DeFusco Law, a Scottsdale-based law firm, has awarded a record amount of stipends for its bi-annual “Classroom Supply Stipend” program which gives certified teachers $300 for classroom supplies in the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD).  For the 2021 fall semester, 18 teachers will receive the funds to help supply their classrooms.  

Typically, DeFusco offers 10 teachers annually, however, this year the wife and husband law team used proceeds from a recently settled claim to fund additional stipends. That referral came from a SUSD community member allowing DeFusco to fund additional stipends. 

READ ALSO: Ranking Arizona: Top 10 charter and private schools for 2021

“We are honored and proud to support our local educators,” said Bryn K. DeFusco, who founded DeFusco Law with her husband Andy in 2016. “Supporting education is our passion.”

Fall 2021 stipend recipients include: Susan Barnes, Hohokam Elementary; Dawndy Bendet, Anasazi Elementary; Sara Cain, Coronado High; Marcia DeMuro, Cocopah Middle; Chloe Flitton, Hohokam Elementary; Carline Fried, Cocopah Middle; Katie Honeycutt, Desert Canyon Elementary; Malcolm Leinwhol, Chaparral High; Marissa Palmer, Coronado High; Lisa Port, Echo Canyon K-8; Noel Rosenthal, Chaparral High; Paula Slamowitz, Tonalea K-8; Alexandra Valenzuela, Tonalea K-8; Jennifer Wells, Echo Canyon K-8; Robin Wiley, Navajo Elementary; William Williams, Tonalea K-8; Brandy Wilson, Navajo Elementary and Rhonda Witherspoon, Ingleside Middle.

DeFusco Law, which represents accident victims and their families, started its Classroom Supply Stipend in 2018 and has since donated more than $25,000 for certified teachers to use in their Scottsdale K-12 classrooms. 

In addition, this summer Treasures 4 Teachers, a member based resource and supply store serving the educators of Arizona, will provide free memberships to every Classroom Supply Stipend recipient. The organization provides Arizona educators access to lost cost and free materials, training and resources to enhance the learning process. 

Both Bryn and Andy attended public schools and their children currently attend SUSD schools. In fact, Andy, his four siblings, his niece and nephew graduated from Saguaro High School. Bryn has been active with APT’s at Sequoya Elementary and Cocopah Middle School and serves on the Board of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest – Arizona’s premier advocate for public school funding.  Both volunteer regularly in SUSD schools.