AAA Scholarship Foundation

We Make Academic Achievement Accessible

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Jaylen Hardy and Savon Graham

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Jaylen Hardy and Savon Graham
Lake Mead Christian Academy
Clarke County, NV

 

Ahsaki Hardy sits amongst many other enthusiastic parents as she watches her children, Jaylen and Savon, receive honor roll once again. She knows this wouldn’t have been possible without the financial stability provided by a scholarship from the AAA Scholarship Foundation which allowed Ahsaki to send her children to a school tailored to their learning needs.

Knowing that they’d face countless obstacles, Ahsaki made the courageous decision to move her family from Massachusetts to Nevada, not really knowing what to expect. She was in desperate need of a climate change but she also wanted to move to a place that her family could eventually call home. Ahsaki worked as a family support specialist, which was the family’s only source of income. Her children’s father was unable to work due to an injury, which would later result in surgery and the family losing their secondary source of income.

 

Ahsaki was focused on work, making sure there was food on the table and caring for her children’s father so she hadn’t really noticed how reserved Jaylen, her oldest son, was acting when he would arrive home from attending third grade at his zoned public school each day. She asked him the normal questions such as how was school, did he need any help with his homework, and so on, but he didn’t allude to anything being wrong. It wasn’t until report cards were sent home that Ahsaki learned that Jaylen’s grades were starting to drop, which was out of the ordinary for her intelligent young son.

 

Ahsaki made it her mission to find out what, if anything, was going on at school that was causing Jaylen’s grades to suffer? After some gentle prodding, Jaylen finally broke down and confessed that an upperclassman had been picking on him. Alarmed, Ahsaki asked question after question, and learned that it had started on the school bus where Jaylen was being teased and called names, and continued into the classroom, as well as into after school care. “I don’t like this school anymore,” said Jaylen. Ahsaki was heartbroken and wanted to put a stop to the bullying immediately; however, because of their financial situation, she felt like her options were limited. That night, as she lay in bed absorbing all the information she had learned earlier that day, she knew she needed to make a change. If she didn’t pull her son out of this school now and put a stop to the harassment, who knew where it would lead? To make matters worse, her youngest son, Savon, was getting ready to start school for the very first time, and the last thing Ahsaki wanted was for him to enter that type of hostile environment.

 

Ahsaki had heard of a few private schools in her district and decided to visit Lake Mead Christian Academy. Right away she noticed that the classroom sizes were much smaller than at Jaylen’s previous school, where he was one of 35 students in a classroom with one teacher. This school also had a tracking system, which notifies the teachers if any students are falling behind in a subject or aren’t quite grasping the concept as quickly as their peers. The teachers can then intervene early and provide those struggling students with enhanced guidance. Ahsaki admired this about the school as it showed her that the administration truly wanted their students to succeed.

 

Ahsaki desperately wanted Jaylen to attend Lake Mead Christian Academy, as well as enroll Savon there so that he would not only be with his brother, but would also be protected from the bullying that Jaylen has experienced. As they approached the end of their tour, Ahsaki informed the administrator of their current financial situation and told her that she would do anything to send her children there. The administrator told her that they had a few students already benefitting from the AAA Scholarship Foundation and encouraged her to apply for a scholarship to see if her family qualified. To her relief, they did!

 

Now in the seventh grade, Jaylen genuinely loves going to school and expanding his academic horizons. He takes advantage of every activity the school has to offer, including basketball, choir and even Speech Meet, which is a spelling bee-type competition with a twist – students can pick a speech, poem or passage from a book to deliver. Students do not compete against each other, rather, they are judged on how well they deliver their selection. This practice helps students develop techniques to speak audibly, confidently and expressively – crucial skills they will need for their day-to-day lives. As for Savon, he is now in the third grade and is passionate about reading and participating in the school’s theatre program, where he landed the lead role in The Little Engine That Could.

 

Jaylen and Savon are aware of the sacrifices their mother makes every day to allow them to attend this school, and they couldn’t be more grateful. As for Ahsaki, seeing her children happy makes it all worth it. “This scholarship has helped my family so much,” says Ahsaki. “It has taken an emotional and financial strain off my shoulders knowing I have help to pay for my children’s education from the AAA Scholarship Foundation. I tell everyone I meet that is in my same financial situation to apply for an AAA scholarship. Thank you so very much!”

