This month, 30 deserving individuals received scholarships through the Paying it Forward^SM Scholarship program. Celebrating its third year, the Paying it Forward^SM Scholarship program was established in honor of University of Phoenix’s 30th anniversary. The program recognizes 30 outstanding University of Phoenix graduates by inviting them to “pay forward” a full-tuition scholarship by nominating a deserving individual. This year, Alumni nominated over 300 individuals. The applicants were reviewed and selected by the Alumni Association and the recipients were awarded on February 1.

University of Phoenix Supports the Phoenix Children’s Hospital

This February, University of Phoenix was proud to be a sponsor of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s annual Beach Ball. During this event, held on February 28th in Phoenix, Arizona, guests spent the evening raising much-needed funds for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and enjoying an escape to the shores of Saint Tropez. Funds raised at the event benefited the Children’s Heart Center at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The tropical fun-filled evening was a night to remember, and University of Phoenix enjoyed being a part of something so special, brightening the lives of children and families in Phoenix through partnering with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Employees Score a Touchdown for the Special Olympics

In February, 2009, University of Phoenix was a proud sponsor of the Special Olympics’ Flag Football Tournament on February 28. The daylong event took place at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility and invited Cardinals players, Special Olympics’ players, retired football players and companies alike to join in the football fun. The University of Phoenix team came in fourth place and included a Special Olympics athlete a player from the Arizona Cardinals as well as Joe Mildenhall, Hank Radda, Jim Pangborn, Nathan Ries, Rod Bernat, Gary Schuller, John Lopez, Grant Gasson, Patrick Bliss, and Bob Collins.

Team UoPX Climbs to Conquer Cancer

This month, employees traded in their running shoes for climbing gear as Team UoPX met at the mountain top of the American Cancer Society Climb to Conquer Cancer on February 28. Over 1,000 Team UoPX hikers raised over $63,000 in donations and climbed up the 6-mile path of South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona to show their support and awareness towards finding a cure against cancer. Congratulations Team UoPX!

Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars

The stars were out and shining bright on Saturday, February 23rd! University of Phoenix was proud to be a sponsor of the 2009 Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars event. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix provides structured, comprehensive after-school and summer development programs for youth in grades K-12. The event honored Club alumnus Shaquille O’Neal, as well as ten extraordinary youth members of Boys & Girls Clubs valley-wide. The ten Youth of the Year nominees captivated the crowd with their inspiring stories and the event culminated in the announcement of the 2009 Youth of the Year. University of Phoenix was honored to be in the presence of the 2009 Youth of the Year nominees as they shared their dreams for becoming tomorrow’s stars.

YWCA Tribute to Women Luncheon

Nine inspiring women were honored at the 2009 on YWCA Tribute to Women Luncheon in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday, February 19th. University of Phoenix was a sponsor of this great event and Nancy Hennigan, Director of Community Relations, had the opportunity to present an award to one of the honorees at the luncheon. The YWCA Maricopa County is a non-profit, social services organization that has been making a positive difference in people's lives in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area since 1912. University of Phoenix supports the YWCA in their efforts, and was proud to be a part of this great event honoring extraordinary local women.

The Chattanooga Campus Makes Valentines for Local Children

For Valentine’s Day this year, the Chattanooga Campus got creative and made Valentine’s Day Bears for a local children’s hospital. The group went to a Build-A-Bear workshop near their Campus and built forty bears for the T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga. I am sure that the bears will brighten the faces of the children who receive them. Thank you to the Chattanooga Campus for their inspiring work giving back to their community!

University of Phoenix Finishes their Second Habitat Home

Fourteen Saturdays. That was all the time it took for University of Phoenix volunteers to build a home for one deserving family in Chandler, Arizona. When we broke ground on our second Habitat for Humanity home on October 25th to celebrate Make a Difference Day, the challenge before us seemed impossible. Over 400 University of Phoenix volunteers gave 2,500 hours to Habitat for Humanity this year. Our exceptional employee volunteers woke up bright and early on their assigned build day to hammer, haul, saw, and paint with their coworkers. On Saturday, February 14th, employees, volunteers, family, and friends came together for a dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Balbastro family’s new home. The hard work and love put into the project resonated as we assembled in front of the new home to share memories, give thanks, and welcome the Balbastro’s with open arms. As the dust settled on home construction, it was an extraordinary experience to be able to stand together with the people that helped make the home possible and honor the fact that not only does one family have a home, but we built it with love, we built it to make a difference…and we built it together.

