A New Online Look for SBCO!
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
On Sept. 6, SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) will have a new online presence—and a new URL. Site visitors will no longer need to type in community-outreach.org. Instead, our site can be reached at sbco.org.
If you have the SBCO website bookmarked as community-outreach.org, get ready to change it to the new sbco.org URL on Sept. 6. The old URL will still work for some time, but being prepared will ensure you won’t miss information about any of our upcoming events and the impact our programs are having on local youngsters.
14 Undergraduate College Scholarships to Local Students
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
Each year the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) Scholarship Committee receives applications for scholarships from high school seniors located throughout the Copper Corridor (from Catalina to Globe) in Arizona. After the applications are received, Committee Members evaluate each student’s financial circumstances, high school grades and GPA, activities, essays about personal and professional goals, and letters of recommendation. Committee Members then conduct interviews and use these criteria to select scholarship recipients. This year the Committee has selected 14 deserving students to be awarded undergraduate scholarships. As of July, seven are going to two-year programs, five are going to four-year programs, and two are undecided.
A pass-through scholarship of $2,000 from SaddleBrooke resident Darlene Carlson was awarded to a student pursuing a four-year STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) degree.
Recently, in light of the ever-rising cost of college tuition, SBCO increased the amount of money given with each scholarship recipient. Students attending two-year colleges now receive $2,500 per year, while those attending four-year institutions receive $5,000 per year. Each student needs to earn a minimum 2.0 GPA each semester, while registered as a full-time student, completing a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. The scholarship continues until the two- or four-year degree is completed. When students have other scholarships or grants that cover their tuition, the SBCO scholarship assists them with room and board and other school related expenses. When a student pursuing a two-year degree completes the required coursework, he/she may pursue additional funding to complete the remaining two years of a four-year degree program.
Members of the Committee are assigned to be liaisons to the scholarship recipients, where they serve as advocates, sounding board, and advisors as students tackle the myriad challenges involved in completing a post-high school degree.
The scholarship program is an important way in which SBCO provides local kids with opportunities to succeed. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of generational poverty often found in nearby communities.
Participants in the Miami Memorial Library American history program collaborated to make a poster about courage, reinforcing lessons about the attributes required to create a new nation.
Grant Helps Miami Youngsters Learn About American History
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
SaddleBrooke Community Outreach awarded Miami Memorial Library a $2,000 grant to support half the cost of a program to bring American history and civic education to life for students outside the traditional classroom. Centered on the theme of America’s 250th anniversary, the program ran from January through April with monthly themed sessions designed to deepen students’ connection to social studies through hands-on, experiential learning. Over the course of the program, the library hosted 12 sessions with a total attendance of 152. Out of that total, 84% of the students attended six or more sessions and actively participated in program components.
Highlights of the interactive program included a Declaration of Independence-themed escape room that challenged students to think critically about the founding of our nation, creative writing activities that encouraged students to reflect on civic responsibility and their own identity as Americans, and art projects celebrating landmarks, historical figures, and the ideals that have shaped the United States. Each session was carefully designed to connect academic content with creative, student-centered experiences that sparked curiosity and imagination.
Books were purchased and distributed to all participating students to build personal home libraries and keep students connected to reading and learning beyond the library’s walls. The social studies-themed titles were chosen to be high-interest and age-appropriate, reinforcing program concepts and encouraging students to continue exploring American history and civics at home.
Some funds were used to purchase the art, craft, and instructional supplies that made the hands-on activities possible, ensuring that every student could fully participate in each session regardless of what materials they had available at home.
According to Sue Pontel, manager of Miami Memorial Library, “Through the support of SBCO, the library was able to offer students a meaningful and memorable way to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial; inspiring young learners to explore the past, understand the present, and imagine their role in shaping the future of their country.”
Brook Colby, an SBCO college scholarship recipient, is a senior in dietetics at the UofA.
SBCO Scholarship Student Plans a Career in Dietetics
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
A post-high school education provides many benefits, the most obvious one being the opportunity to obtain the training required to pursue a desired career. But just as important is the chance to broaden one’s perspective and discover a career path that fits one’s skills and interests. Such was the case for Brooklyn (Brook) Colby, a 2023 graduate of Iron Ridge High School and the recipient of a four-year SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) college scholarship.
When Brook applied for a scholarship in 2023, she thought she wanted to become a teacher. She recalled how she had asked her third-grade teacher, Mr. Birrell, what he liked most about being a teacher. He replied that he liked how hopeful kids were. After that, Brook decided she too wanted to teach, to try and understand the “hopefulness” Mr. Birrell had spoken about.
By the time she reached high school, Brook said, “I could see what Mr. Birrell was talking about. I understand the hope children hold. The passion they wield at such a young age. It’s important to nurture something so valuable.” To ensure that teaching was the right career path for her, Brook volunteered at St. Andrew Preschool and Kindergarten. “After the first day, I was sold. The children loved learning and trying new things, and of course, being silly.”
But once she started her studies at the University of Arizona, Brook began to see there were other career opportunities she could pursue that would make a difference in other people’s lives. She is now a student in dietetics going into the final year of her undergraduate degree. And one thing has not changed during the past three years—Brook is very proud to be an SBCO scholarship recipient.
Brook says, “I’m extremely blessed to have SBCO by my side, believing in me through the late-night study sessions and early morning commutes. This scholarship has given me the opportunity to pursue my dreams of promoting healthy living while serving my community through outreach. It allowed me the time to volunteer for a non-profit organization known as The Tucson Family Food Project, guide educational field trips at the Tucson Village Farm, and participate in a pre-professional integrative health club, Upsilon Theta Sigma. I have SBCO to thank for the chance to grow personally and professionally during this season, helping me create a lasting impact!”
Each year SBCO grants two- and four-year scholarships to graduating high school students in our service area—from Catalina north to Globe. Our goal is to provide students with the educational opportunities to help break the cycle of generational poverty. In some cases, students who complete their undergraduate degrees are given one-time grants to pursue graduate degrees.
In 2025, enthusiastic Walk for Kids participants enjoyed sunny weather and camaraderie on their trip around the Ridgeview Blvd. loop.
Get Ready for the 28th Annual SBCO Walk for Kids!
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
Each fall SaddleBrooke Community Outreach (SBCO) hosts the Walk for Kids. In 2026, the Walk will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14. This signature SBCO event helps support our food, clothing, enrichment, and education programs benefiting youngsters along a 100+ mile corridor from Catalina to Globe. Each year SBCO’s programs touch the lives of approximately 6,000 students with new clothes, backpacks filled with school supplies, college scholarships, contributions to Tri-Community Food Bank, and financial support for a wide range of enrichment activities.
Online registration for the 2026 Walk for Kids will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at community-outreach.org. The registration fee of $35 per adult and $15 per child (ages 6 through 18) covers the cost of a t-shirt, snacks, and drinks.
If you choose not to register online, in-person registration begins on Tuesday, Sept. 8 and runs through Nov. 13, every Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the SBCO office at Suite L in the SaddleBrooke Business Plaza on SaddleBrooke Blvd. Registrations also will be accepted the day of the event. However, please register by Oct. 15 to ensure that you receive a t-shirt in your size.
Talk to your friends and neighbors about forming a Walk for Kids team! Walking with your pals while supporting SBCO is a great way to spend a Saturday morning in the fall.