 

 

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs in multiple states. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

For a pdf of this spotlight, click here.

Isabella and Robert Valdes

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Isabella Valdes 2018_06

Robert Valdes 2018_06

Isabella and Robert Valdes
Monsignor Edward Pace High School, Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Hialeah, FL

Miracles happen every day – and for Belinda Valdes, one of those miracles was the day she was awarded AAA Scholarships for her two children, Isabella and Robert.

The Valdes family is passionate about giving back to their community. Even at a young age, Belinda wanted her children to know the importance of helping those in need, because you never know if one day you’ll be the one in need. So, every Sunday, Belinda, her husband Roberto, and their two children, Isabella and Robert, wake up at 5:00 A.M to make sandwiches and hand them out to people around their community. This is just one example of their kindness and thoughtfulness. The Valdes family is known for always lending a hand.

On April 20, 2016, Belinda went about her day like any other. To her disbelief, this would be the day that would change her life forever. That night, her husband and children were fast asleep when Belinda decided to take a shower before heading to bed. Before she could step into the shower, she suddenly felt dizzy and had an excruciating pain in her right eye. She knew something serious was happening and immediately yelled for her husband. Roberto awoke in a panic and rushed his wife to the hospital. It was there Belinda found out she was having a brain aneurysm.

Goodbyes are tricky. When you tell a loved one goodbye, it is usually with the intention of seeing them again. However, when Belinda was told to call her loved ones and give them her final goodbye, she wasn’t sure how to react. Was this really goodbye? She was feeling fine hours ago? The doctor’s words were beginning to blur together. According to her doctor, Belinda was experiencing a severe brain aneurysm and would most likely not make it out of surgery alive, and in the slight chance that she did, she would be in a coma for three months. There was so much to take into consideration – the most important being her 7-year-old and a 15-year-old waiting for her patiently at home. She needed to take care of them; she needed to watch them grow. There were still so many things Belinda wanted to do, places to see, people to help. But she needed this surgery, and regardless of the outcome, she knew in her heart that everything would be ok. She gave her children one final call, and her husband one last kiss, and was wheeled to the operating room.

When Belinda woke up 12 hours later, she was certain her face matched the same surprised expression on the nurse’s face standing beside her. The nurse asked her a set of questions – what’s your name, what’s the color of this blanket, etc. Belinda could answer all of them without hesitation. It was a true miracle, one most people never witness. Belinda had defied all odds, and continued to do so when she left the hospital after only 11 days instead of the required 2-3 months. As Belinda began to settle in at home, she spent the majority of her time with her children asking them questions such as were they getting enough sleep, did they have any homework that they needed to finish, etc. Belinda couldn’t help but cry when they told her that they hadn’t slept for 11 days – the entire time she was in the hospital, and that Isabella had tried her best to keep up with the bills and chores around the house. Robert then grabbed his mom’s hand and asked, “How are we going to afford school?” It was such a simple question, but Belinda couldn’t find the words. With her being in recovery and her husband currently unemployed, there was no possible way they’d be able to continue to send their children to the private schools they were already attending. Belinda desperately wanted to be strong for her children, but it seemed as if her luck was running out. That is, until she was approached by one of her friends who asked her how everything was going post-surgery. When Belinda informed her about the financial struggles their family was currently facing, the woman smiled and said “have you heard about the AAA Scholarship Foundation? You should apply and see if you qualify.” Belinda applied and when she received the news that they qualified, she broke down in tears.

“I have tears in my eyes because of your organization helping me and my family,” says Belinda Valdes. “Thank you for giving us this opportunity.”

Now in 2018, Belinda can watch her children thrive academically from the front row. Being a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation has only motivated Isabella and Robert to do the best they possibly can in school, and to never take their education for granted. “I tell them every day that whatever they choose to do in life, you must always remember who helped you,” says Belinda. At 17-years-old, Isabella is in all Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes, and her love for helping others inspired her to plan to pursue medicine after high school in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. Isabella doesn’t want to go into the medical field for the money, but to be able to travel the world and help children and families that do not have access to medicine. At 10-years-old, Robert may be tiny but he has big dreams, such as becoming President of the United States one day! “I want to give back to AAA someday,” says Robert Valdes. “I was really young when my mom had to have surgery, and I didn’t know how we were going to be able to afford school. I now appreciate everything that AAA has given us, and hope someday I can help people just like they helped me.”

