Teach For America Dinner Spotlights 2 Teachers Who Returned to Their Roots


The Event: The 2023 Phoenix Celebration Dinner

The Cause: Teach For America Phoenix

Event Date: March 2, 2023

Location: JW Marriott Camelback Inn

Honorees: Bank of America

Title Sponsor: Jack & Vianne Kucera

Dollars Raised: $867,000 

Notable Moment: The two teachers spotlighted at the 2023 dinner event were surprised with letters of appreciation written by their students. Each was selected because they are first-year teachers working in the schools they once attended, and where they were taught by Teach For America teachers. The audience witnessed firsthand the full-circle moments as the former teachers, who are now their colleagues, read the touching and funny thank-you letters they collected from their students for all to enjoy.

Photos courtesy of Studio 3 Images, LLC.

Steve Erickson with Vianne & Jack Kucera and Lauren Arndt
Benito Almanza & Sally Gnirk of Bank of America
Brad Vynalek & Jenny Holsman Tetreault
John Graham, Doug Tymins & David Reese
Fred Pakis & Rebecca Pierson
Jason Catanese with his former student Nathan Martinez Rubio & Jessica Verdugo Lopez with her former teacher Olivia Allpress
Teach For America Corps Members
Teach For America Alumni
Alumna teacher Lauren Hawks went home with donated school supplies.
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