than 80 percent of these students attend a high poverty school; unfortunately, less than 1 in 10 attends an A-rated school.

By 2020, New Schools For Phoenix leaders will be part of a movement to transform urban education in Phoenix. These educators will open, replicate or reform 25 or more high-quality schools serving 12,500 students in the Phoenix urban core.

Click here to learn more.

Community Conversation: Latino Student Success

Arizona education leaders met recently to discuss ways to increase the preparedness of the state’s Latino population – currently the fastest growing segment of our population.

“This is a critical issue for the state of Arizona,” said Tommy Espinoza, President and CEO of Raza Development Fund. “Arizona must prioritize the educational success and degree attainment of our students in order to secure the future economic viability of our state.”

The event was sponsored by Helios Education Foundation and Raza Development Fund with support from Chicanos Por La Causa, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Alfredo Guterriez, author of To Sin Against Hope.

The discussion focused on the demographic shift in Arizona, the Latino education gap, the role of the community colleges in serving Latino students and the economic impact of a prepared workforce pipeline.

Currently, Arizona has the fourth largest concentration of Latinos behind New Mexico, California and Texas. At 44 percent, Latinos already make up the largest proportion of the state’s population of children and there are more Latino children than white children in the state’s public schools.

However, Latino students are not achieving at the same rate as their White peers in educational attainment. Only 69 percent of Arizona Latinos graduated from high school on time compared to more than 76 percent of non-Latinos, 65 percent of Latino adults lack post-high school training and only nine percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

“Helios Education Foundation was founded on the belief that every student, regardless of zip code, deserves a high-quality education,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO. “That’s why this conversation is so important to us and why we will champion Latino education throughout our state.”

Dr. Rufus Glasper, chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District gave the keynote address and reinforced the Colleges’ commitment to provide an “open system where anyone who wants to can come to one of the Maricopa Community Colleges.”

Of the Maricopa Community Colleges' 128,212 students, 26 percent are Hispanic and 48 percent are White. The Latino population at the Maricopa Community Colleges has increased steadily over the years and the Colleges are a critical postsecondary option for many Latino students. They serve more Latino students than our three state universities combined. The Maricopa Community College system is a gateway to postsecondary education success for thousands of Latino students.

In the coming years, Latinos will become an increasingly larger share of our country’s leaders and workers and will, in some cases, including Arizona, eventually comprise the majority. They are the workforce pipeline – ensuring they are prepared for success will benefit our state economically.

“The number one top-of-mind item for companies when they are considering coming to Arizona is a prepared workforce,” said Chris Camacho, President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

The final speaker of the day was Alfredo Gutierrez, the only Latino member of the Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board. He concluded the event by reinforcing that this conversation is just beginning and that it is time for community leaders to put a stake in the ground around this issue.

“The time is now. This is an issue of justice – our future depends on this educational system. Join me in a vision where 80-90 percent of our children can read at grade level, where students graduating from high school don’t need developmental education and where our children can compete and take part in this economy and help make it grow,” Alfredo Gutierrez.

Click here to read more about the event and hear interviews with education leaders.

Click below to download event presentations:

Maricopa Community Colleges – Overview and Introduction, presented by Edmundo Hidalgo, President & CEO, Chicanos Por La Causa
Community College Funding, presented by Alan Maquire, The Maquire Company
One Maricopa, presented by Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges
Delivering Student Success and Economic Development – Panel Discussion

Helios Education Foundation Names New Director of Research and Evaluation

Helios Education Foundation today announced the addition to Dr. Paul Perrault to its Policy, Research and Evaulation department. Dr. Perrault will serve as Director of Research and Evaluation and will be responsible for the research and avaluation work around Helios's community investments in Arizona and Florida.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Perrault to our organization as we continue to develop the Foundation’s Policy, Research and Evaluation strategies,” said Barbara Ryan Thompson, Helios’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We look forward to his leadership as we move toward publishing more education briefs annually on key issues in our states and as we work more closely with our partners to measure and evaluate the impact of our investments.”