University of Phoenix Helps Give Women a Fresh Start

The Fresh Start Women’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women help themselves. They help women who are facing challenges, giving them a place to go for support. On Saturday, February 7th, University of Phoenix was proud to be a sponsor of Fresh Start’s Annual Fashion Gala in Phoenix, Arizona. The event raised money for Fresh Start’s Jewell McFarland Lewis-Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center. The center, the first comprehensive self-help center for women in the country, has been helping improve the lives of thousands of women since it’s opening in October 2002. University of Phoenix was honored to be involved with such an amazing organization, dedicated to bettering the lives of women on a daily basis.

University of Phoenix “Greens” William R. Sullivan Elementary

On Friday, February 6th, eleven volunteers from University of Phoenix Online Student Services spent a day together team-building and making the world a greener place with the Earth Day Network. Throughout the day the group volunteered to help complete several school greening projects at William R. Sullivan Elementary School in Phoenix, AZ. The projects, which included painting an eco-mural, replacing old power strips and light fixtures, and eco-landscaping, were followed by and afternoon Earth Fair. Thank you to Student Services for your hard work making Arizona a little greener!

Tucson Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart!

The Tucson Campus showed the importance of heart health awareness on National Wear Red Day by conducting a speaking engagement with faculty expert and a young heart-attack survivor, Nanette Marrow. Nanette and representatives from the local American Heart Association spoke to campus employees and offered tips about how people can fight heart disease.

Kansas City Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart!

The Kansas City Campuses raised $505 for the American Heart Association by going casual for a cause. Northern Nevada Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart! Over 100 people visited the Northern Nevada Campus Health and Wellness Fair to kick of National Wear Red Day!

Atlanta Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart!

The Atlanta Campus promoted healthy heart living by emailing heart healthy tips every other day leading up to National Wear Red Day. On February 6, employees wore jeans and their favorite red and collected over $350.00 for the American Heart Association. Indianapolis Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart! Indianapolis went red and proclaimed their healthy heart awareness by putting on jeans, their favorite articles of red clothing and raising $150 for the American Heart Association.

Augusta Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart!

To help create awareness of heart disease, Augusta created a display board and distributed information about the disease to all faculty, staff, and students during a meet & greet before National Wear Red day. In addition to wearing red on National Wear Red Day, they also created a penny wall to encourage participants to take at least one step towards preventing heart disease in 2009. The campus collected a total of $20 in coins and donated the proceeds to the American Heart Association of Augusta. Idaho Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart! The Idaho Campus spread the word on going red by distributing stickers to their employees, students, friends and family. On National Wear Red Day, an overwhelming 95% of the Idaho Campus employees put on their red and even went to the Special Olympics events to pass out stickers throughout the day.

Nashville and Franklin Campuses : GO RED for a Healthy Heart!

Nashville and Franklin employees went red in a big way as employees were among the American Heart Association volunteers promoting women’s heart health awareness at their local Go Red event at the Cool Springs Mall. In the week following the event, the AHA visited the University of Phoenix Staff and students to share information on maintaining a healthy heart.

St. Louis Campus : GO RED for a Healthy Heart!

The St. Louis campuses went red by creatively creating a “levels of red” incentive program for the Campus Director to wear at the all staff meeting. Through fundraising, the campus reached their goal of 100% participation and $285 in donations and celebrated with a St. Louis Cardinal’s theme at the all staff meeting.

University Of Phoenix Does Its Part To Maintain A Healthy Heart

Go Red to proclaim a healthy heart. A Healthy U! That was the theme trickling throughout University of Phoenix this year to support National Wear Red Day on February 6—an American Heart Association program in support of women's heart awareness. During the Wear Red Company-Wide initiative, campuses nationwide received University of Phoenix Go Red stickers to distribute to their employees, students, faculty and staff and were encouraged to wear their stickers and articles red clothing on National Wear Red Day. In addition, people connected to the university were also invited to post their thoughts on www.apollogrp.edu/GoRed, a Red Awareness Cyber Wall memorializing loved ones who had passed away from heart disease, paying tribute to survivors, or simply proclaim awareness—and the site was revealed on National Wear Red Day – February 6.

February 2009

2008 Paying it ForwardSM Scholarship Recipients Awarded