Chronic absenteeism remains one of the most urgent — and solvable — challenges facing Arizona’s students. To confront it head-on, Valley of the Sun United Way is launching a new public awareness billboard campaign featuring Arizona Cardinals legend and national humanitarian Calais Campbell, in tandem with Helios Foundation and Read on Arizona, as part of its Supporting Attendance Across Maricopa County initiative, known as Project SAAM.
In 2019, chronic absenteeism in Arizona stood at 13%. By 2024, it surged to 24%. In 2025, it remains alarmingly high at 23%, nearly double pre-pandemic levels.
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The pandemic didn’t just disrupt learning — it fundamentally changed attendance patterns. And ongoing federal and economic uncertainty continues to affect families across Maricopa County, making it harder for students to consistently show up to school.
Project SAAM was developed by Valley of the Sun United Way and funded by the Helios Education Foundation to move beyond symptoms and address the root causes of chronic absenteeism. The initiative brings together school and district leaders, community organizations, Read On Arizona, and local partners to better understand why students miss school—and what it will take to remove those barriers.
The new billboard campaign featuring Calais Campbell is designed to elevate attendance as a community priority — reinforcing that showing up to school is essential to long-term success and that families often face real barriers beyond their control. Campbell’s involvement reflects a shared commitment to young people and to solutions rooted in compassion, accountability, and community leadership.
Project SAAM currently focuses on nine Maricopa County school districts most impacted by chronic absenteeism. Through research, mentoring, and coaching, the initiative works alongside students and families to identify barriers such as health challenges, housing instability, transportation issues, and caregiving responsibilities — and to co-create solutions that fit local realities.
“Attendance is a community issue, not just a school issue,” said Dawn Gerundo, Community Development and Engagement Manager for Valley of the Sun United Way. “Project SAAM is about listening to families, using data to guide action, and working together to create solutions that help students show up and succeed.”
Data collected through Project SAAM informs school strategies, strengthens family engagement, and guides investments toward interventions proven to improve attendance.
This work builds on Valley of the Sun United Way’s century-long legacy of uniting people to solve the region’s most pressing challenges. From supporting families through the Great Depression and World War II to leading pandemic recovery efforts, the organization has consistently mobilized community-driven solutions to create lasting change. As it marks 100 years of impact, Valley of the Sun United Way remains focused on measurable outcomes and long-term systems change.
Aligned with Arizona’s goal of returning chronic absenteeism to pre-pandemic levels Valley of the Sun United Way is committed to measurable progress, accountability, and long-term systems change.
The billboard campaign represents the next phase of Project SAAM — extending the work beyond schools and into the broader community.
Valley of the Sun United Way’s centennial celebration will span two years, featuring special events, volunteer initiatives, and storytelling campaigns highlighting 100 years of impact across Maricopa County. The organization will also unveil new strategies designed to strengthen community resilience and accelerate progress in its four key focus areas.
For more information about Valley of the Sun United Way, visit www.vsuw.org.