Fighting back her emotions, Belinda cannot express enough how grateful she is for the AAA Scholarship Foundation, and how life-changing it was for her family. “I don’t have the words,” she says. “Thank you for helping me put my children through school. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, and you have to make the most of each day. I am very thankful for everyone that makes this organization possible.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs in multiple states. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

For a pdf of this spotlight, click here.

Dereck Sandoval

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Dereck Sandoval
Little Flower School
Reno, NV

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”
–Nathaniel Branden

This quote embodies Karla Martinez. Facing many challenges both emotionally and financially, she never gave up on her primary focus – ensuring her son Dereck receives a quality education. Not only has the AAA Scholarship Foundation made an impact on both of their lives, it was a true gift to their family in a time of need. “When times were hard, and it felt like every door was closed, the AAA Scholarship Foundation was there to remind me to remain hopeful, and to keep working hard as a single mother.”

15 years ago Karla Martinez made the bold decision to move from her home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, all the way to Reno, Nevada. She knew she’d be leaving behind everything she’d ever known, but she was ready to broaden her horizons and see what more the world had to offer. Upon moving, Karla was able to land a job as a medical biller and coder and start a family. When her son Dereck was born, she immediately knew that she wanted to give him the world, and she would do anything to make that happen. Unfortunately, Dereck’s father was not on the same page. When Dereck was only in Kindergarten, and Karla was working long hours just to make ends meet, they were heartbroken to find out that Dereck’s father had left without even a warning. While this undoubtedly brought upon questions and tears, Karla stayed strong for her son and continued to put him first. From that moment, she knew it would be a long road ahead, but the love she had for her son made anything seem possible.

Dereck had been attending Little Flower School – a private school in Reno, Nevada. With her son’s education being her first priority, she wasn’t sure how she was going to manage to continue to send him there. Luckily, she had some money saved to get him through the first two years, but as that slowly disappeared, Karla was beginning to run out of options. Their family was already experiencing a tremendous amount of change, and the last thing Karla wanted to do was take away the school that she and Dereck loved.

Just as Karla was beginning to lose that last bit of hope, she came across the AAA Scholarship Foundation, and learned that they worked with families in Nevada. After researching and finding out that her family did qualify for a scholarship, Karla was overcome with joy. She could see that things were starting to look up for her, even when she thought there was no possible way.

Dereck is now in the fourth grade at his school of choice, and Karla can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not only does Little Flower School have an excellent academic curriculum, but they also have capable and professional teachers who are constantly taking training courses to keep up with the new era of technology. Additionally, the school has a strict security system that gives parents a peace of mind regarding their children’s safety. The school is adamant about getting the parents involved in school activities and projects, and has become a safe haven for children like Dereck. Being at this school, Dereck has improved academically and socially. He is able to learn at a high speed, and can keep up with his fellow classmates. He has the confidence to ask questions, and be more involved in classroom conversation and activities. He enjoys science and basketball, and does not limit himself to trying something new. He’s even developed a love for acting and performing arts! Karla can see a great change in her son in comparison to how he was four years ago, and it all shows in just his smile.

“As a single mother, having the opportunity to be a part of the AAA Scholarship Foundation has impacted my life in so many ways,” says Karla Martinez. “Because of them, I was able to build a solid academic base for my son’s future. I just want to take the opportunity to thank you all for your support, we are so happy to be one of the scholarship families in Reno, Nevada. Thank you!”

 

 

About AAA Scholarship Foundation

The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs in multiple states. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

For a pdf of this student spotlight, click here.

Sofia Tabaniag

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Sofia Tabaniag
Calvary Chapel Christian School
Las Vegas, NV

 

The AAA Scholarship Foundation does so much more than provide economic assistance to low-income families. They give children, like Sofia Tabaniag, a chance. A chance to challenge themselves academically and a chance to flourish as both a student and as an individual. This scholarship gives children the chance to push themselves to do the best they possibly can, in all aspects of life. Now in the 3rd grade, and attending Calvary Chapel Christian School, Sofia has surpassed every expectation and hope her mother Iandell could have ever wished for – which was all made possible by the people and donors that work tirelessly to make this program possible.

