Q4 2025 Education Update: Influence, Pathways, and Gratitude
The Steele Family FoundationSTACEY RECOGNIZED AS AN INSPIRATIONAL LEADER
This fall brought a special moment of recognition for our Education Pillar. In early October, NY Weekly Magazine featured Stacey Steele in its “Top 30 Inspirational Women and Their Success Stories.” The article highlighted her leadership in building a 263,000 sq ft school in rural India and expanding the WISE Scholarship Program across three continents. Stacey’s story reflects a clear belief in education as a long-term commitment, not a short-term project.
FALL ON CAMPUS AND IN COMMUNITY
Across October, WISE scholars stayed busy on campuses and in community spaces that make education feel tangible. Boys & Girls Club WISE scholars toured Arizona Christian University, walking through the cafeteria, dorms, lecture halls, the activity center, and the performing arts center, then sitting down with admissions for lunch and questions.
Back in Scottsdale, WISE scholars joined the Welcome to America Project at a Mobile Clothing Closet, supporting refugee families with free clothing, diapers, and other essentials. That same month, Boys & Girls Club scholars enjoyed an afternoon of laughs, cookies, and new backpacks, plus a soccer night at Grand Canyon University. These simple, steady touchpoints keep WISE scholars grounded in service, friendship, and future goals.
At the Just Keep Livin Foundation in Los Angeles, an ice cream social created time for WISE families to meet, play Uno, and ask questions about the program in a relaxed setting.
RECOGNITION, VISION, AND SERVICE HOURS
Q4 also highlighted individual scholars and the habits behind their progress. Brayden, from the Boys & Girls Club, received a custom WISE letterman jacket after leading portal use last year and earning three varsity letters. The jacket now holds those letters and signals his consistent use of the WISE portal to track service, extracurriculars, and academics.
At Grace Sober Living, WISE participants used vision boards to map out goals and next steps, connecting recovery, education, and faith in one clear picture.
Service hours stayed strong. Boys & Girls Club WISE scholars volunteered with the Welcome to America Project and, in early November, supported the Arizona Humane Society, helping protect vulnerable animals and practicing leadership in community settings.
THE INFLUENCER DINNER AND A COMMUNITY OF CHAMPIONS
November centered on the WISE Scholarship Program Influencers Dinner, a night focused on purpose, partnership, and future impact. Michael Steele opened the evening by sharing personal influences, from Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Nelson Mandela to his own parents, then tying those stories to eighteen years of work through The Steele Family Foundation and six years of the WISE Scholarship Program.
Catherine Anaya served as emcee, guiding guests through scholar stories, partner recognition, and messages from global friends. Vivian Nixon Williams brought energy and gratitude as a representative of Debbie Allen Dance Academy, sharing how WISE will support students in disenfranchised Black and Latino communities through world-class training and mentorship.
The evening also honored three Senior Scholarship Administrators, Diana Montenegro (Just Keep Livin Foundation), Lauren Besse (Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale), and Chris Hales (Grace Sober Living), recognizing daily work on the ground with each WISE participant. Guests heard from Bryce and Paul Perkins, Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador, Andrea and Veronica Bocelli, Johan Ernst Nilson, Justin Henry, Ray Casas, Jimmy Walker, and others, all reinforcing a simple message: influence matters when influence opens doors.
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS AND CAMPUS DOORS OPENING
Q4 marked a key milestone in our Education Pillar: a formal partnership with Grand Canyon University. This partnership links WISE scholarship pathways with campus support at GCU, focusing on access and success for WISE scholars once they arrive.
That announcement sits alongside several campus touchpoints. In early November, Angel, a WISE participant from Grace Sober Living, toured GCU to explore technology, engineering, and trades programs. Later that month, our team met with leaders at the University of Texas at Arlington, including the Dean of the School of Social Work and partners from the Texas Rangers, to explore new opportunities for WISE scholars in Texas.
On November 24, a visit to California Lutheran University brought time with students, professors, and staff, plus a tour of Angel City Football Club’s new training facility on campus. That visit showed how education, athletics, and community share the same space when partners design environments with intention.
GLOBAL GRATITUDE, GRACE LUNCHEON, AND GIVING TUESDAY
Our global education work stayed visible in November through Children’s Day at St. Xavier’s Academy in India. The Hosur Vicariate gathered 450 children from seven parishes for competitions, prize distributions, and a full meal for every child and guest. St. Xavier’s Academy stands as part of the Sacred Trust Project, first introduced to the Steele family in 2013 and added to the Foundation’s charitable purpose after a 2014 visit.
In early December, the WISE team joined the Grace Sober Living Luncheon, connecting with Alice Cooper, Jimmy Walker, Jerry Colangelo, WISE scholars, and partners. Stories of faith, resilience, and second chances highlighted the impact of WISE for adults in recovery who are now taking concrete steps toward education and stability.
