Education and Workforce Development are two key areas of focus for Valley of the Sun United Way’s MC2026, a five-year plan for Mighty Change in Maricopa County. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve added a new route to higher education for our very own team members.

Valley of the Sun United Way and the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) have formed a new partnership that will provide United Way employees with access to a dedicated advising team to assist them through their entire educational journey at any of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.

Statistics show that 93% of employees say using their employer’s tuition assistance program helped them develop the skills they needed to grow within their company, but fewer than 10% of employees actually use employer-provided tuition assistance, in part because they lack an understanding of employer financial aid and scholarships.

Maricopa Community Colleges created the Education Concierge Service to remove these barriers and provide direct support through a dedicated advising team.

Valley of the Sun United Way has long provided tuition assistance for its team, but this takes the effort one step further. The advisors will help United Way employees with admissions, navigating tuition benefits and financial aid, advising and coaching.

“This is part of our DNA. We are committed to helping our colleagues grow and achieve their full potential through higher education,” said Nicole Lomibao, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development at Valley of the Sun United Way. “This partnership and the resources it provides will make it easier than ever for our team members to reach their educational goals.”

The partnership was facilitated through the Maricopa Corporate College, which is part of the Workforce and Economic Development Office at Maricopa Community Colleges providing high-impact training, development, and hiring and retention solutions for Arizona employers.

Employers interested in similar partnerships can visit info.maricopacorporate.com/concierge.