Dr. Perrault comes to Helios Education Foundation with nearly 10 years of research and evaluation experience. Prior to joining Helios, he was a research faculty member at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan where he served as a lead investigator on Arizona’s Move On When Ready evaluation and as principal investigator on the Ready Now Yuma initiative evaluation. He also served on staff as a faculty member of the Yuma Union High School District.

“I’m pleased to join Helios Education Foundation in this new capacity and under the leadership of Charles Hokanson, the Foundation’s Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer,” said Dr. Perrault. “This organization has made a long-term commitment to ensuring that all students in Arizona and Florida achieve a postsecondary education and I’m excited to be supporting that effort through effective research, measurement and evaluation strategies.”

Dr. Perrault received his Ph.D. in Educational Foundations and Policy with a specialization in research methodology at the University of Michigan along with two Masters Degrees, one in Educational Administration and another in Education with Secondary Certification. He also earned a JD at the University of Detroit Mercy and a BA in Journalism at Michigan State University.

Dr. Perrault’s research interests focus on educational reforms to reduce the achievement gap as well as studies in research and evaluation methodology. His most recent work Alignment: It’s Role in Standards-Based Reform and Prospects for the Common Core was published in Theory into Practice, summer 2014.

About Helios Education Foundation

As an engaged foundation, embedded in communities across both states, the Foundation is contributing its expertise and financial resources to better prepare students for college and career and to compete successfully in a globally-competitive economy. Since 2006, Helios has invested over $155 million in education-related programs and initiatives in Arizona and Florida. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.helios.org.

Arizona’s Economic Imperative: Increasing Latino Degree Attainment

Educating every student in Arizona is essential to ensuring our state’s economic prosperity, yet a growing portion of Arizona’s future workforce is falling short of essential degree attainment. This is particularly true of the fastest growing demographic in our state – the Latino population.

Arizona has an opportunity to lead the nation in closing the Latino student achievement gap and secure a future where every student, regardless of zip code, is prepared to succeed and become an active contributor to our state’s viable and growing economy.

Vince Roig, Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation, Dr. Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation addressed these issues to local business and community leaders at an event on Thursday, April 30, 2015.

“If we do not address the Latino degree attainment gap in Arizona, our state risks becoming a second or third-tier economy,” said Vince Roig, Founding Chairman, Helios Education Foundation. “We are positioned for either greatness or peril. We must commit to greatness and take advantage of the unique opportunity we have to lead the nation in recognizing Latino student success as a true economic imperative.”

According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, by 2020, 65 percent of all jobs in the economy will require postsecondary education and training beyond high school. However, only 35 percent of Latino adults in Arizona have any post high school training and a mere nine percent of Latino adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Latinos represent the fastest growing segment of Arizona’s population and Latino students are the largest proportion of our state’s total K-12 population. Yet Latino students trail their White peers in almost every education assessment category, including high school graduation rates. That, combined with the fact that Latinos are the largest segment of this state’s future workforce, makes the Latino education achievement gap Arizona’s top economic imperative.

“As a New American University, ASU is redefining higher education to increase access to a quality education, an effort that extends across all of Arizona’s income levels and communities.” said Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University. “We are also committed in our charter to taking responsibility for the broader community, for the community where we live and work. Both of these aims require that we address the Latino student achievement gap. Arizona cannot fulfill its greatest potential if it fails to educate the fastest growing populace in the state."

It is imperative for Arizona’s future economic growth that community leaders from all sectors make Latino student success a priority in Arizona. Latinos will make up the majority of Arizona’s workforce pipeline tomorrow and far into the future. Improving Latino college success will contribute to Arizona’s ability to expand, attract and retain vital growth industries, and ultimately, to transform Arizona from a low-skill, service economy to a high-skill, knowledge-based economy. Arizona must ensure that all students not only graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and career, but also complete a postsecondary education.

