Fiesta at the Hacienda
Ann Vernon
Nestled in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains is a hidden gem, Rancho de Los Cerros. This amazing ranch began in 1907 as a small shack under a mesquite tree even before Tucson had city limits! First it served as a stagecoach stop, evolved into a dude ranch in the 1940s, and became a girls’ summer camp in the 1960s when it was donated to the YWCA. Twenty years later it was purchased by a prominent Tucson attorney who invested millions of dollars, transforming it into a beautiful Spanish Mediterranean equestrian estate and event center. The ranch changed hands, but then was basically unoccupied for several years before it was purchased by the current owner, Frank Marshall, who generously donated the use of this venue to the Oracle Schools Foundation (OSF) for the fiesta, which was held on Oct. 27.
What an event it was! Dorothy and Gary Wood just happened to find the ranch late last winter and inquired about hosting an event there. While they were given the green light, there was lots of work that needed to be done. Gary jumped in and spent the summer volunteering and working with the ranch hands to repair the spectacular hacienda. When guests arrived mid afternoon, everyone was in awe of how stunning it was. They wandered throughout the grounds, checking out the horse corral, the barns with leaded glass panels, the carriage house, the pool, and even a mock frontier village. As they meandered with adult beverages in hand, they were entertained by the Angel Perez Project singing Latin and pop favorites. These talented musicians also donated their expertise to OSF. In addition, Mark Goodrich held court in the beautiful old bar and shared his tequila expertise as guests sampled several.
Culminating this wonderful afternoon was sitting down in the lovely adobe hacienda and eating delicious Mexican food catered by Rancheros Market. Guests lingered awhile with friends and left raving about what a great experience it was.
Hats off to the major financial donors and helpers: Dennis and Janet Johnson, Kevin and Julie Simon Johnson, Dorothy and Gary Wood, and to their event crew Steve Aiken, Brian Hand, and Sheila Honey. Also thanks to silent (or “behind-the-scenes”?) donors who helped subsidize the event: Chris and Larry Crum, Jack and Bonnie Gretch, Mary Riemersma, Joy Erickson, Edie Crall, Terry Tindall, Rick Watkins, Jeff McClure, and George Phillips.
This event was another one of the fixed price events held throughout the year as part of the Oracle Schools Foundation Gala/Auction. This is the 10th anniversary of the Foundation: our theme for the 2025 Gala is Ten Years of Champions Helping Children. Please join us on March 15, 2025, at the Gala/Auction where you can register for these amazing events and participate in the silent and live auctions. All monies raised support kindergarten prep and other educational programs at the Mountain Vista K-8 School in Oracle.
J.D. Loveland
Oh, Oh, Oh—Listen to the Music
Ann Vernon
It was another beautiful night in SaddleBrooke as guests gathered on the patio at Gary and Betsy Clark’s home for a house concert featuring the talented musician J.D. Loveland. Given that it was so close to Halloween, Betsy and her co-hosts prepared delicious “spooky” appetizers that were savored as J.D. entertained the crowd. Not only did he tell some great stories, but he shared a bit of his musical journey. J.D. began playing at a very young age and won his first talent contest at age 13. Over the years he has experimented with many different types of music, including Folk, Bluegrass, Blues, Country, and Gospel. His renditions of well-known songs were amazing, and he also treated us to some of his original compositions.
Is there any better way to spend an evening than to sit under the stars, sip an adult beverage, and listen to a talented performer who donated his musical expertise to the Oracle Schools Foundation? I think not! Also thanks to the Clarks for hosting and to their assistants Dan and Jackie Alderman and Mary Jo and Barry Swartzberg.
The 2025 Gala/auction will be on March 15, 2025, at the MountainView Ballroom. Registration opens on Jan. 5—you can sign up online by visiting oracleschoolsfoundation.com. This year we will be streamlining the check out process by giving guests the opportunity to register a credit card with us when they sign up for the Gala, thus avoiding the long lines. This is the 10th anniversary of the Foundation, so come celebrate with us as we raise money to help fund kindergarten prep and other educational programs at the Mountain Vista K-8 school in Oracle.