Iandell Tabaniag grew up in Hawaii and attended a local public school alongside her siblings. While she received a proper education, she wished more scholarship opportunities were available to give her expanded educational options. When Iandell became a mother herself, one of her main priorities was to give her daughter, Sofia, the best education she could. Unfortunately, this meant Iandell would need to make some sacrifices. Hawaii would always be home to Iandell and her family, however there weren’t as many affordable school opportunities that she felt would be a good fit for her daughter. Iandell has family that lives in Nevada, and after many months of researching and seeking advice from her relatives, she made the bold decision to pack up and move across the country.

Iandell’s husband found work as a supply clerk for a medical facility, while she began serving as a teacher’s aide. However, they found out after moving that the Las Vegas public school Kindergarten programs offered were only part time and the quality of education their daughter would receive would not be the best. Iandell received a recommendation about a private Kindergarten program that they believed Sofia would thrive in at Calvary Chapel Christian School. When Iandell and Sofia visited the school, they were blown away by how welcoming the staff was to them.

Instructors were passionate about teaching and wanted their students to work together and rely on one another to make an impact on the world. The cost was much higher than Iandell and her husband had anticipated, but they worked tirelessly to make it work – making financial sacrifices and working with the private school to pay in installments to help keep up with the rest of their bills. The move alone was a challenge, but adding in other factors, such as Sofia’s education, was taking a toll on the Tabaniag family financially. Even with two incomes, their family was struggling to make ends meet.

As first grade was quickly approaching, Iandell needed options. She considered other options, including the local public school program, and while she was not opposed to it, she knew this would be one of the many hurdles her family would face. Even at a young age, Sofia demonstrated promising potential and Iandell felt that the only way this would continue would be to find a setting where she wouldn’t fall behind in a crowd of students. The Kindergarten program that Sofia was attending had informed Iandell about AAA Scholarship Foundation. Because her family met the household income requirements, she applied for a scholarship and was more than relieved to hear that they qualified. Iandell’s hopes and dreams for her daughter were slowly becoming a reality.

Fast-forward three years and Sofia is doing better than Iandell could have ever imagined. Not only has she found her “home away from home,” but she is being challenged academically in a healthy way. Now in the third grade, Sofia is learning and studying above grade level – while also maintaining A’s! She has improved in many subjects, including writing, reading comprehension and spelling. This year she has even learned cursive! The school pushes their students to step out of their comfort zones. For instance, the students are required to participate in a public speaking program called Speech Meet which helps teach them important skills that they will continue to use for the rest of their lives. Sofia has competed in her class, won first place, and will be competing in the District Speech Meet with other private school winners. The school also values the arts and participates in an art festival, in which Sofia’s artwork was recently chosen to compete among the other private school entrants. Because of the relationships Sofia has already built with her former teachers, she looks forward to moving up grade levels and meeting new teachers. Sofia has a true passion to learn, and Iandell knows this opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without help from the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

“What word is there to even describe how grateful I am,” says Iandell Tabaniag. “This scholarship is the best thing to ever happen to our family. I remind Sofia every day to make the most of her work because her being able to attend this school is a blessing and not many children have this chance.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania). The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this spotlight.

Scholarship Application Meetings – Arizona

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2018-2019 Scholarship Application Meetings Scheduled for Arizona Parents

Join AAA Scholarship Foundation for our upcoming informational meetings for the parents of potential 2018-19 income-based scholarship recipients.

Parents will receive information about our scholarships, a paper application, tips & tricks on how best to complete the application and a raffle ticket to participate in a free raffle.

All meetings will include both English and Spanish sessions. Adults only, please – no child care will be provided.

  • PHOENIX MEETINGS: Monday, March 5th at 6:30 pm – OR – Tuesday, March 6th at 6:30 pm
  • TUCSON MEETINGS: Thursday, March 8th at 6:30 pm

Please RSVP no later than Thursday, March 1st:

Call: 888-707-2465 ext. 735 – OR – Email: rsvpAZ@aaascholarships.org
Include your name, meeting date, number attending (maximum 2 people per household) and contact information.