“This issue is one of critical importance to Arizona,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. “The good news is that Arizona has a great opportunity to lead the nation in recognizing Latino student success as an economic imperative and develop a blueprint for how we will close the Latino achievement and degree attainment gaps.”

Click here to view and download Dr. Crow's Presentation "A Community Conversation: Arizona's Economic Imperative."

2014 Pacesetters Named by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

The states of Arizona and Florida, along with Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa and Ohio have been recognized as 2014 Pacesetters by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for their efforts to ensure low-income students are reading at grade level by the end of third grade, a critical milestone and predictor of high school graduation.

Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is critical to long-term academic success as it marks the point where students no longer “learn to read” but rather “read to learn”. “Children who have limited exposure to language acquisition opportunities often enter kindergarten at a disadvantage. It is imperative that we ensure that high-quality early learning opportunities are available to every student. Our work with the grade level reading communities in Arizona and Florida does exactly that” explained Dr. Karen Ortiz, Vice President and Program Director for Early Grade Success with Helios Education Foundation. Research validates that educational accomplishments are predicated upon a students’ ability to read, interpret and comprehend academic material, thus making literacy essential within high-expectation educational environments.

The state of Arizona was named a Pacesetter in part for its 10-year strategic literacy action plan developed by Read On Arizona, a statewide collaborative, which combines public and private resources to impact more than 250,000 low-income children in 22 communities throughout the state. The Read On Arizona model empowers educators and parents to understand and support the academic milestones of children from birth to age eight.

“Parents are their child’s first educator. We want to help them prepare their child for educational success by instilling a love of reading at a very early age while building those foundational language and literacy skills that are critically important in being ready for school” said Terri Clark, Arizona Literacy Director with Read On Arizona.

With support from the Helios Education Foundation, the Florida Children’s Council has created a movement that supports community efforts and engages subject matter experts, as well as business and philanthropic leaders on strategies that support grade-level reading proficiency--Florida’s Campaign for Grade Level Reading. The Campaign launch, which positioned Florida as a 2014 Pacesetter, includes the commitment of fourteen communities that are working to promote school readiness and quality instruction, tackle chronic absence, improve summer learning and engage parents as their children’s first teacher. “The Florida Grade Level Reading Campaign creates shared momentum mobilized around quality early childhood experiences that will result in improved outcomes for young children. By maximizing the collective impact of community and state efforts of organizations working on early childhood and afterschool issues, we can make significant progress on grade-level reading outcomes for children” said Dr. Brittany Birken, CEO of the Florida Children’s Council.

Although schools must be accountable for supporting the educational achievements of students, the Grade Level Reading Campaign is based on the belief that schools cannot succeed alone. Engaged communities mobilized to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist parents in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to serve as full partners in the success of their children are needed to ensure student success.

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading is a collaborative effort of funders, nonprofit partners, business leaders, government agencies, states and communities across the nation.

Rigor and Relevance in Indian Education

Recently, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and Helios Education Foundation partnered together on a report entitled Rigor and Relevance in Indian Education: State of K-12 Indian Education in Arizona.

This report contains an analysis of the current status of Indian Education in Arizona as school districts throughout the State are implementing Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards. As these higher and more rigorous standards are being implemented, it is imperative that all stakeholders recognize, anticipate and plan for the impact on American Indian students, which are an academically vulnerable population. These new Standards will include greater academic rigor and higher expectations of students, teachers and administrators.

It is also clear that the Tribal Nations are committed to ensuring that American Indian students are prepared for success in college and career while also maintaining the sovereignty and cultural integrity of their communities that have been in place for centuries. Promising practices have demonstrated that it is possible to incorporate tribal language and culture into the curriculum in a way that improves overall student success and helps to build strong Tribal Nations.

Click here to view and download the report. We hope it provides some valuable information to help ensure American Indian students and communities are prepared to take greater control over their own education goals, priorities and systems.

