TUSTIN, Calif.–SchoolsFirst FCU served as the lead sponsor of the third annual Friends of Sacramento ArtsHeroes of Arts Education Gala, which recognizes community leaders and local arts educators for their role in supporting and bringing arts education to local schools.
Friends of Sacramento Arts works to ensure equitable access to comprehensive arts education in K-12 public schools. The nonprofit organization advocates for increased access to arts education for K-12 public school students in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, serving as a capacity builder for arts organizations and school districts, and provides information, resources and connections to advance these goals. The Heroes of Arts Education Gala showcases local student talents and shines a spotlight on the arts educators and supporters of arts education in Sacramento, including the presentation of awards to extraordinary teachers from 12 Sacramento region school districts who have brought arts education into K-12 public school classrooms in creative and impactful ways.
“Arts leaders and educators inspire and engage our school children through music, dance, theater and fine arts,” Allison Cagley, executive director of Friends of Sacramento Arts, said in a statement. “Our organization believes every child deserves arts education to support academic and social-emotional learning, yet there are significant gaps in access. We’re proud of our partnership with SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, and we’re grateful for their generous support to help connect schools with arts education resources and provide information to support arts program expansion in Sacramento’s K-12 schools.”
Added Josh Smith, vice president, school and community relations, at SchoolsFirst FCU, in a statement, “It is an honor to partner with Friends of Sacramento Arts to work toward their stated mission of ‘Arts Every Day for Every Child in Every School.’ We know support for this initiative makes an impact not only on the lives of educators, but also on the lives of their students. Allison and her team have done an outstanding job in organizing this Gala and drawing attention to the importance of arts education in our public schools.”
In addition to recognizing arts teachers from schools in the region, the 2025 Heroes of Arts Education Gala recognized Letty Kraus, Arts Initiative Director for California County Superintendents, as an outstanding leader in the field of arts education. Tony Thurmond, Superintendent of Public Education for the State of California, attended the Gala and delivered remarks to the audience. Also in attendance were Sacramento City Councilmember Roger Dickinson and Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes.