The Peoria Education Foundation is proud to launch an Emergency Needs Fund program in alignment with their mission to support excellence in the Peoria Unified School District. The new program is aimed to provide direct support to Peoria Unified students to meet the critical, emergency needs. 

This funding will support a range of needs from siblings who arrive on the first day of school without shoes to a child without the proper reading glasses – and everything in between. The Emergency Needs Fund allows principals to step in immediately while social services work towards long-term solutions. Participating schools will have a limited budget set-up with the Foundation to meet what the principals deem to be an emergency need.   

“We are so grateful to the Peoria Education Foundation for their tireless work in support of our 35,000 students,” said former Superintendent, Linda Palles Thompson. “The Emergency Needs Fund is one way our deep partnership with the Foundation benefits the greater community and ultimately has a positive impact in our classrooms.” 

“The Peoria Education Foundation has been supporting the Peoria Unified School District for more than thirty years, but we know our community needs us now more than ever,” said Peoria Education Foundation President, Tamara Caraway. “Our Board of Directors accelerated the launch of this program to ensure we could support families who are facing unforeseen circumstances as a result of the coronavirus. Our hope is that the fund will grow through the generous donations of our community partners so we can continue to serve those in need beyond the pandemic. If the Emergency Needs Fund can help take the burden off those experiencing struggle, even in a small way, we will consider our efforts hugely successful.” 

The Emergency Needs Fund is just one of the ways the Peoria Education Foundation gives back to the community. The Foundation also offers grants to Peoria Unified teachers and scholarships to Peoria Unified students. If you would like to donate to the Peoria Education Foundation, you can give through the Peoria Education Foundation profile on the Arizona Gives website at www.azgives.org/peoriaedfoundation. For more information about the Peoria Education Foundation, visit the Foundation website at www.PeoriaEdFoundation.org.