Helios Scholars at TGen Trains Next Generation of Arizona Researchers

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) began its 9^th annual Helios Scholars at TGen paid summer internship program this month, hosting 45 students in an effort to train Arizona’s next generation of biomedical researchers.

Helios interns work side-by-side for eight weeks with their TGen scientist-mentors, and are actively engaged in translational research projects in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, infectious diseases such as Valley Fever, and many types of cancer.

“Students selected for this program from across Arizona are talented and creative minds, selected from more than 600 applicants for one of the state’s premier biomedical internships,” said Julie Euber, TGen's Education and Outreach Specialist and supervisor of Helios Scholars at TGen. “They arrive with a passion for science and medicine, and by participating in authentic research projects they shape the skills needed for a lifetime of discovery.”

Funded for 25 years through a $6.5 million award from Helios Education Foundation, Helios Scholars at TGen educates, trains, and inspires the next generation of researchers and physicians in Arizona.

“Through Helios Scholars at TGen, students are gaining valuable, first-hand experience in a professional scientific laboratory that helps prepare them for success in college and career,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. “We are pleased to partner with TGEN and provide these students will a stellar summer internship program that will not only benefit them, but will improve people's lives through scientific and medical research.”

The program is open to Arizona high school, undergraduate and graduate level students, including those in medical school.

In addition to full-time, patient-focused research, Helios Scholars participate in professional development seminars, including science communication, public speaking, and basic business etiquette.

The program concludes July 24 with a daylong scientific symposium, including student poster and oral presentations. Helios Scholars compete at the symposium for awards recognizing project mastery and presentation skills and are celebrated for their achievements.

Past interns boast an array of impressive accomplishments, publishing scientific abstracts, scientific articles, and acceptance into medical and graduate schools.

Program applications start in January each year for the following summer at www.tgen.org/intern.

Latino Student Success Community Convening

Recently Helios Education Foundation and Raza Development Fund convened representatives from a cross-section of our community to engage in a vital conversation about Arizona’s economic development and the future of our state’s workforce.

Census and other research data tell us that, nationally, the Hispanic population is growing faster than the non-Hispanic, White population. While Latinos represent 17 percent of the total United States population; they constitute over 30 percent of Arizonans[1]. Additionally, at 44 percent, Latino children make up the largest proportion of Arizona’s population of children, and there are more Latino children than White children in the state’s public schools[2]. The monumental demographic shift in Arizona’s population requires our leaders to reconsider how we are preparing the largest proportion of our state’s students, Latino students, to lead Arizona successfully into the future.

For a large number of Latino students, postsecondary education starts at Maricopa Community Colleges, making the community college system an integral component of their success and our state’s future economic growth.

We must keep community conversations like this one at the forefront of our work. We must ensure that all students, regardless of zip code, have access to a high-quality education. We must close the Latino student achievement gap to ensure our state’s future economic prosperity.

[1] 2013 Arizona Quick Facts from the U.S. Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/04000.html

[2] Arizona Department of Education, www.azed.gov/research-evaluation/arizona-enrollment-figures. October 1, 2014 enrollment count.

[VIDEO] Arizona's Economic Imperative: Leading the Nation in Latino Student Success

Helios Education Foundation believes that every student, regardless of zip code, deserves a high quality education, and especially those students from underserved and underrepresented populations. Latinos represent the fastest growing segment of the state’s population and the largest proportion of students in our K-12 public schools. Yet, Latino student graduation rates trail that of their White peers.

According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, by 2020, 65 percent of all jobs in the economy will require some form of postsecondary education and training beyond high school. Arizona’s coming demographic shift combined with alarming student achievement gaps and low postsecondary degree attainment rates make Latino student success an economic imperative for Arizona.

Dr. Crow’s presentation sheds light on the severity of Arizona’s current trajectory and calls for a dramatic course correction before our state finds itself out of sync with the country’s economy.

