Helicopter Candy Drop for a Cause at Glendale Prep

Glendale Prep September 30, 2026

The Glendale Prep Griffins celebrated their first home game of the football season with their annual helicopter candy drop. Made possible by an anonymous donor, this addition to the half time festivities has become a tradition over the last three years now and looks to be a mainstay for the North Valley campus for years to come.

“We’re really excited because it helps showcase Tax Credit and all that Tax Credit does to support our school,” explained Family Giving Officer, Tammy Kempton. The Arizona Public School Tax Credit is a program that allows Arizona taxpayers to contribute to the public school of their choice and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes. These proceeds provide nearly half of the funding for co-curricular, athletics and character-building programs at Great Hearts academies in Arizona.

About 500 bags of candy were dropped onto the football field from the hovering helicopter during half time. Once the helicopter dropped the last bag, students of all ages quickly raced to the center of the field to claim their bag of candy. “And inside every single bag of candy, we have a little QR code where parents and families can donate to our Tax Credit. Everything’s tax deductible, a dollar-for-dollar credit on your Arizona state income taxes, and it all comes directly to the school, and you get every dollar back,” added Kempton.

Every Arizona taxpayer can take advantage of the Arizona Public School Tax Credit to support our academies. Families are encouraged to contribute their Tax Credit and Kempton suggests Great Hearts families invite their extended network of friends and family to do the same. Married couples may contribute up to $400 and single filers may contribute up to $200 and receive the full credit from their state tax liability.

Tax credits support co-curricular and character-building programs such as athletics, speech and debate, choir, orchestra, on-site and off-site field trips, robotics and gardening, to name only a handful of the programs that are offered throughout the network.

This was fun for all students at the campus, from kindergarteners to high school seniors. “It’s a huge community event where we ask all of our families to come out and support our school, Archway Glendale families and Glendale Prep families alike,” said Kempton.

Learn more about how you can participate at https://arizona.greatheartsamerica.org/support/tax-credit/

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contactjmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.

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