Sam Hughes Elementary School is at 700 N. Wilson Ave. Tucson, 85719, in the Sam Hughes Neighborhood.

The students of today are our leaders, community members and work force of tomorrow….
and they need your help!

The “Toast” History:
In 2010, a small group of Tucson parents and community members gathered together to form a grassroots effort to raise much needed funds for our public schools. Due to the fact that many of these people lived in Sam Hughes neighborhood or had children at Sam Hughes Elementary, we decided to start with Sam Hughes Elementary. When asked what was needed most, the teachers and administration identified technology as the largest deficit. There were very few, very old computers in the classrooms, no real technical support and a painfully slow network system that rendered these archaic machines virtually useless as a learning tool.

So, October 2010, we hosted our first annual Toast to Technology party, which was huge success- raising over $15,000 for Sam Hughes Elementary technology improvements. We created a brand new16 unit computer lab in our library (with the help of the PTA), a new server for school to speed up the network … and we asked Raytheon to donate 10 used computers to our classrooms. Fall 2011, we held our 2nd annual party and raised over $24,000 towards further technology improvements at Sam Hughes. We purchased document camera sets for nearly every classroom and educational computer programs for our students. We also received an additional 10 used computers for our classrooms, donated by Raytheon. With these technology improvements, TUSD saw that we were “on a mission”. Showing dedication and momentum, Sam Hughes Elementary was put at the top of the list for a TUSD network upgrade and TUSD pledged to support our new equipment. None of this would have happened without the community’s support!

Our Committee realizes the importance and value of a quality education for the future of our children, and our community. Our goal is to provide the funds to support and develop a school environment where each child is given the opportunity to blossom academically, discover and develop skills and hidden talents and to foster a love of learning.

Our committee will host our third annual event, “Toast to Teachers” October 22, 2012 at Feast Restaurant from 6-11pm. Cost: $100 per person. Dinner will be served and several local Arizona wineries & Plaza Liquor will provide tastings. This year we’ll have dancing too! This will be a private, fun-filled, adult evening, bringing friends together to further improve the resources at our school. We have come a long way, but are still far from completion. Some of the potential projects we are: a mobile 30-laptop computer lab that will service an entire class at once, the remaining 5 document camera sets we couldn’t afford last year, IT training for our teachers and staff, improved acoustical treatments in Tallmadge Hall, Teacher’s Aides…and we are looking for more ideas!

All event tickets & donations are tax deductible!

We sincerely appreciate your support and generosity! Thank you!
Karin Shelby – Committee Member
karins@gainbroadband.com (520-235-1477 cell)