Once your RSVP is received, our staff will call or email you to provide the address of the meeting.

Andrew Ambrose

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Andrew Ambrose
Lake Mead Christian Academy
Henderson, NV

When asking Tessa Ambrose how her son Andrew was adapting to his parent-selected school, she had to fight back tears. “I can’t describe the feeling,” she says. “This school has changed my son’s life as well as mine.” Now a freshman in high school, and exceeding expectations at Lake Mead Christian Academy, Tessa knows none of this would have been possible without the financial assistance from the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

A stay at home mother of three, Tessa was adamant about teaching her children the importance of education at a young age. Formerly attending their local public school, she learned early on that her son Andrew was very bright; however, he was having trouble focusing on tasks being given to him. When she found out that Andrew had Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Tessa was worried that the teachers at Andrew’s school would not be as empathetic to this as she hoped. The issue actually wasn’t that the teachers didn’t want to help – it was that classroom sizes were already exceeding the normal limit, which left them little time in their day to further help students, like Andrew, receive the one-on-one attention that they needed. Andrew felt neglected, and Tessa was beginning to run out of options.

Tessa was determined to put her son in an educational setting that would address his specific learning needs, but her family’s financial standing was holding her back. With her husband being the primary source of income, Tessa was unsure of how many options, if any, they had. It was clear that Andrew needed to be in a school that was both aware of his learning disability while also nurturing of it, but the next best school was Lake Mead Christian Academy – a private school in town. Tessa simply didn’t have the financial means to make this possible, but was adamant in finding a way. After repeated visits with the financial aid office, she was ecstatic to find out about the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

According to Tessa, the overall change in Andrew since attending his new school has been extraordinary. Not only has his self-esteem grown tremendously, Tessa can’t get him to leave school! The teachers at Lake Mead Christian Academy have surpassed her expectations. They offer both before and after school assistance to all students, and if they see students struggling with a subject, they have them attend study hall where teachers and their aides are available to work with them one-on-one until they feel confident with their work. “They care about me mom, the teachers care,” says Andrew Ambrose.

Because of his learning disability, Andrew needed more time on assignments and tests than his peers. The teachers were more than understanding and allowed him as much time as possible. If for some reason he didn’t do well on a certain test, the teachers would call him back in and go over it personally with him to see what he didn’t quite understand.

“Before this school, I had to pay for tutoring, which left us low on groceries for the week,” says Tessa Ambrose. “Now I can’t get him to leave! The school truly wants their students to succeed.”

With his new-found confidence, Andrew has also auditioned for the theatre program at his school. In the most recent productions, You’re a Good Man and Charlie Brown, Andrew was cast as the lead role for both! With the additional help offered to him by his new school, Andrew now has the time to pursue his love for theater without worrying about falling behind with his grades. Andrew also loves studying world history and English – he is now in English honors and maintaining A’s and B’s on every report card. Tessa knows none of his accomplishments would have been possible without the ongoing support from the faculty members at Lake Mead Christian Academy, as well as the AAA Scholarship Foundation. One afternoon Andrew came home eager to write a letter. When Tessa asked him who the letter was for, Andrew replied “the school told me I should write a letter to AAA. I need to thank them for their help!”

“Because of the AAA Scholarship Foundation, my son has the confidence to strive for excellence,” says Tessa Ambrose. “Andrew tells me often how thankful he is for the AAA Scholarship Foundation and what a blessing it has been to him. As a parent, I appreciate all of the time the people put in to make this organization possible. I’m truly grateful.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania). The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this student spotlight.

529 Plans for K-12 Education Expenses

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The folks over at American Federation for Children, EdChoice and ExcelinEd have put together a memo to answer questions on how the 2017 tax law changes have provided families the opportunity to use their children’s 529 Savings Plans to help pay for qualifying k-12 education expenses.

Not all expenses qualify and not all states participate so it’s important to talk to your tax adviser to be sure you understand the law before making any decisions.

We hope this information is helpful! Click here to access a pdf of the memo.

