The Bonzer Foundation grew out of more than 16 years of self-funded, customer-supported, donation-driven, and community-connected initiatives led through Cup of Joey AZ and associated grassroots community activities. Long before the Foundation formally existed, ongoing support efforts were already taking place across local schools, teacher support programs, classroom initiatives, PTO partnerships, literacy engagement activities, domestic violence support initiatives, community fundraising efforts, and direct community support programs.
Over time, these efforts helped build long-standing relationships with educators, families, students, schools, community organizations, local businesses, and support networks across Arizona and beyond. As these activities continued to expand, the decision was made to formally establish the Bonzer Foundation to support broader educational, community, innovation, research, and wellbeing-focused initiatives moving forward.
Community leadership connected to Bonzer Foundation initiatives previously coordinated and supported approximately $76,000–$80,000 in education-focused grant funding connected to Linwood Elementary within Oklahoma City Public Schools during a period of significant economic pressure. Funding supported science, math, literacy, and classroom learning initiatives serving a Title I school community. Surplus science equipment from these initiatives was later redistributed into Arizona classrooms and educational support activities.
Prior to and during the COVID-19 period, cash tips collected through the Cup of Joey coffee truck were donated to a number of animal rescue and animal welfare organizations supporting rescue, care, rehabilitation, and community-based animal support efforts. These initiatives formed part of broader community-focused support activities connected to local wellbeing, compassion-driven giving, and grassroots community engagement.
Through Cup of Joey community initiatives, ongoing support efforts have included PTO fundraising support, parent “Buy a Teacher a Drink” programs, teacher appreciation activities, classroom support efforts, onsite coffee truck support events, literacy engagement activities, and grassroots fundraising initiatives supporting schools and educators across Mesa and surrounding communities.
While Bonzer Foundation is newly formalized as a nonprofit entity, its operational roots extend back to 2015 through sustained business, educational, and community engagement across a significant segment of Mesa public schools. This has created an unusually large potential insertion footprint across multiple schools, educators, families, and student communities for an organization at this stage of development.
The Foundation’s existing proximity to a broad educational ecosystem positions it to rapidly pilot, evaluate, and refine student-centered creative, educational, and research initiatives in real-world environments rather than purely theoretical settings. Participating schools and programs have included:
All participating schools received donation support connected to PTO programs, fundraising activities, or associated school support initiatives.
Through Cup of Joey AZ community initiatives, ongoing support has also included complimentary hydration offers, coffee support, and restroom access for Mesa Police officers, Mesa Fire personnel, and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office personnel working within the local community. Community partnership activities have also included participation in community engagement initiatives connected to Global Ties Arizona, the Mesa Police Department, and the City of Mesa, including donation-supported Coffee Circle events for law enforcement and public safety personnel. These efforts form part of broader community-focused initiatives centered on local relationships, frontline worker support, hospitality, and practical day-to-day community engagement.
Following significant storm damage impacting Zaharis Elementary in September 2023, community fundraising efforts connected to Cup of Joey raised nearly $4,000 to assist with uninsured school-related needs and support items. The Cup of Joey coffee truck was also deployed onsite to support teachers and staff returning to campus following the storm event. Local media coverage: ABC15 coverage
Volunteer literacy and classroom engagement activities connected to Joey Goes to Arizona have included live book readings and animated classroom participation sessions with Kindergarten through 2nd grade students designed to encourage reading, creativity, participation, and positive early-learning experiences.
These activities were volunteer and community driven, focused on student engagement rather than commercial sales activity.
Community support initiatives connected to New Leaf have included hygiene product donations, tampon drives, toy donations, coffee and hospitality support, and community awareness efforts supporting women, children, and families in need.
Community-connected educational support efforts have also included support connected to a $5,000 Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation grant benefiting Mendoza Elementary in 2025.
The Bonzer Foundation was formally established in part to support broader community initiatives and independent research efforts exploring education, technology, wellness, innovation, and responsible AI collaboration beginning in June 2025. Bonzer’s founders previously developed and commercialized an innovative Class 1 FDA pain relief medical device known as the Oska Pulse in 2015. The device is manufactured in South Dakota and was developed through a combination of independent research, product development, commercialization, and community-connected wellness initiatives. These ongoing efforts are intended to support stronger educational outcomes, community wellbeing, innovation, and long-term opportunity through responsible, community-connected development. Current areas of exploration include educational outcomes, AI-assisted learning tools, STEM and STEAM engagement, and community-centered research initiatives , with SBIR and STTR and partnership opportunities under active consideration.
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