A new TUSD school year begins this Thursday, August 5! In preparation for the influx of need, EEF conducted the Back To School Bonanza over the summer. The Bonanza culminated with Stuff the Bus on July 17. Principals, TUSD staff and a few parents volunteered their time on a Saturday, and in return, each of these 10 participating schools received 15 supply-filled backpacks benefiting their students. A big thank you to Borman K-8, Utterback Middle, Secrist Middle, Doolen Middle, Booth-Fickett K-8, Roberts Naylor K-8, Maldonado Elementary, Alice Vail Middle, Miller Elementary, and JB Wright Elementary volunteers! Below, read more about the incredible success of this event.

If you are an employee of TUSD, we encourage you to “Spare A Little To Share A Lot” by supporting EEF through payroll deduction. Current payroll deduction generates about $35,000 annually toward EEF programs. If every TUSD employee gave $1 per paycheck, the total would add up to over $200,000 supporting students and teachers! EEF annually provides $80,000 in classroom grants to teachers and another $80,000 in interscholastic scholarships to students in need. That’s just two of our many programs so this “spare change” can make a huge difference in teacher and student success. If you already participate, we thank you and ask you to encourage your fellow TUSD team members to visit the website and sign up! The EEF Team will be visiting some schools in person, but fellow advocates spreading the news are super appreciated!

"The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create." ~ Barack Obama

Cheers to a safe and successful school year!

Dawn Bell
Executive Director
WELCOME SALLIE

We are thrilled to welcome Sallie Muse as EEF's new Administrative Specialist (aka jack-of-all-trades). Sallie will keep the office running smoothly and support the EEF Team.

Sallie is a native Arizonan and brings her enthusiasm and continuous pursuit of expanding and enriching student learning in the Tucson Unified School District.
Read more about her HERE

Our sincere appreciation to David Lugo for his dedication to EEF. We wish him all the best in his pursuit of a master’s degree at Arizona State University.
STUFF THE BUS SUCCESS!
THANK YOU!

We are so grateful to the TUSD principals, staff, and volunteers who helped us put on a very successful Stuff The Bus event! And, the friendly community donors make us smile and warm our hearts with their generosity.    

After 4 hours at two Walmart locations we delivered the following to TUSD schools and Family Resource Centers:

Spiral Notebooks...........................3,720
Markers/Crayons............................2,000
Pens/Pencils.........................................800
Packs of Lined paper........................700
Binders/Folders..................................600
Glue.........................................................360
Backpacks.............................................200
Pairs of Undies....................................200
Pairs of Socks......................................200
Pairs of Shoes........................................80
Lunch Boxes...........................................50
Water Bottles.........................................45
Hand Sanitizer.......................................25
Bras............................................................20
Over $400 in cash
MEET OUR EEF BOARD PRESIDENT
Amanda Thomas is EEF's newly elected Board President. Find out more about Amanda by reading the full interview below.

What inspired you to become a board member?

From a young age, I've seen education as a path out of poverty and instability. I am proud to be part of a nonprofit with a mission that enriches school experiences and supports students and teachers on their journey paths.
What’s your favorite EEF program?
I love all of the EEF programs! Supporting students' basic needs appeals to my practical side - how can we expect anyone to learn, grow and achieve if they don't have shoes in which to attend school, glasses to see the board, or hygiene items to take care of themselves? Our support of interscholastic activities helps students try new things and explore their interests, developing their social, physical, and emotional skills and getting them excited about school and life. Classroom grants help teachers provide amazing experiences for their students - I love seeing teachers' creativity and passion! And, helping students continue their education past high school through scholarships is a natural extension of it all. 
SAVE THE DATE
The 22nd Ray Davies Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon
 
October 22, 2021
11:30am – 1:30pm
Tucson Convention Center
 
Honoring
Katie Dusenberry and Bruce & Lynne Dusenberry
 
Presented by Mike & Claudia Levin

Click HERE for sponsorship opportunities
IN MEMORIAM
Ray Davies
EEF has lost one of its founders and a leading education advocate. We vow to carry on Ray's legacy.

"Ray’s life reminds us that there is nothing more powerful than an individual acting out of his or her conscience, thus helping to bring the collective conscience to life."

"Be the things you loved most about people who are gone". - Unknown
THE HYGIENE PANTRY
TUSD classes are starting on Thursday and the demand for hygiene support will increase exponentially.

·   new wrapped toothbrushes
·   new unopened toothpaste
·   new bottles of hair conditioner
·   new bottles of shampoo
·   new soap and body wash
·   new wrapped deodorant
Donations can be dropped off during business hours at any Family Resource Center. Hygiene supplies are always appreciated and needed to keep our shelves fully stocked. Thank you!
AUGUST TO DO LIST
  • Watch your mailbox for our Back To School Appeal letter and help EEF expand and enrich learning for students. Every dollar counts!
  • Sponsor or buy a ticket to attend the Davies Luncheon and experience the impact of EEF! HERE
  • Spread kindness
  • Celebrate National S’mores Day with a kid on August 10!
DO YOU SHOP AT FRY'S?
Fry's Community Rewards
This program makes fundraising easy by donating to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Card to an organization, all you have to do is shop at Fry’s and swipe your Shopper’s Card. Here’s how it works:
CHOOSE AMAZON SMILE
Thank You For Your Support