Alex Vazquez

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Alex Vazquez 2018_02Alex Vazquez
St. John Vianney Catholic School
Goodyear, AZ

 
Trying to navigate through school at any age is one thing – trying to navigate through school learning in both English and Spanish at only nine years old is another. For Elizabeth Vazquez, it was crucial for her son Alex to go to a school that was both accepting and nurturing of her son working in dual languages. With a tax credit scholarship from the AAA Scholarship Foundation, Alex Vazquez now has the opportunity to change his life, starting with his education.

As a mother of three, Elizabeth Vazquez was hesitant to pack up her family’s life in Iowa and move across the country to Arizona. It helped that she had family awaiting their arrival; however, she knew this would be a much harder adjustment on her children than she wanted. Prior to moving, Elizabeth attended graduate school in hopes of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately, moving meant she had to postpone graduating to ensure that her children were adjusting well to their new home. This left her jobless, which affected her family both academically and financially. When picking the right school for her child, Elizabeth was limited. For Alex, she needed him to be in an environment that would challenge him in dual languages.

Elizabeth turned to her family for guidance. When expressing her concerns, her family told her about St. John Vianney Catholic School. Elizabeth felt excited that not only were close relatives already attending this school, but it also had everything she was looking for: attentive teachers and smaller classroom sizes where the students had more one-on-one time with their teachers. Upon visiting, she was also informed that the school was based around a “supporting as a whole” motto. They didn’t just want their students to succeed grade wise, but learn how to become good citizens during their time there as well. Elizabeth knew in her heart that this was the school where Alex, and hopefully her other children, would succeed, and she was going to do everything in her power to get him there. After weeks of research, she learned that she was eligible to apply for a scholarship for Alex.

The transition to a new school was difficult in the beginning, especially for Alex. Because dual language put him farther behind than his peers, both he and Elizabeth feared that he would not be able to catch up in time. This was a new school for him with different rules and regulations, and even though it was a priority for Alex to continue learning dual languages, there was a chance that the teachers would put their focus on teaching Alex in just English, when his primary language was Spanish.

Although not a dual language school, Elizabeth was surprised to find that the teachers at St. John Vianney were more than supportive of this request. Since starting, she has seen a tremendous improvement in her son both academically and socially. Now in the fourth grade, the teachers at St. John Vianney were able to get Alex above grade level with his studies, particularly in reading. Instead of feeling like an outsider, Alex has been taught to embrace his cultural background and to continue challenging himself. Once falling behind in his classes, Alex is now getting A’s and B’s on a regular basis, and Elizabeth can see an overall improvement just by the way he speaks. No longer timid, Alex is enthusiastic to learn. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from his mother and the AAA Scholarship Foundation.

“I am extremely grateful for this scholarship and that it’s available to all different types of families,” says Elizabeth Vazquez. “The AAA Scholarship Foundation has enabled us to grow as a family, and let me take on the ability to go back to graduate school and become a teacher.”

About AAA Scholarship Foundation
The AAA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships solely to qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students. The typical AAA Scholarship student is an ethnic minority living with a struggling single parent/caregiver in a high crime community. More than 85 percent of AAA scholarships are distributed to children at or below 185 percent of poverty. Many children are either below grade level, failing at their previous school or both when they receive a scholarship. Parents, who find their children in these circumstances and are concerned about their future, look for viable options. They seek an atmosphere that challenges their child and will reverse inadequate learning, social patterns and the potential lifelong negative impact. They wish to change their child’s learning environment, acquaintances and the unfortunate predictable outcomes associated with school failure.

AAA Scholarships are funded in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania by corporations that redirect a portion of their state tax liability to the AAA Scholarship Foundation in exchange for a tax credit (dollar-for-dollar in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Nevada, and up to 90 percent in Pennsylvania). The AAA Scholarship Foundation is one of the only approved Scholarship 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations exclusively serving qualifying low-income, disabled and/or displaced students through these tax credit scholarship programs. AAA Scholarship Foundation provides your company with the convenience and efficiency of a single-solution for participating in multiple state tax credit scholarship programs. For more information, or to learn how your corporation can participate in the program, visit www.AAAScholarships.org, or contact Kerri Vaughan at kerri@aaascholarships.org or 888 707-2465 ext. 730.

Click here for a pdf of this Spotlight.

