History of the Amphi Foundation and our mission

The Amphitheater Public Schools Foundation was established in 1983 by educators and parents, in partnership with the Amphitheater Public School District, and later incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Our mission is to promote academic excellence through the expansion of resources that enrich the education, development, and well being of students in the Amphitheater Public Schools.

The Amphi Foundation has, for most of its 23-year history, focused primarily on services that helped make it possible for students to attend school and participate in activities. The Amphi Clothing Bank, staffed entirely by volunteers, provides Amphitheater students and families in need with quality used clothing, shoes, and household items, in a clean, caring environment. We help defray travel expenses for students competing in regional and national academic competitions. And we support the Tucson Conquistadors' program of underwriting athletic fee waivers so that every student with the desire has the opportunity to participate in sports.

In 2007, the Amphi Foundation launched its most ambitious program, the 21st Century Classroom Technology Initiative, through a generous grant from BHP Copper Inc. Our goal is to provide students and teachers with useful, durable classroom technologies, and we've begun by equipping classrooms in every school with interactive, touch-screen SMART Boards.

We also opened Sequels Upscale Resale Boutique to provide a sustainable source of funding for the Foundation's ongoing operations and student programs.

The following year, the Amphi Foundation partnered with MathPLUS+ to provide students with personalized, computer-aided math tutoring specifically designed to meet AIMS test standards. The MathPLUS+ program now involves more than 100 volunteer tutors.

The Board of Directors looks forward to continuing the Amphi Foundation's close working partnership with Amphitheater Public School District to support and develop programs to meet the district's changing needs.

Ben Wichers, President
Amphitheater Public Schools Foundation, Inc.