Helios Education Foundation builds permanent home in Phoenix

PHOENIX — A philanthropic organization dedicated to education has a new permanent home in Phoenix.

The Helios Foundation is moving to a 65,000-square-foot building near 32nd Street and Camelback Road. During Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, vice-president Vince Roig said this means more opportunities to fulfill the foundation’s mission.

“First, education changes lives and strengthens communities. Second, education is an investment, not an expense,” he said. “Every student, regardless of ZIP code, deserves a high-quality education. We will achieve our mission through partnership and collaboration.”

“Working together – with the brightest minds and talent from within our communities – we can create meaningful and lasting change in the state of Arizona for our young people – and the future of public education,” said Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. “That really is the value of these public-private relationships.

“From my very first days in office, it was made clear to me that when it comes to innovating in education, Arizona’s philanthropic community is leading the charge. Best practices in early education; literacy; STEM; teacher professional development…can all be traced back to philanthropic work.”

Roig said improving education doesn’t mean throwing money at anything that comes along. “There’s no silver bullets – it just takes hard work, day in, day out,” he said. “That’s why we just don’t write checks; we partner with our people and we want to learn from what we do.”

The Helios Foundation grew out of Southwest Student Services, at one time the nation’s eighth-largest student-loan lender. In 2004, Southwest Student Services Corporation was sold to SLM Corporation for just over $500 million. The net proceeds from that sale funded the Foundation’s endowment.

Today, Helios partners with — among others — schools and the city of Phoenix to help students succeed. The organization focuses on three areas: early grade success; college and career readiness; and completion of college.

Related

Retired Gilbert fire captain honored after dying from job-related cancerStorms make way into Valley with strong winds, scattered showers causing power outages4-year-old boy dies a month after being pulled from Phoenix apartment poolTucson Police identify, charge mass shooting suspect who left 9 injuredNBA star James Harden among investors bringing Smiling Moose Sandwich Grill to ScottsdaleMan accused of fatally shooting girlfriend in Peoria mobile home park