Arizona has the opportunity to lead the nation in solving this issue and our combined efforts can serve as a blueprint for other states. This is not just an education issue, but an economic one that will require engagement and commitment from the business, education, philanthropic and other sectors of the community.

Click below to watch the full video presentation. Click here to download the presentation.

Preparing Students for College and Careers: Early Findings from the Implementation of Ready Now Yuma

With the increasing demands on the 21^st-century workforce, all students should graduate from high school prepared for college and career
success. However, improving the skills students need is a major challenge across the country and Arizona is no exception. To address these challenges, Helios Education Foundation began to take steps to identify a new comprehensive, high-school reform initiative focused on preparing students for success in college and career. Through this work, a partnership with Yuma Union High School District was formed and an initiative called Ready Now Yuma was developed. This initiative provides students with a rigorous, high expectations curriculum within a college-going environment. The end goal is to increase the number of students entering and succeeding in postsecondary education.

Helios recently published an education brief called: Preparing Students for College and Careers: Early Findings from the Implementation of Ready Now Yuma. In this brief, we provide a short history of the development and practices around college and career readiness, outline the research and theory of action behind the Ready Now Yuma initiative and highlight key findings during the first two and a half years of implementation.

Click here to download the brief.

Learn More about Ready Now Yuma.

[Video] - Year-in-Review 1

[Video] - Year-in-Review 2

Helios Education Foundation Provides $375,000 Grant to Thriving Together to Help a Quarter-Million Young People Succeed from Birth to Career

Helios Education Foundation is committing $375,000 for the upcoming year to support the Thriving Together initiative in Phoenix.

The grant will be used to fund the broad work in schools that Thriving Together has planned for the upcoming year, including the implementation of the two newest Collaborative Action Teams. The teams will focus on kindergarten readiness and career attainment.

The work for the unprecedented education initiative, Thriving Together, began last summer. The initiative, which uses the resources of the private and non-profit sectors, aims to change the course of lives for a quarter of a million children in the Phoenix metropolitan area and change the future of Arizona.

Thriving Together co-chairs Dr. Kent Scribner, superintendent of the Phoenix Union High School District (PUHSD) and Pam Conboy, Lead Regional President of Wells Fargo Arizona, along with Merl Waschler, President and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way, convened education and community leaders from PUHSD schools to launch the initiative – the first of its kind in Arizona.

“This grant will help sustain the momentum achieved in the classrooms in the first year of Thriving Together,” Waschler said. “Our collaborative action teams are critical to the initiative and we are excited to get ready to launch, with the generous help of Helios Education Foundation, our Kindergarten Readiness and Career Attainment teams. The experts who lead our collaborative action teams help us reach key benchmarks and place and keep students on a path to success.”

“The Helios Education Foundation grant will help augment the efforts of the business community in support of Thriving Together,” said Don Smith, Chairman of the Board of Valley of the Sun United Way and President & CEO of CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company. “In the first year, we’ve already seen a willingness to work together on the part of all stakeholders—educators, the community and non-profit organizations. That has translated into early positive results. Now, with our two new teams about to launch, thanks to Helios, we can look forward to even more progress toward improving Arizona’s future.”

Helios Education Foundation is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals in Arizona and Florida to succeed in postsecondary education. It invests its knowledge, expertise and resources across the education continuum to advance student academic preparedness and to foster college-going cultures within the two states it serves.

Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, said: “Thriving Together is an innovative approach to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps and help put students on a path to success. With the help and participation of the community, it not only will move the needle, it will move it in big ways. Helios is proud to support this initiative and collaborate with other community organizations on this important work. What Thriving Together is setting out to achieve is not easy, nor simple, but it holds great potential.”

The Thriving Together initiative starts when a child is born and concludes when that child succeeds in the workforce. Along the way, the initiative measures progress and works to make sure goals are being met. If they are not, it looks to identify opportunities to improve and resources to support students to get back on track. It uses data to identify the effectiveness of a practice. If there’s room to improve, Thriving Together draws on its resources to offer a path to success for students.

