Lloyd Hopkins, an organizational leader with extensive experience in community and nonprofit work, has always been committed to the advancement of K-12 education in Arizona. He graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. With his education and passion for ensuring quality education for all, he launched the Million Dollar Teacher Project in 2016. Lloyd also serves as the Chair of Real Engagement through Active Philanthropy, a fund under the AZ Community Foundation to make a positive impact on African-American Youth.
The daughter of a retired firefighter from Upstate NY, Karen learned at a young age about the necessity to help others in whatever capacity possible. Others who might be complete strangers and who might have nothing in common besides being fellow human beings.
She has collaborated with and volunteered for local non-profit organizations representing all types of groups in our community. This has allowed her to be bold in her pursuit to help elevate the lives of others.
Passionate and highly skilled educator with 11 years of special education and team building experience. Proven leadership abilities with a track record of establishing and nurturing strong working relationships with students, parents and faculty.
Brian is an engineer, entrepreneur, father, and athlete with nearly 30 years’ experience building high performing teams and driving culture change. In 2016, he left his role as IT Workforce Strategist at Intel Corporation to launch The PEAK Fleet consultancy with the sole purpose of helping organizations create engaged workforces that thrive together. Brian’s core values are Open Mindedness, Humility, Fairness, Wellness, Family, and Independence.
Attorney & Entrepreneur, I’m Leighton and I’m passionate about personal finance, tax minimization, and avoiding unintended consequences (good planning). When I’m not drafting wills and trusts or advising clients, I’m usually taking care of my daughter, walking my dog, or having a beer with friends. I’ve been a lifelong entrepreneur, always owning one business or another since I was a teen. I was born and raised in Hawaii and went to Oregon for college. In 2006, after receiving my bachelors in the field of economics, I moved to Arizona. After graduating law school in 2011, I started my law career in family law and an ecommerce business at the same time. As the business grew, I transitioned to small business law taking on business clients while running a successful company. I started Copper State Estate Planning because of my passion for personal finance and the pursuit of the American Dream. Combining those two passions with my expertise in tax law, I decided that estate planning was my calling. As such, I decided to transition myself to helping families protect and pass on their wealth.
Personal-able, enthusiastic professional with a work history of creating high-energy, positive, and development of various programs & departments. Successful engagement of various department heads in leading teams & producing optimal results. Continuing to cultivate strong professional relationships with all levels of management to ensure development. Passionately committed to clients & family’s success as well as loyalty.
Ron is a dynamic and passionate REALTOR and Homes for Heroes Affiliate specializing in helping Heroes, such as Teachers, Firefighters, Military Personnel, Law Enforcement, EMS, Healthcare Workers, and Foster parents save on their dream homes through the Homes for Heroes program. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Ron now thrives in Buckeye, Arizona, where he has become an integral part of the community.
Ron’s commitment to giving back is evident through his involvement with numerous organizations. He is a certified youth mentor and chapter leader for the Travis Manion Foundation, where he along with our military veterans and families of the fallen inspires the next generation to live with character and integrity. Ron is dedicated to supporting our Heroes and recognizing their invaluable contribution to society.
Active in the local community, Ron is a proud member of WeServ, the Buckeye Chamber of Commerce, Phoenix Community Alliance, LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, and the Kiwanis Club Buckeye. His dedication to service and community is further highlighted by his leadership in various initiatives.
Outside of his professional and volunteer work, Ron is a father of 4 kids, a foster parent, an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan, and enjoys jet skiing, camping, and beach vacations. He values family and friends above all and thrives on positive energy and humor. His favorite motto, “If Not Me, Then Who,” reflects his proactive and enthusiastic approach to life and community service.
Shellie and her husband Bertrand have been married almost 25 years and have lived in the east valley for almost 20 years. They have 3 young adult children. Shellie has for profit and non-profit ownership experience. Currently, she is the program manager for the SEE ME Program at ARG Cultivators Community where she consults with growing businesses and offers them opportunities to access capital, resources, and key relationships for small business growth. For years, Shellie has lead, trained, and guided leaders in faith-based communities. In 2023, she was promoted to strategically develop classes and their leaders worldwide in an international organization she has served in for 20 years. Shellie enjoys studying the Bible; deep conversations with close friends; playing family games; hiking; and laughing at the dinner table. Her burning desire is to advocate for the underserved, overlooked, and misunderstood populations in the U.S. through teaching and training. Her key to success? Joyful attitude. Humble gratitude.
SBA Business Development Officer with over eight (8) years of banking experience in varying capacities. Advocate for entrepreneurs and a trusted business advisor. Throughout his banking career Jonathan has helped entrepreneurs finance their start-ups, existing business owners grow their companies and acquire commercial real estate, and help other companies grow through mergers and acquisitions. With a background as a Spanish teacher for a charter school in the Greater Phoenix Metro, he combines his passion of teaching and foreign languages to help minority entrepreneurs explore their options to access capital. As a former teacher, Jonathan hopes to raise awareness of MDTP and support teachers through the various programs MDTP executes in the community.
Community Development | Microsoft
Community DeveConsultantlopment | Microsoft
Manager | Uncle Louie’s Restaurant
Realtor | United Brokers Group
Consultant
Owner | Heart2Heart PR
CEO/Founder | Million Dollar Teacher Project
CEO | Career Blindspot
Program Manager | Postdoctoral Affairs Office at ASU
Superintendent | Union Elementary School District
Consultant
Partnership Manager | Arizona State University
Founder/CEO | thinkLaw
All items are required.
Million Dollar Teacher Tree was first developed in a classroom by students in a program called, Next Generation Service Corps at Arizona State University in December of 2017. These students were tasked by Lloyd Hopkins, founder of Million Dollar Teacher project with developing a project that can potentially become an integral part in helping MDTP achieve its mission. The group eventually developed the original prototype for Million Dollar Teacher Tree—a cutout dollar sign that would be placed in surrounding businesses near the partner school. The idea was pitched to staff members of MDTP during the last of their class, and the project was picked up by MDTP as a new pilot program for the organization. After many months of planning, the prototype was eventually revamped into what it is today, Million Dollar Teacher Tree.
These apples are intended to provide any sort of Professional Development which, in turn, gifts them with key knowledge to add to their personal skill-set to better work with their students.
As educators, teachers are constantly looking to continually grow in their profession to not only learn how to better connect with their students, but to also make the learning experience much more exciting.
Suggested donation amount range: $10 – $100
These apples are designed to provide the typical day-to-day items in the classroom. Teachers spend can spend upwards of $1,000 out of pocket to have enough supplies yearlong for their students– to alleviate this, the Red Apples were created.
Everyday school supplies include; pencils, notebooks, crayons, hand sanitizer, etc.
These apples are intended to provide a big-ticket item for the teachers. These supplies are typically something that the teachers can use for more than one school year.
Examples include; a class-set of computers or new furniture for the classroom.
Suggested donation amount: $500+
