The Cornville-based Low Income Student Aid nonprofit provides direct aid and services to area students who are in financial need. The organization has increased the number of students it assists dramatically in recent years and has plans to expand to schools across the Verde Valley.

“Imagine the paralyzing fear of a classmate commenting that you’re wearing the same clothes you wore yesterday, or perhaps the disappointment of not being able to participate in [physical education], because you didn’t have closed-toed shoes that fit,” LISA president and Mingus Union High School math teacher Kelcy Lyons said at the Cottonwood City Council meeting on Oct. 17. “All of these situations were real examples I experienced with my middle school students. The pain and the fear that I felt for them was crippling. These situations are not uncommon, and they are only a few of the reasons that nine individuals came together to form LISA in 2017.”

After starting at Oak Creek School as a pilot program, LISA filled 176 aid requests during its first year. During fiscal year 2022-23, it filled 3,150 requests.

“In fiscal year 2023, we provided $56,772 worth of aid to low-income students, which accounted for approximately 3,500 individual aid requests,” Lyons said. “Food, clothing … and a whole lot more. LISA’s operating costs [were] only $372 for the year. That was less than 1% of our total budget.”

LISA welcomes applications for direct aid from individuals who want to champion a child at risk of missing out on opportunities because of financial constraints. In addition to supporting lunch programs, they provide funding for activity fees, sports equipment, art and music classes and camps, as well as other resources to ensure that financial limitations do not hinder a child’s participation.

“More than half of Dr. Daniel Bright Cottonwood Community School and Oak Creek students come from poverty homes,” Lyons said. “Our goal is to provide aid to lessen the deficiencies that affect students’ ability to feel safe, happy and equal to their peers. While there’s so much we can’t control about their lives, we can provide them with supplies and opportunities that they might not otherwise receive.”

Cottonwood Grant

“We’re a small group that’s expanding,” LISA treasurer Eric Wyles said. “We started out at the Oak Creek School, and we filled the first aid request [in] April 2018. Since that time, we have filled over 6,500 aid requests for kids.”

LISA received a $13,500 grant from the city of Cottonwood on Sept. 19 as part of the city’s competitive Community Agency Grant Program, which awarded $150,000 in total to 11 local groups. Thirteen groups had requested over $330,000 in city assistance during the cycle.

The grant allowed LISA to expand into the Cottonwood Community School and Dr. Daniel Bright School. LISA assistance is available to any of the students in need currently enrolled at those three schools or who have gone to those schools, so it is open to high schoolers as well.

“Requested funding will support the ‘Basic Needs’ project helping qualified low-income student aid requests to include: Clothing, school supplies, athletic fees, preschool tuition, food, internet service for remote learning, etc.,” the council agenda bill for the grant stated.

“Once we get these systems rolling and we secure more funding, we’re going to keep expanding to other schools [to] serve because these kids deserve it,” Wyles said. “We hope to be in every public school in the Verde Valley within five years.”

Wyles added that LISA plans to apply for the city of Sedona’s small grants program as well.

“I know it’s competitive, but we have a very compelling story to tell and it’s important that these students have what they need,” Wyles said. “These students after COVID [have] many more challenges than they had prior to COVID, so it’s just tough times for the kids.”

As a qualifying charitable organization, LISA is also in the process of starting a drive to raise 100 tax credit donations in 100 days.

“We can accept up to $400 a year from a single filer, and from a married couple we can accept up to $800 a year as tax credit donations,” Wyles said. “Our funding comes from community members and tax credit dollars, grants and businesses that want to contribute.”

Wyles credited the Arizona Community Foundation with being a major catalyst for the organization’s growth. It was one of five grantees that was selected as a “Shining Star” during the ACF of Yavapai County 2023 competitive grant cycle, ACF Regional Philanthropic Advisor Sheri Denny pointed out.

“A volunteer grant panel chose LISA as a Shining Star because it is a well-organized, volunteer-run nonprofit,” Denny said. “ACF of Yavapai County recognized the Shining Stars at our annual Joy of Giving luncheon held on Aug. 11. A highlight of the luncheon was hearing from the Shining Stars, five nonprofits who gave a two-minute speech for an opportunity to receive an additional grant. Luncheon attendees were given money from ACF and they were tasked to collaborate with their table mates to select one Shining Star of their choice to receive the funding. If they wish, attendees can individually contribute as well. LISA received $2,800 from table grants and an additional $14,200 in individual donations from the Joy of Giving event, for a total of $17,000.”

“Besides contributions and support, just being aware that we’re here [is LISA’s biggest need],” Wyles said. “I think that’s one of the reasons LISA’s successful right now is because we have a singleness of purpose and that’s just to help kids.”

For more information about LISA, visit oakcreeklisa.org or call (813) 586-3251.