Greater Good Fund Ambassadors

Maryvale Prep Athletics Partners

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Ben Rushlo and Julie Higginbotham, Great Hearts Glendale alumni family

Ben Rushlo and Julie Higginbotham | Glendale Preparatory Academy Alumni Family

Thanks to generous partners like Great Hearts Glendale alumni family Mr. Ben Rushlo and Ms. Julie Higginbotham, Great Hearts is breaking barriers and offering all children the education they deserve, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Ben and Julie’s sons graduated from Glendale Preparatory Academy, but their legacy of giving does not stop at the doors of their own children’s academy and extends beyond graduation day. As an alumni family, they are Lifetime Members of the Great Hearts Leadership Society and the proud ambassadors of the Great Hearts Greater Good fund.

The Greater Good fund supports our academies located in low- income neighborhoods where crime, poverty, and food insecurities are higher than the national average and most students qualify for federal assistance through Title 1 funding. The Rushlo family’s transformative gifts to the Greater Good fund allow us to provide an excellent education to Great Hearts families who are facing severe poverty-related challenges such as limited access to food, housing and transportation.

“Our kids were transformed by their Great Hearts education. They became better students, were more prepared for college and are better people because of it. We want to see that same liberal arts education extended to all students, regardless of income or background. We are supporting Maryvale Prep in its mission to bring a liberal arts education to all students.” - Ben Rushlo and Julie Heimlich, Great Hearts Glendale alumni family.

With support from generous donors like the Rushlo family, together we are transforming the lives of at-risk students through academic excellence and moral formation. The Greater Good fund exists to bridge the funding gap and to provide outstanding education to at-risk students like those who attend Great Hearts Maryvale Preparatory Academy in West Phoenix. As this fund grows nationally, we can serve even more students like them at Great Hearts academies across the country.

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Steve Erickson currently serves as the Executive Director for Teach For America Phoenix.

Steve & Vanessa Erickson | Parents at Maryvale Preparatory Academy

“When we think about the type of school we want for our children, we imagine an environment where they are safe, challenged, developed, and cared for. Maryvale Preparatory Academy has created a community of educators, families, students, and loving adults who have made this a reality for our kids. This community has not only blessed our children who attend the school, but our entire family as well. They have set the standard for any of us who care about cultivating great hearts and minds within our children. From supporting a hard-fought academic feat to cheerleading through a scary first week of kindergarten, the Maryvale Prep team pours their hearts and souls into making our kids – and all kids – fuller versions of themselves. We are deeply grateful to be part of such a phenomenal school community.”