Foundation
Join us in making an impact in the lives of deserving youth, donate today.
The Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation works to strengthen the well-being of our community and its citizens by receiving and distributing funds for scholarships, schools, young people, the arts and sciences, people in need and the business community.
Your Oro Valley Chamber Foundation celebrated the achievements of scholarship recipients and their families Thursday, when it hosted the 2025 Mayor Steve Engle Memorial Scholarship Breakfast at Platinum member El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort.
For the second straight year, the Foundation has presented 20 scholarships, each valued at $1,500, to deserving students. Among the recipients, 12 were able to attend the breakfast.
Ironwood Ridge High School graduates Alexa Moreno, Damon Coyne, Grace Ponzo and Ilisa Cohen shared their stories, and had their pictures taken by photographer Chris Grey with Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield and Amphitheater Public Schools Superintendent Todd Jaeger.
Canyon del Oro High School graduates Alyssa Lopez, Emma Connell and Leeah Payne did the same.
Flowing Wells High School graduates Bryan Rodriguez and Jayden Rios thanked their school counselors, Stacey Grijalva and Amy Pierson, who were in the audience.
Two BASIS Oro Valley graduates, Polina Varyvoda and Suhaani Sohdi, were guests, along with Olivia Johnson of Catalina Foothills High School.
Nichole Murphy gave each student a certificate of recognition from U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani. Oro Valley Town Councilmember Dr. Harry “Mo” Greene II, was in attendance.
Nancy Boyle, a Foundation board member and representative of Chamber Silver member Splendido at Rancho Vistoso, spoke to the audience. Splendido was a breakfast sponsor, along with Chamber Diamond member Hughes Federal Credit Union, and Splendido also sponsored a scholarship this year.
Don Pearson, a Chamber board member and representative of scholarship sponsor and Chamber Diamond member Roche Tissue Diagnostics, shared his story with the audience. Both Pearson and Boyle talked about professional opportunities at their businesses.
The breakfast attracted 90 guests.
Each year, the Chamber Foundation provides money to help local organizations doing good work in the community.
With a $110,000 gift in 2024, it endowed a scholarship fund in memory of Marilyn and Al Cook through the Pima Community College Foundation. In turn, the PCC Foundation provided a 50%, $55,000 match. That $165,000 fund provided its first 5 scholarships to Pima students in 2024.
In March 2023, the Chamber office on Oracle north of Ina caught fire. Its contents were lost and the Chamber decided to acquire a building. To help, your Foundation made a $75,000 gift toward down-payment on the Chamber’s beautiful, functional building in Oro Valley’s Innovation Park.
Over the course of these months, we have made donations to Project Graduation, The Arizona Heroes Memorial, the Centers for Neuroscience Research and Saguaro City Music Theater. Each gift is intended to help our community thrive.
The Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit raising and distributing funds to support community philanthropy, educational endeavors and business activities in and around Oro Valley. We have special emphases on scholarships, service to youth, helping people in need, and schools.
Where our money comes from:
You, primarily. Your gifts to the Chamber Foundation may be tax-deductible; consult with your tax preparer.
Our objective is to create ongoing gifts and endowments to grow the reach and power of our Foundation.
To donate, click the link above or contact Kristen Sharp, Chamber president / CEO and a member of the Foundation board, at 520-297-2191; or by e-mail at kristen@orovalleychamber.com.
Our board
Chair, Dave Perry
Secretary, Alan Dankwerth, Market Considerations.
Treasurer, Camella Koeller, Pima Federal Credit Union
Lisa Hopper, Arizona Heroes Memorial
Fred Roof
Kay Williams, Arizona Heroes Memorial
Kristen Sharp, Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce
Otton Suarez
Nancy Boyle, Splendido at Rancho Vistoso