Community Support in Action: Treasures 4 Teachers’ Role in Arizona’s Education Landscape
In a recent Phoenix Business RadioX episode, Karen Nowicki hosted Treasures 4 Teachers, celebrating their 20-year legacy in Tempe, Arizona. Kami Galvani, Joy Klein, and Christopher Cordes discussed the organization’s pivotal role in alleviating financial burdens on teachers amid Arizona’s education funding challenges, stressing the community’s crucial role in sustaining their mission.
These efforts underscore Treasures 4 Teachers’ ongoing dedication to enhancing educational environments despite funding constraints, showcasing their community-driven impact and enduring commitment to supporting educators and students alike. 
Treasures 4 Teachers has been an educational resource hub in Tempe, Arizona, since 2003. Our mission is to provide educational supplies to teachers and students from the community’s reusable resources.
Through a resources store in Tempe and West Phoenix, along with our mobile program T4T on Wheels, we serve 8000 teachers and 250,000 students yearly.
Joy Klein is delighted to become the Executive Director of Treasures 4 Teachers. Not only is this career opportunity a great fit with Joy’s skills and experience, but it also continues Joy’s desire to serve in positions where she can have a positive impact on others.
Joy is an Ohio native and completed her undergraduate work at Cleveland State University in Political Science and minor in Women’s Studies. While at Cleveland State, Joy was involved in student government, campus activities and was appointed the student representative to the Cleveland State Board of Trustees for two years. In 1998, Joy began her studies at Arizona State University and received a Master of Public Administration in 2001.
Joy’s professional career has included working for Arizona State University, Kent State University, and private postsecondary colleges. In addition, Joy was the Scholarship Administrator for the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation where she directed the scholarship program for the ten-campus community college district. In addition, Joy served as the Senior Director of Education and Scholarships for the Arizona Community Foundation.
In this role, Joy was responsible for the educational grant-making and scholarship program, including partnerships with nonprofits, corporations, and donors throughout the state. Most recently, Joy served as the Executive Director of Friends of the Children – Phoenix, establishing the chapter in Phoenix from the ground up to support paid professional mentors for youth in the Roosevelt School District.
Her volunteer work has included the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Hospice of the Valley and becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate. These professional and personal engagements have provided Joy with many opportunities to be of service to others through compassionate listening, care, and support.
Joy has been married to her wonderful husband, Chris, for 26 years and is the proud mother to Kale and Bayley. She is tender to numerous creatures big and small including lizards, tortoises, parakeets, cats and dogs.
Connect with Joy on LinkedIn.
Christopher Cordes feels privileged to connect our passionate supporters to the educational impacts their giving makes possible. He has led fundraising and development strategy for many years.
Prior to joining Treasures 4 Teachers he drove development efforts at Valley of the Sun United Way, Banner Health Foundation, and Pat Tillman Foundation. The son of two teachers and a long line of educators, he knows the critical importance of elevating these professionals.
Cordes enjoys spending time with his wife Colleen, their twin boys, and their daughter. A native and fifth-generation Arizonan, he enjoys tennis, golf, fly fishing, and exploring the outdoors. He is a two-time graduate of Arizona State University, most recently earning a Master of Nonprofit Leadership & Management (MNLM) degree. Go, Devils!
Kami Galvani graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Political Science and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona College of Law where she was an editor on the Arizona Law Review. She recently obtained a Professional Certificate in Sustainability Strategy and Studies from the Arizona State University School of Sustainability and WP Carey School of Business.
In addition to her role at T4T, Kami also worked with the Phoenix Green Business Leader program to certify her employees as Green Business Leaders. She spent over a decade as the chair of her firm’s Community Services Committee and was responsible for coordinating service projects, fundraising activities, and collections of in-kind donations for local and national charities.
She currently serves on the Site Council and the Board of the Association of Parents and Teachers at Cherokee Elementary School and is the Staff Hospitality Chair of the APT at Cocopah Middle School.
Originally from Salt Lake City, Kami enjoys spending time in the mountains and outdoors. She enjoys long-distance running, live music, creating art, gardening, and spending time with her husband, daughter, twin sons, and pets.
Tom Mehlert has over thirty five years in technology and education.