Studies have shown that if children are prepared at several key milestones in their educational career, they can stay on a path to success. Those milestones are the focus of Thriving Together and its efforts to provide measurable results. They are where children and young people are most likely to lose their way — it’s where they fall behind, or get frustrated, or suffer from a lack of support. Thriving Together will initially focus on four key areas: 3^rd grade reading, 8^th and 9^th grade math, high school graduation and college readiness.

Dozens of leaders from more than 60 local organizations – including higher education, social services, community groups, business and industry, government leaders, and parents – are coming together to help children succeed from birth through careers via Thriving Together.

The Thriving Together initiative is patterned after the successful nationwide movement StriveTogether, which was founded in 2006 and which has improved student success in school districts throughout the U.S. by bringing together leadership across sectors. The Strive Partnership, a subsidiary of KnowledgeWorks, is focused on the success of our children: every child, every step, from cradle to career by taking a data-driven look at whether programs and processes are effectively meeting goals. In 56 communities in 28 states across the country, it is impacting millions of students.

In Arizona, the initiative launched as Thriving Together, which is supported by the anchor entity, Valley of the Sun United Way, a neutral third-party that coordinates the activities of Thriving Together. The Phoenix collaboration is quickly emerging as one of the fastest of the 56 efforts across the country to get up and running effectively in schools.

To learn more, visit www.thrivingtogetheraz.org.

Helios Education Foundation Funds Leadership Florida in support of "Leadership In Education"

Leadership Florida, with funding from Helios Education Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched “Leadership in Education”. The eight month professional development program will draw from the experiences of cohort participants who include school board members, teachers, state education professionals and district superintendents. Four program sessions will address the most critical issues in education within the state of Florida and challenges each member to not only concept change, but implement it within their educational environments.

Each session of Leadership in Education will provide program participants -- as well as the communities they serve --with a comprehensive look at K-12 education from international, national and statewide perspectives for the purpose of advancing K-12 outcomes in Florida and securing our state’s place as a top tier education leader. The first program session will be held in September in Howey-in-the-Hills, focusing on educational systems, examining best practices from around the globe. The three following sessions will be held in Sarasota, Jacksonville and Ft. Lauderdale and will focus on schools, classrooms and partnerships and innovation, respectively.

“Florida has made tremendous improvement in K-12 education over the last 15 years,” said Paul Luna, Helios Education Foundation President and CEO, “we are confident that Leadership Florida, by bringing Florida’s diverse education leaders together, will continue to propel the state’s public education system forward ensuring more Florida students are prepared to succeed in college and career.”

Arizona Programs Announced as Bright Spots in Hispanic Education by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics highlighted 230 programs across the country on Tuesday, September 15th as Bright Spots for investing in key education priorities affecting the Hispanic community. There were 10 programs in Arizona recognized as Bright Spots, five of which are partners of Helios Education Foundation.

“We are thrilled that the work being done by Be A Leader Foundation, The American Dream Academy, Ready Now Yuma, AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute and Abriendo Puertas is being recognized by the White House and is receiving national attention as a Bright Spot,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. “We believe that every student, regardless of zip code, deserves a high-quality education and along with our partners, we are committed to closing the Latino student achievement gap and ensuring that Arizona’s students are prepared to succeed in college and career.”

The five other Arizona programs recognized by the initiative include Adults Achieving a College Education, Amistades, Bilingual Nursing Fellows Program, Fowler Head Start Program and The Victoria Foundation.

The Bright Spots throughout the country are representative of key educational areas including early learning, college access, STEM education, postsecondary completion and Hispanic teacher recruitment. Be A Leader Foundation, The American Dream Academy, Ready Now Yuma, AGUILA Youth Leadership Institute and Abriendo Puertas are focused on ensuring that the educational challenges Hispanic communities face are identified and addressed. Through their work, these programs are helping increase educational achievement and improve life outcomes for Hispanics in their respective communities.

