T.W. Lewis Foundatio
n is pleased to announce Stephanie Parra as its executive director, a new position for the organization. Parra brings valuable experience in education, social work and non-profit management to the Foundation, which supports a wide array of education and family-focused non-profits with a common goal of strengthening the community.
As executive director, Parra will oversee the Foundation’s annual giving budget with a focus on education, children and families. This work will begin immediately with the review and selection of the annual T.W. Lewis Scholarship Program recipients to Arizona State University’s (ASU) Barrett, The Honors College. Parra also will work closely with the Foundation’s nonprofit partners to determine areas of need, allocate funding and further develop the organization’s overall giving strategy and vision.
“Adding an executive director to the Foundation will enable us to maximize the impact of our giving,” said Tom Lewis, owner and CEO of T.W. Lewis Company and founder, with his wife Jan, of the T.W. Lewis Foundation. “Stephanie’s experience, demonstrated leadership skills and passion for education and child welfare make her the perfect fit for our new role. We are excited to welcome her to the team.”
Parra began her career as a social worker for Childhelp Children’s Center of Arizona. During her four years in social work, Parra saw first-hand how education could transform life opportunities for children. After earning her master’s degree from ASU, Parra worked at the university in a number of different roles, all with a focus on entrepreneurship and leadership. Most recently, Parra was the manager of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Teach For America, where she coached entrepreneurs on pitching investors and donors.
“It is an honor to join T.W. Lewis Foundation, an organization that shares so many of my core values and goals,“ said Parra. “My previous roles have prepared me for this position and I look forward to supporting programs that will have such an impact on young people and families in our community.”
Parra is an active member of the community, affiliated with the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA), the National School Boards Association (NSBA) and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). She is currently a governing board member for Phoenix Union High School District, where she works toward fulfilling the mission of preparing students for success in college, career and life.
One of the first in her family to go to college, Parra holds a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Education in Higher and Postsecondary Education from ASU. A first-generation American citizen, Parra was born and raised in Yuma, Ariz., and has lived in the Valley for 13 years.
