As the Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers program celebrates its 10th anniversary, and the Foundation celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, one Mesa educator says the grant she received did more than bring new tools into her classroom – it reignited her belief in the power of community support for teachers.

Shawni Banner, a kindergarten teacher at Taft Elementary School in the Mesa Public Schools district, received $2,500 through Wishes for Teachers, the Foundation's signature community engagement program that provides funds for much-needed classroom supplies and projects for educators across Arizona.

With her grant, Banner purchased items such as STEM kits, floor puzzles and a cozy library bench. The items quickly became staples in her classroom.

"These kiddos light up and start having conversations, start building up their confidence, team building, using new vocabulary and just really opening up," Banner said. "It built a really neat community in my classroom that I never would have had before."

Banner said the resources encouraged hands-on learning and helped transform the way her students approached problem-solving and teamwork. What began as a set of tools soon became a catalyst for creativity and connection.

"It allowed me to provide that hands-on experience. Back in the day, you might have seen kiddos sitting with worksheets and just listening to a lecture, writing things down," she said. "I feel like [my students] understand the concepts better."

The supplies that resulted from the classroom grant also influenced changes in Banner's approach to teaching.

"If it's just a worksheet and pencil, that really doesn't deepen their understanding and the learning that they need in early childhood," she said. "Let them use and develop that critical thinking skill that is so important."

A Decade of Impact Statewide

Since its launch in 2016, Wishes for Teachers has awarded nearly $10 million in grants to more than 3,100 teachers across Arizona, impacting more than one million students. Each fall, thousands of educators apply for the program, which grants wishes through a random drawing during its Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP event.

In its milestone 10^th year, Wishes for Teachers awarded a record $1.5 million to 540 Arizona educators, and three $50,000 school wishes, during Draft Day in November.

"As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers, we are proud to recognize a decade of honoring, supporting and celebrating Arizona's educators," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Chief Impact Officer Kristina Chumpol. "The increased funding is part of our unwavering commitment to turn wishes into reality and empower teachers, enrich classrooms and foster brighter futures for students."

More Than Materials

For Banner, the impact extends beyond her students' excitement for new STEM kits. The program made her feel valued in a profession where recognition can be rare.

"Sometimes teachers just don't feel like there's any support," she said. "I've never felt so cared about before. It was like coming into a whole family with the Fiesta Sports Foundation."

She also praised the application process's simplicity, calling it "super easy" and encouraging other teachers to apply.

"Your imagination is your limit," Banner said. "It's amazing and life-changing for teachers, students and communities."

Banner said she was strategic in selecting materials that would last for years, ensuring future students can benefit. Each year, new kindergartners at Taft Elementary explore the same STEM kits and puzzles, continuing the cycle of discovery.

Building a Legacy of Learning

Beyond classroom materials, Fiesta Sports Foundation has contributed more than $34 million to Arizona communities since 2011, supporting statewide programs and organizations in the key areas of youth, sports and education. Wishes for Teachers remains one of its most visible and beloved outreach efforts — a tangible link between Arizona's sports legacy, its schools, the teachers and their students.

As Wishes for Teachers enters its second decade, Banner hopes stories like hers inspire others to dream big and apply in the future.

"It could be you," she said. "Why not?"