OSF Is Now a AZQCO
Dale Farland
The Oracle Schools Foundation, the fundraising organization providing free Kindergarten Prep (preschool) for 3-year-old and 4-year-old children of the Oracle School District, has just been designated as an Arizona Qualifying Charitable Organization (AZQCO)! What a great way to kick off our 10th year anniversary of providing these programs and others to the students at Mountain Vista Elementary School in Oracle.
What does the AZQCO designation mean to you? It provides you with the opportunity to direct your tax money to this charity and receive a Tax Credit—Dollar for Dollar—off your Arizona income taxes. You cannot claim more than you owe in Arizona state income taxes, so confirm with your tax advisor. For 2024, the maximum amount of the credit is $938 for married taxpayers and $470 for single individuals. For 2025, the amounts are $987 for married couples and $495 for single individuals.
Donations to the Oracle Schools Foundation as an AZQCO should not be confused with similar tax credit donations you can make to the Oracle School District’s Mountain Vista Elementary School. You can claim a public school tax credit in addition to the AZQCO tax credit and they both reduce your AZ taxes dollar for dollar. For 2024, the maximum amount of the public school tax credit is $400 for married taxpayers and $200 for individuals. Public Schools are allowed to use these donations for extracurricular activities or character education programs such as field trips, sporting activities, and fine arts. This tax credit form is on the district’s website at OSD2.org under “Quicklinks.”
What do your AZQCO donations to the Oracle Schools Foundation—a 501(c)(3) organization—support? Most of your donations provide the free Kindergarten Prep program for 3-year-old and 4-year-old students of the Oracle School District (this year we have 59 students). We also fund other programs such as Accelerated Reading and Math Assistance Programs. We help pay for students who could not participate in extracurricular activities such as school trips or athletic programs because their families do not have the money.
To securely donate on our website, please go to Oracleschoolsfoundation.com. If you would rather, you can mail a check to Oracle Schools Foundation and mail it to P.O. Box 8863, Catalina, AZ 85738. You can make donations in 2024 up until April 15 for your 2024 AZ income taxes provided you do not exceed the limitations. You can make donations in 2025 for your 2025 Arizona income taxes.
The QCO code for Oracle Schools Foundation when you prepare your AZ Income Taxes is 22773.
CS & M Trio Benefit Concert
Dale Farland
Oracle Schools Foundation (OSF) is pleased to announce that CS & M Trio will be performing at the SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) Sol Ballroom on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. as a benefit concert. Proceeds of the concert will support the programs that help the children of Oracle at the Mountain Vista K-8 Elementary School.
CS & M trio is a Tucson-based acoustic folk rock, offering hits from the ’60s, ’70s, and more with humor, energy, and unparalleled three-part harmonies (the band likes to tell people that they are from “L.A.”—Lower Arizona).
The group offers music by America; The Eagles; The Beatles; Jimmy Buffett; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and a host of other popular musical acts that you will recognize and enjoy. In fact, you can sing along with them as you get into the spirit of this fun evening!
You may have seen CS & M Trio perform at Catalina Pizza and Wildfire Wing Company to full houses. They also are the primary performers of the Tributaries, which performs at the Gaslight Theater. CS & M Trio and the Tributaries have performed various tribute shows throughout Arizona and the United States.
This trio has been performing together for more than a decade, which shows in their tight harmonies, instrumental music style, and their witty banter. They are a “must see” group and OSF is lucky to have them for this concert.
This benefit concert promises to offer a terrific evening—great music in a fun atmosphere while helping the children of Oracle. Tickets are only $30. A cash bar will be available.
Oracle Schools Foundation is the funding entity that provides free kindergarten preparation (preschool) for 3-year-old and 4-year-old students of the Oracle school district since Arizona does not pay for preschool. Currently, 59 students are enrolled, and OSF pays $99,000 for this program. OSF also funds programs such as Accelerated Reading and Math Enhancement programs, as well as supporting educational trips and leadership opportunities for the students in Oracle. Mountain Vista K-8 School is a Title I school, meaning it serves and educates many students from low income families.
Please come to this benefit concert on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the SBR Sol Ballroom. It is a win/win for you and for the children of Oracle.