Ellie & Michael Ziegler

Ellie and Michael Ziegler’s impact on the community is evident in the lives they’ve touched, and the places they’ve created.

The Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum in downtown Scottsdale showcases the greatest moments in college bowl history. For 20-plus years Ellie volunteered for the Fiesta Bowl, serving on the board and then as the 2006-2007 chairman. She was the first person to chair three bowl games in the same season – the Fiesta Bowl, the national championship game and the Insight Bowl. When the museum opened in 2006, the Zieglers were offered the naming rights in honor of their contributions of time and resources.

The couple supports sports scholarships and programs at Arizona State, Northern Arizona, Drake and Duke universities, as well as the University of Arizona.

From 1993 to 2000, Ellie served on the board of Scottsdale Cultural Council. She was instrumental in founding Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, eventually serving as its chairman.

Passionate about the arts, education, human services and health care, in 2015, the Zieglers provided a suite to be used by families of critically ill patients at Barrow Neurological Institute. In 2017, they helped expand the adult acute leukemia center at HonorHealth.

Inspired by Ellie’s grandfather, founder of the first Boys & Girls Clubs in central Iowa, the Zieglers support the Clubs locally. In 2017 they launched a challenge grant to fund the renovation of the Scottsdale Vestar Club, creating The Ellie & Michael Ziegler Teen Center. For six years, the couple has collaborated with Kohl’s department stores to sponsor back-to-school shopping for thousands of children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.

In the name of Ellie’s late mother, Maddie Levitt, they’ve provided college scholarships to Youth of the Year candidates from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, as well as summer camp scholarships for BGCMP club members.

Ellie Ziegler passed away on December 21, 2021