As Latinos represent the fastest growing segment of Arizona’s population, they will ultimately make up a large portion of the future workforce. Ensuring that the Latino student population has access to quality education across the continuum and closing the Latino student achievement gap will better prepare these students for success in college and career and help them become contributors to a vibrant state economy.

The Bright Spots catalog features over 230 programs, models, organizations and initiatives that are supporting and investing in the educational attainment of Hispanics, from cradle-to- career. The initiative seeks to leverage these Bright Spots to encourage collaboration between stakeholders focused on similar issues in sharing data-driven approaches, promising practices, peer advice, and effective partnerships, ultimately resulting in increased support for the educational attainment of the Hispanic community. Click here to learn more about the initiative and to view the Bright Spots in Hispanic Education national online catalog.

Leading the Way from College Access to Attainment

National, state and local leaders recently convened in Orlando to discuss strategies that promote postsecondary degree completion at the National College Access Network’s (NCAN) 20^th national conference.

Helios Education Foundation’s President and CEO, Paul Luna, welcomed conference attendees and introduced Dr. Falecia Douglas Williams, Valencia College West Campus President who discussed Moving Orlando and Florida Forward through Higher Education.

The conference includes more than 70 plenary and breakout sessions, including remarks from College Board President David Coleman about increasing college access and success for underrepresented students as well as a review of college access and success in Miami-Dade County presented by Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

NCAN’s 2015 “Champion of College Access” Award recipient, Donald Pemberton, Ph.D., Founder of Take Stock in Children, will be honored for his lifetime of service to students.

NCAN’s mission is to build, strengthen, and empower communities committed to college access and success so that all students, especially those underrepresented in postsecondary education can achieve their educational dreams.

Helios Education Foundation: News

College Preparatory Academy Helps Create A College-Going Culture In Globe, Miami and San Carlos.

Teacher Quest Tampa Bay Celebrates Successful First Year

Newly Elected Roig Brings History and Expertise to Helios Education Foundation Board of Directors

Helios Education Foundation Presents Opportunities — A Look at Our 2008/2009 Highlights

Is “Average” Good Enough for Arizonans When It Comes to Education?

Middle School Mathematics Education Pilot Project Launched Today

Recruitment Begins for Teacher Quest Tampa Bay Pilot Program

About Helios Education Foundation

About TRDA

Helios Education Foundation President Paul Luna to Keynote 12th Annual Education in Action Luncheon

About Helios Education Foundation

About the University of South Florida's College of Education

Helios Expands Investment in ASU History Teaching Programs

Helios Education Foundation Gifts $1 Million to the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Helios Education Foundation Hires Stacy Carlson as Vice President and Director of Transition Years

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation is Honored for Exemplifying Leadership in Education

Helios Education Foundation Announces Partnership with Take Stock in Children to Provide Scholarships for Thousands of Low-Income Students

Helios Education Foundation Promotes Barbara Ryan to Executive Vice President and COO.

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Creates Endowed Scholarship Fund for University of South Florida to Benefit Underserved Populations

Foundation Creates Endowed Scholarship Fund With $2 million Investment State Match Boosts Total to $4 million

Florida Joint Center for Citizenship to Serve as State Clearinghouse for Civic Learning

Helios Education Foundation Invests Over $556,000 in Center’s Training Program for Middle School Social Studies Teachers

Helios Education Foundation Invests $6.5 Million in TGEN Partnership

Helios Education Foundation Invests $6.5 Million in New Partnership with TGen

Partnership Extends Funding for Bioscience Summer Internship Program Over the Next 25 Years

Helios Education Foundation Promotes Paul J. Luna To President and CEO

About Helios Education Foundation

Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation Award $900,000 for Education Reform Projects

