Helios Education FoundationJulie Norwood, Program Specialist,

Community Impact Center of Excellence

August 21, 2013

About Helios Education Foundation

• Created through the sale of Southwest Student Services, a student loan services company

• Established in 2004• Philanthropic organization focused exclusively on

education• Serves Arizona and Florida• More than $130 million invested in education-

related programs and initiatives across the two states

Mission

To enrich the lives of individuals in Arizona

and Florida by creating opportunities for

success in postsecondary education.

Our Focus

• Early Childhood Education• Transition Years• Postsecondary Success

Helios’ Education Impact Continuum

Children enter school ready to succeed

Transition Years

Pre-Kindergarten

Early Childhood Education

Elementary School

Middle School

High School School

Youth successfully transition and graduate prepared

Young adults complete

postsecondary education

Postsecondary Success

Higher Education and Vocational Training

Adults are equipped with skills and knowledge to compete in a global economy and enjoy improved quality of life

Early Childhood Education

Ensuring children, ages birth to 5, enter school

prepared to learn and succeed.

– Improving early childhood teacher quality

– Integrating emergent literacy and language curriculum into postsecondary programs

– Bridging early childhood and K-3 education

Transition YearsHelping youth stay in school, transition

between the various stages of education

and graduate academically prepared for postsecondary education.•Emphasis on STEM education and quality STEM educators•Foster students’ personal growth, character development and college readiness•Improve family and community engagement in student success

Postsecondary Success

Providing young adults with the financial, academic

and personal support they need to succeed in

postsecondary education.

– Increase access for underserved populations– Create a pipeline of students and educators

focused on STEM education– Cultivate early childhood education teachers and

practitioners

Partnering with Helios Education Foundation

• Our approach to impacting education is different:– Educating– Partnering– Leading– Investing – Convening– Engaging

Helios Education Foundation accepts only

solicited requests for funding.

Ready Now Yuma: A Demonstration of a Whole District Transformation

• Graduating every YUHSD student prepared to succeed in college and career;

• Embedding a college-going culture within YUHSD; • Increasing the number of YUHSD students

entering and succeeding in postsecondary education.

A bold new initiative that is working to ensure every student in YUHSD graduates prepared to succeed in college and career.

Early Literacy CollaborativeHelios funded, community solution action plans to address literacy challenges such as school readiness, summer learning loss and chronic school absenteeism.

Tucson

Questions