For children facing lengthy hospital stays, health recovery involves more than medicine. Addressing this, Phoenix Children’s created 1 Darn Cool School, a program that provides educational sessions in person, virtually and at various Phoenix Children’s locations, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for all patients.
The 1 Darn Cool School is fully funded by Desert Financial Foundation, Desert Financial Credit Union, its members and its employees. In 2024, Desert Financial committed to raising $5 million for 1 Darn Cool School in five years, by 2029. And earlier this year, Desert Financial Foundation and Desert Financial Credit Union announced a record-breaking $2.25 million donation. This singular donation brings Desert Financial nearly halfway to its $5 million goal after only one year. In addition to this historic donation, Desert Financial provided a special surprise for the program’s teachers: oversized “toolboxes” filled with technology, such as iPads, Kindles, VR headsets and STEAM classroom kits. These resources were selected based on teacher requests to support hospitalized students’ success.
Last year, 1 Darn Cool School supported more than 2,100 students, providing a sense of normalcy and continuity amid medical challenges. The fully accredited K–12 school, staffed by seven full-time master’s level teachers, provides children hospitalized for five days or more with bedside education to ensure they stay on track academically while facing chronic illnesses or life-changing injuries.
Ongoing support for 1 Darn Cool School from Desert Financial now totals more than $13.2 million over the past 28 years. This remarkable partnership reflects the credit union’s deep commitment to education and its mission to share success with the Arizona community.
