About
Tucson
Thrives

About Tucson
Thrives

Our Story

Tucson Thrives began over 50 years ago under the name Community Extension Programs, Inc., (CEP). The original organization served over 35,000 Tucson youth and their families by offering a variety of afterschool and support programs. During this time, CEP recognized the long-standing needs of our community’s children and middle school teens.

In 2023, Tucson Thrives shifted our focus to directly assisting this crucial portion of our population by partnering with other like-minded non-profits, offering scholarships to local middle school teens working toward degrees in higher education and providing services that help remove obstacles standing in the way of their success. At Tucson Thrives, we are proud to celebrate our rich community history and are excited and dedicated to continuing to serve our valued constituents.

While we have supported other Tucson-based organizations such as Youth on Their Own, Tu Nidito, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, we are now committed to working with our middle and high school’s administration, faculty and staff to identify and meet the needs of the most disadvantaged youth. This grassroots effort allows for a more flexible and nimble approach to helping young Tucson’s find a level playing field in education and other important aspects of their lives. We believe that success begets success, and our goal is to continue to provide middle school teens with small successes that will lead to full, productive lives as cherished members of our community.

Vision
Statement

Vision Statement

All children will have the opportunity to attain their full potential, thus building a stronger community for all.

Mission
Statement

Mission Statement

Providing assistance, access and opportunity to middle school teens to overcome barriers and allow them to choose a future where they will thrive.

Jennifer Theis, MBA

Board President

After working for a large corporation, I decided it was time to give back to my local community in my free time. I believe every child should have the resources to find where they belong in this world, whether it be through academics or finding a passion and following that dream. Having an avenue where I can give these kids the resources to pursue what they want is truly rewarding. I have lived in Oro Valley, AZ since I was four years old and happy to be able to give back to my hometown. I am married, have two daughters and a dog (who is definitely my third daughter). I work in sales and own a mobile tire business with my husband. Camping, boating and volleyball are my favorite ways to spend time with my family.

Marty Mayhew

Treasurer

Dr. Marty Mayhew has lived in Tucson for almost 30 years. She has many years of experience as a nursing educator and administrator. Her passion is helping students of all ages to overcome social and economic barriers to education in order to be successful members of their community. Tucson Thrives provides expanded opportunities for satisfying the varied learning needs of Tucson’s youth.

Stephen Celis

Project Management Professional

Stephen Celis, PMP, is a seasoned operational strategist and senior program manager with a proven track record of bridging the gap between technology and business operations. Stephen’s expertise spans program management, strategic planning, business process improvement, and software implementations. Currently pursuing an Executive MBA at the University of Arizona, he is committed to continuous learning and professional development. Stephen is also a passionate community advocate, actively involved in various volunteer efforts, including serving as a board member for Tucson Thrives and previously co-chairing the El Rio Foundation Gala and leading Intuit’s We Care Give Back program in Tucson. His dedication to making a positive impact in his community aligns perfectly with his professional drive and commitment to excellence.

Dan Huff

Vice President

Dan is an attorney/partner at The Huff Law Firm in Tucson, focusing on family law, juvenile law, adoptions, estate planning, and appeals. Dan believes that expanding opportunities for more individuals will lead to a stronger, more supportive, and a more inspiring Tucson. Dan is a Tucson native who supports our core mission of working to ensure that all people in our community have access to the resources necessary to truly thrive.

Mary Beth Ginter, PhD

Secretary

Mary Beth Ginter has a PhD in Higher Education and a Masters in Spanish and International Business and has worked as a Spanish Instructor, Dean, Vice President and Executive Director. Her focus areas are international and cross-cultural education, linguistics, gender and technology. “Voluntarism is crucial to support community – wherever that may be.”

Victoria Cook, PhD

Executive Director

Victoria Cook holds a PhD in Art History and Art Education and an MA in History. She has worked in higher education as a teacher and administrator for over twenty-five years. She began her tenure at Tucson Thrives (formerly CEP) in the summer of 2021 as a Development Director and became the Executive Director in July 2022. A life-long Tucsonan and a product of our public school system, Victoria has dedicated her work to improving and elevating the lives of our community’s younger generations. She beliefs that every young person, regardless of life and financial circumstances, deserves the right succeed and thrive.

Message
from our
Executive
Director

Welcome to Tucson Thrives! Our organization believes that all middle school teens in our community should have an equal opportunity to succeed and actively participate in shaping and achieving their dreams. While most in our community support these goals for our youth, we know that this is not a reality for large numbers of young people nationally, and it is not true for many living in our Tucson community. National data indicates that if the needs of young persons are addressed prior to high school entrance, the chances of long-lasting success in their personal and professional lives are much greater than those who lacked early interventions.

There are many factors that are putting financial, physical and emotional stress on our community’s families, leaving them and their children vulnerable to the prolonged negative impacts of poverty. Your support of Tucson Thrives helps us empower middle school teens to remove obstacles in their way of success, overcome systemic hardships and create and maintain community safety nets that assist them in reaching their full potential. Please consider making a financial gift that will allow us to advance our mission and help keep Tucson’s middle school teens moving toward becoming positive, productive, valued members of our Tucson community.

-Victoria Cook, Ph.D., Executive Director