Augustine Hing plans to become a teacher and inspire others to take advantage of their educational opportunities.
Scholarship Student Makes the Most
Ron Andrea
SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) provides college scholarships to local students who qualify based on six rigorous criteria. One such student is Augustine Hing.
In addition to earning a 3.9 grade point average as valedictorian of her high school class, Augustine was a member of Student Council and a varsity member of the basketball, volleyball, tennis, and softball teams. She worked as a grocery clerk at the local food market in Superior to save money for college and, in her spare time, volunteered for the Food Bank and the Superior Fire Department.
Augustine attended Central Arizona College for two years, earning a 4.0 grade point average, before enrolling at Arizona State University in 2019 to major in Education.
Augustine writes, “My choice to become an educator is inspired by my high school teacher, Mrs. Villaverde. Her daily lessons, advice, and encouragement guided me through high school. My mom, a single parent, also motivated me to excel and take advantage of every opportunity afforded me. One day I will come back and inspire the next generation at Superior High School the way my mom and my teachers have inspired me.”
Regarding her scholarship, Augustine writes, “Receiving this scholarship relieved the stress of how I was going to be able to afford going to college. I am able to be here at ASU and enjoy everything it offers. I love school. I love the environment and the energy that Tempe has. I can walk to class, visit home, and continue to work towards my dream of becoming a teacher.”
SBCO is now supplementing its scholarship program with an endowment fund. Donations made to this fund grow in perpetuity and only the interest earned is used to fund scholarships. In this way, donations last literally forever and provide a lasting legacy for donors.
Donations can be made by listing the SBCO Scholarship Endowment Fund as a beneficiary in your trust or estate plan, or by having your required IRA distributions sent directly to the fund from your financial institution in order to reduce your taxable income. You can also simply write a check to the fund. While SBCO accepts donations of any amount to its general fund, there is a $5000 minimum for donations made to the Scholarship Endowment Fund. As with any significant financial decision, you should consult your financial advisor for guidance.
Consider leaving a lasting legacy. As a wise man once said, “Those who plant trees knowing they will never sit beneath their shade, truly understand the meaning of life.”
In the 2019 SBCO Home Tour, attendees saw the Gianotti home, which features a dramatic new kitchen with expansive island, pantry and all new appliances.
Save the Date for 2020 SBCO Home
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
The 2020 SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) home tour, which will be held on Saturday, April 4, will again focus on remodeled homes. The 2018 and 2019 tours were so well received that the events committee decided to host two showings of the 2020 homes: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. When tickets are purchased, buyers will need to indicate which showing (morning or afternoon) they will attend.
The seven homes selected for the tour offer SaddleBrooke residents an opportunity see how their neighbors have adapted their homes for “open concept” living, improved storage, or additional space to accommodate their hobbies or guests. Tour tickets will only be sold to SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch residents.
This event helps provide funding for SBCO programs that provide food, clothing, and educational opportunities for children in local communities. Our Kid’s Closet and Teen Closet programs, as well as our annual food drive, many educational grants and college scholarships make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children and their families.
The SBCO events committee is seeking volunteers who can serve as docents in the tour homes. If you would like to participate in this upcoming event, please send an email to Heidi Wagner at [email protected] or Lisa Urban at [email protected].
22nd Annual Food Drive
On Saturday, March 21, SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) volunteers will gather donations of food and money to support the Tri-Community Food Bank (TCFB) based in Mammoth. TCFB serves needy families living in Mammoth, San Manuel, and Oracle. Our community’s donations help to provide monthly emergency food boxes to 338 households (1,092 people). All monetary contributions go directly to grocery purchases and related expenses. Like SBCO, TCFB is an all-volunteer organization and is an IRS 501(c)(3) and AZ non-profit charitable organization.
TCFB meets a real need in the Tri-Community area, where 20% of households live below the poverty level and 10% are below 50% of the poverty level. It’s hard to provide food for your family, keep a roof over your head, and buy gas to drive to your job if you don’t earn enough to cover all these daily living expenses.
Plan to leave bagged food donations on your curb by 8:30 a.m. on March 21. They will be collected by Volunteer Unit Captains and taken to the MountainView Clubhouse for sorting and transport to TCFB.
If you prefer to make a monetary donation, please make out a check to SBCO Food Drive and write your unit number on the memo line. You can either attach the check to your food bag or mail/deliver it to SBCO, 63675 E. SaddleBrooke Blvd., Ste. L, Tucson, AZ 85739.
If you would like to volunteer to assist with the drive, please contact Andrea Stephens at [email protected] or 520-818-9306.