20 Years of Transforming Lives, One Student at a Time

ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence unveils the Arizona Education and Workforce Visualization exploring the interaction between Arizona’s economic and educational systems. 

Helios and Education Forward Arizona publish the “Billions to Gain: The Economic Benefits of Investing in a More Educated Arizona” report which showcases the groundbreaking economic benefits of postsecondary education. 

Formerly known as the Florida Regional Student Success Initiative, Helios hones its focus on Black students in Florida to create the Black Student Success Strategy. In February 2022, Helios publishes the “Factors That Jeopardize Postsecondary Enrollment and Success for Black Students in Florida” research report that found Black students in Florida earn two-year college degrees at lower rates than other racial groups. 

In partnership with WestEd, Helios publishes its first iteration of research on chronic absenteeism, “Chronic Absenteeism in Arizona: A Description of K-8 Trends 2017-2021.” The report documents which student groups and grade levels have the highest rates of chronic absence, and how rates compare across school districts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Helios’ single largest investment to date, the 65,000-square-foot Helios Education Campus embodies the core belief that the best work, innovative ideas, and strategic decisions are created when people work together. In addition to serving as the home for Helios’ Phoenix staff and community partners, the Campus houses the Helios Decision Theater® and serves as a convening space for the education community. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Helios issues 18 grants to Arizona and Florida organizations, totaling $8.65 million in investment. The funding is used to ensure schools and other educational entities can meet the immediate needs of students and families. 

Helios breaks ground on the 65,000-square-foot Helios Education Campus. Chairman Vince Roig and the Helios Board had a vision for a space that would reflect the Foundation’s commitment to community and partnership. The Campus is designed as a 100-year building aligned with Helios’ perpetual mission and with a commitment to sustainability in the desert environment.

The ASU Helios Decision Center is a partnership between Arizona State University and Helios Education Foundation that enables the use of data to examine the current education system and visualize the impact of potential new policies and innovative solutions on education outcomes. 

Helios opens an expanded office in the Bank of America building in downtown Tampa. 

Helios unveils a refined Florida strategy, focused on improving education quality, access and achievement across the P-16 education continuum in the state’s major metropolitan markets of Miami, Orlando and Tampa.

Helios celebrates providing more than 8,000 scholarships to students for postsecondary education, supporting the college-going aspirations of more than 135,000 students, professional development and training for more than 16,000 educators, signifying an investment of more than $155 million. Helios’ four core beliefs of Community, Investment, Equity and Partnership become part of the organization’s branding and vision. 

Helios implements its Arizona strategy focused on ensuring that all students, especially Latino students, are prepared for success in college and career. Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF) recognizes Chairman Vince Roig as a Hero of Education at an event where a $2 million grant is announced to MCCF to support the AZ Latino College Success initiative. Approximately $1.5 million of these funds are used to create the Excel Program, now the HSI EXCELlence Program. 

Helios refines its community investment priorities to be more strategic in the way it supports organizations and initiatives. The enhanced impact areas of Early Grade Success, College and Career Readiness, and Postsecondary Completion remain the focus of our investment priorities today.

In just five years of existence, Helios marks the milestone $100 million investment in education throughout Arizona and Florida.

Helios begins one of its longest-standing partnerships in Arizona with the Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation (TGen) through an endowment to support students pursuing STEM careers. Still in existence today, the program has supported 800+ students and continues to create a pipeline of bioscience and medical talent across Arizona. 

The first Florida-based office opens at Regions Bank Building in downtown Tampa. The Helios team celebrates with community partners at an open house event.

Helios launches partnership with Teach for America (TFA) in Phoenix and Miami with a $1 million investment. Nearly 20 years later, the organizations maintain a strong partnership, building leadership and the next generation of educators in some of the most underserved schools in both states.

Helios distributes two $5 million grants toward Florida’s university and community college system to support scholarships for first-generation students.

Previously serving as President of Valley of the Sun United Way, Helios hires Paul J. Luna to serve as President. Nearly 20 years later, Luna continues to be a prominent leader for Helios and the communities it serves. 

Helios commissions studies entitled, “The Space Between: Why the Middle Years Matter,” in both Arizona and Florida to gain an understanding of the major issues facing Arizona and Florida students and schools in the middle years (grades 6-10). These studies inform Helios’ priorities and much of its early grantmaking.

Helios provides a $10 million grant to Arizona College Scholarship Foundation to create the Helios-ACSF Scholars Fund to support full scholarships for low income, high achieving students.

The first Arizona office opens at The Esplanade in Phoenix.

The Board of Directors establishes Helios’ initial strategic investment priorities focused on supporting early literacy, improving academic outcomes for middle school students, and providing scholarships and financial support for college going students. Open to the idea that some of the most impactful ideas might not fit neatly into the identified priorities, the Board also establishes an annual pool of funds to support innovation in education. 

Southwest Student Services Corporation and its affiliates are reorganized and sold to SLM Corporation for more than $500 million. The net proceeds of the sale fund the endowment of Helios Education Foundation. Vince Roig becomes Helios’ Founding Board Chairman. 

Vince Roig establishes Arizona Educational Loan Marketing Corporation in 1982. Ten years later, he forms Southwest Student Services Corporation and becomes the company’s Board Chairman & CEO. With the creation of Florida Educational Loan Marketing Corporation in 1997, the affiliated companies operate as a student loan provider and servicer for students in Arizona, Florida and across the nation.