44 Helios Scholars graduate from TGen intern program

Internships for Teachers Help Teach Real World Science and Math

Partnerships Help College Depot Open its Doors

Vince Roig Keynotes Mayor's Latinos Unidos Luncheon

Setting the Path for Future Economic Success-Opinion-Editorial

Helios President/CEO Leads Collaborative Expect More Arizona Campaign

Helios Education Foundation Chairman Vince Roig to Keynote Mayor's Latinos Unidos Luncheon

Foundation Elects Rays' Mark Fernandez to Board of Directors

Helios Donates $2 Million to UA's Assurance Scholarship Program

About Helios Education Foundation

Helios Education Foundation Helps Teachers Increase their Math and Science Knowledge

UA Launches Jr. BIOTECH Program in Arizona Middle Schools

Helios Education Foundation Supports UA College of Education and Amphitheater School District Math Project

Helios Education Foundation Request for Proposals Documents NOW Available

Helios President and CEO Elected to Arizona Communtiy Foundation Board of Directors

Helios Scholars Program Applications Available NOW

Scholarship allows TGen Intern to Continue her EducationFuture at ASU credited to Participation in TGen's Helios Scholars Program

Helios Education Foundation Partners with Prescott College to Increase the Number of Certified Early Childhood Educators in Rural Arizona

Foundations Urge Preservation of Vital Early Learning Programs - Op-Ed

Expect More Arizona, Community Partners Launch "Vote 4 Education" Campaign

Helios Education Foundation's 2009 Annual Report - A Year in Review

How STEM-Related Career Academies Are Exciting Tampa Bay Students

Raising the Score for Education

Helios Education Foundation Collaborates with UA, ASU to Help Teachers Learn New Technology

Helios Education Foundation Chairman Vince Roig Joins Teach for America's National Board of Directors

Helios Gives a Much-Needed Boost to Early Childhood Education Reform

Helios Invests Nearly $1 Million In Early Childhood Education in Arizona and Florida

TGen Provides Scientific Springboard for Helios Scholars

Helios Education Foundation Invests Over $800,000 to Improve STEM Education in Pinal County

D-Backs, Helios Education Foundation Expected to Donate $100,000 To Valley of Sun United Way Through ‘Shirts Off Our D-Backs' Fundraiser

Helios Funding Supports Early Childhood Success in Northern Arizona

The History of Helios Education Foundation: Creating a Lasting Legacy to Improve Education

Waiting for Superman To Open in Select Theaters around the Country

ZERO TO THREE's 25th National Training Institute (NTI): Connecting Science, Policy, and Practice

Helios Education Foundation Provides $1.5 Million Toward Hillsborough Community College's Performance-Based Math Program

Take Stock Secures $5 Million I3 Grant; Helios Provides $1 Million Match

Statement Regarding the Tragic Shooting of Congresswoman Giffords, Chief Federal Judge John Roll and Others in Tucson, Arizona:

Teach For America Honors Vince Roig

O'Connor House, Expect More Arizona Launch Education Commitment

Helios Collaborates with USF to Make a Difference in Early Childhood Education

Helios Endorses Arizona Education Commitment

Helios Announces $1 Million Gift to Teach For America Miami

Helios Education Foundation STEM Request for Proposals

Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, To Moderate the "Your Voice in Education Reform Symposium"

Helios Education Foundation Elects Maria Sastre To its Board of Directors

Pinellas Education Foundation Hosts Follow-up to "Waiting for Superman"

Helios Education Foundation's 2010 Annual Report - A Celebration of Milestones

Helios Education Foundation and Arizona Community Foundation Announce Partnership with Opening Minds through the Arts Foundation

Helios Provides Major Support to UAs College of Education Early Childhood Education Teacher Preparatory Program

Partnership Extends Funding for Bioscience Summer Internship
Program Over the Next 25 Years

Scholarship allows TGen Intern to Continue her Education
Future at ASU credited to Participation in TGen's Helios Scholars Program

Voting ‘Yes on Prop 204’ is a Vote for Arizona’s Future and Our Children
By Vince Roig, Chairman, and Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation