Make Way for Books (MWFB) is an early literacy nonprofit dedicated to giving every child the chance to read and succeed. Serving more than 30,000 young children, parents, and educators throughout Southern Arizona each year, MWFB provides proven programs that build early literacy skills and a lifelong love of learning. Through its work with families at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, MWFB also equips parents and caregivers with practical tools and strategies to help their young children develop strong reading and literacy skills at home.
Pima Cycle Breaker gives justice-involved youth and young adults a second chance to build a successful future. The program helps participants break the cycle of incarceration by connecting them with education, skills-based training, apprenticeships, employment opportunities, and essential support services. Through these resources, young people are given the tools and opportunities to overcome barriers, achieve greater stability, and create a pathway toward meaningful careers and long-term success.
Ability Dogs of Arizona is a Tucson-based nonprofit that enhances independence and quality of life through the partnership between people and highly trained assistance dogs. Serving veterans, civilians, and children with disabilities, the organization trains service dogs to provide specialized support based on individual needs, helping recipients experience greater independence, confidence, and connection in their everyday lives.
Desert Thunder Squadron (DTS) is a Tucson-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting the Airmen and families of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and strengthening the connection between the base and the Southern Arizona community. Through programs, events, and resources, DTS supports military families and service members, including its One Year Away initiative, which helps Airmen prepare for a successful transition from military service to civilian careers.
Kathy Prather Student Advancement Scholarship - This scholarship was specifically established by Potoff Private Philanthropy to create a pathway for Pima Joint Technical Education District (JTED) students who are ready to continue their education journey towards a career in public health. The scholarship honors the work of JTED’s Superintendent and CEO Kathy Prather, who advocated for and helped create career and technical education programs for thousands of Tucson-area high school students.
Charitable Media Accelerator
Amplifying Awareness. Expanding Impact.
At Potoff Private Philanthropy (PPP), we believe meaningful charitable giving goes beyond financial support. It also means helping the organizations we support share their stories, reach new audiences, and inspire greater community involvement.
With this vision, PPP has launched the Charitable Media Accelerator, a two-year pilot program designed to increase awareness and visibility for our nonprofit partners through professional storytelling and television exposure.
Over the two-year pilot period, PPP will develop, produce, and distribute a series of seven-minute video profiles highlighting the missions, accomplishments, and community impact of the nonprofit organizations we support. Working with an award-winning local videographer and her production team, along with an experienced journalist serving as host and narrator, these profiles will be presented in groups of three within commercial-free, 30-minute television programs.
Throughout the pilot, PPP will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of this approach, with the goal of establishing a sustainable model for nonprofit storytelling and media distribution.
Recognizing that many smaller nonprofits lack the resources for professional video production and television exposure, PPP is also investing in a dedicated production studio equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Our goal is simple: to give the organizations we support a stronger voice, greater visibility, and new opportunities to attract supporters, strengthen fundraising, and advance their missions.
Because powerful stories deserve to be told
Dustin J. Williams, Pima County School Superintendent
Every community needs an educational champion for change, success, and achievement. In Pima County, our champion is Potoff Pathways. Potoff has demonstrated a strong commitment to education in key areas like career & technical education, skills training for high school students, and GED support for students who have left school early.
- Their generous backing of programs like Cycle Breaker gives opportunity youth and adults a second chance to succeed by providing education options, wrap-around services, and employment.
- These supports, along with the job-based skills training they provide, help individuals become productive members of our community.
- As the elected Pima County School Superintendent, I am proud to partner with such an organization because they care about students and our community.
Kathy Prather, Pima JTED
The generosity and vision of Ross Potoff and Potoff Private Philanthropy have made a tremendous difference in the ability of Pima JTED to be visible in the community, which continues to positively impact the lives of thousands of young people in Southern Arizona. Through the Potoff Private Philanthropy Endowed Chair for Engagement and Placement, middle school students are able to engage in a hands-on experience to explore the many career possibilities available to them, and the capacity of Pima JTED to provide real-world job shadowing and internship opportunities to high school students who participate in JTED programs has greatly increased.
Read about Kathy’s significant achievements with Pima County JTED on pages 28-29 in this issue of Biz Tucson, published on Mar 28, 2021.
Leslie Laird, Director, Pima Vocational High School
I want to thank you (Potoff Private Philanthropy) again for the generous donation we received from the Potoff Philanthropy Foundation. Our plan is to use the money toward recruiting efforts for students who need our services the most.