Customers can join us in helping local students build a more secure financial future.
Through our TEP Gives program, we’ll make a donation to a local nonprofit group for each account holder who signs up for Budget Billing, e-bill or Auto Pay. TEP’s donations in the third quarter of 2021 will go to Junior Achievement (JA).
The organization serves more than 80,000 students each year, shaping college and career readiness for students, the majority of whom come from areas of high need or schools that qualify for free or reduced price lunch programs.
TEP’s contributions to JA and other charities are funded from corporate resources that won’t be recovered through our rates. The additional donations that result from TEP Gives will help JA expand its reach and impact in our community.
Frank Marino, TEP’s Chief Financial Officer, serves as chairman of JA’s state board of directors. So he knows well that JA has a positive impact on graduation and college admissions rates, in part by providing content that students typically aren’t exposed to in their traditional school curriculum.
“Through my work with Junior Achievement, I have seen how financial literacy education can help our youth succeed as they move forward in their lives,” he said. “Junior Achievement helps ensure that all students can access this essential information in an effort to help power their future success.”
TEP’s longstanding partnership with JA is an important part of our support of education in the community, one of TEP’s philanthropic focus areas.
“Strengthening education is one of the most effective ways to secure a better economic future, to advance social impact and to make sure our community remains on a path of sustained growth,” said Wendy Erica Werden, TEP’s Manager of Community Investment and Philanthropy.
TEP employees volunteer in Tucson classrooms every year, delivering lessons that teach students how to make smart money choices, learn job skills, and plan for future careers. We also help Southern Arizona high school students participate in the JA Student Stock Market Challenge, which teaches more than 500 local high school students about the stock market, investing, risks and rewards through an investing competition.
Rocco, a JA student and Young Ambassador, said additional support would be welcome. “The skills I have learned from my JA experience will help me be more prepared for my life as a future businessperson.”
TEP Gives makes it simple to support our community by signing up for programs that help keep our energy service easy and affordable. Thanks to our customers signing up for these services, TEP contributed $20,000 to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona earlier this year.
New beneficiaries will be selected periodically throughout the year to provide customers with opportunities to direct charitable support other causes. Sign up online through My Account, the TEP Mobile App or by calling Customer Care at 520-623-7711.