Is Arizona’s Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program Growth Unsustainable?

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Recent newspaper articles have claimed that the growth of Arizona’s successful and effective Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program is unsustainable at its current growth rate. Below we discuss the four main claims and provide the facts that prove that they are unfounded.

Claim #1) Unless capped, the allowable credits will exceed the amount of taxes owed by corporations.

Fact: The credits are approved by the Arizona Department of Revenue based on the taxes owed by corporations. The approved credits can only be taken against the amount of taxes actually owed subsequently, they can never exceed the amount of taxes owed by corporations.

Claim #2) Income taxes are the only corporate tax against which the credits may be applied.

Fact: The credits may also be taken against insurance premium taxes. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates over $504 million in insurance premium taxes were collected into the General Fund during 2017.

Claim #3) Credits will “swallow up” all of the eligible corporate taxes in the year 2027 unless the 20 percent annual increase is capped.

Fact: Even if one assumes no increase in the amount of tax liability due to economic growth, the maximum credits that can be approved for the year 2027 will represent less than 44 percent of all eligible corporate taxes (income and insurance premium taxes). The credits approved for the current fiscal year represent less than 9 percent of eligible corporate taxes.

Claim #4) Corporations may have reached the limit (“natural water level”) of what they’re willing to take in credits.

Fact: All of the available credits were taken within 6 months of becoming available – half the time allotted for the process. There are many reasons that corporations may not participate immediately once credits become available, including:

  • Given the option, many corporations choose to strategically time their remittances to correspond with their normally required estimated tax payments. Corporations must remit their funds to a Student Tuition Organization within 20-days of having their application approved. Now that sufficient credits are available after the opening day of the cap, corporations will naturally take advantage of this timing opportunity and apply for credits when it best matches their cash flow needs.
  • The due diligence process for large corporations is lengthy, multi-layered, and crosses many departments (tax, public affairs, government affairs, foundations, community engagement, etc.) subsequently, it takes time for corporations to participate the first time.

The unwavering support of the Arizona Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program from corporations proves that there is great demand from the business community for these credits. They see the Program as a viable solution for providing real educational opportunities to an underserved population who will one day lead their companies, work in their stores and factories and be consumers of the goods and services they provide.

The Program was designed to save taxpayer dollars by limiting the maximum cost of educating a student benefiting from it to an amount less than the cost of educating that same student in a public school. Instead of limiting the growth of a Program that saves taxpayers money, we encourage Arizona legislators to grow it at an even faster rate by adding additional types of taxes to the eligibility pool.

What is Scholarship Stacking and Why Are We Against It

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Scholarship stacking is the unregulated practice of allowing students to receive multiple tax credit scholarships from different scholarship organizations so that the resulting benefit to the student is greater than the maximum scholarship value set by law.

The Arizona Department of Revenue has confirmed to us that they believe the intention of Arizona legislators in including a maximum scholarship limit for the Arizona Low-Income Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program was to “save” taxpayer money by setting the cost of educating a student in the Program to something less than the cost of educating the same student in a public school (the 2017-2018 maximum value of a scholarship is $6,600 for students in grades 9 – 12 and $5,300 for students in grades k – 8).

This intent is not unusual. Legislative supporters of tax credit scholarship programs in the other states have successfully used the same argument to pass similar laws – they save taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the Arizona law was written in a way that leaves the administration of these scholarship limits open to interpretation.

It is our belief that scholarship stacking puts this successful and effective Program (and the tens of thousands of students who benefit from it) at risk unnecessarily by allowing those who oppose it to point to stacking as a waste of taxpayer dollars. Subsequently, it is our policy to interpret the law in the same spirit that the Arizona Department of Revenue has told us it was passed – the maximum scholarship value in the law is the maximum per student per year.

It is our mission to provide access to students with economic disadvantages to the best educational setting for their learning needs and we believe that the best way to do that it to strengthen the program – not weaken it. To that end, we encourage the Arizona legislature to raise the annual scholarship value per student, allow it to be used for required books and fees at eligible schools (along with tuition as it is today) and to either regulate the practice of scholarship stacking or prohibit it altogether.

The future of this Program – and all the students who rely on it – is bright. Let’s keep that light shining for them and for the great state of Arizona!