Each year at the Rotary honors banquet Ajo clubs like Rotary, Elks, Lions, American Citizens Social Club etc. give thousands of dollars to help out kids on their way to college.

“This is great,” says Ajo school superintendent Bob Dooley, “But we need to focus on making sure there are Ajo kids who reach college.”

There are a lot of students that drop out before graduating from high school. Dooley believes many dropouts start falling away in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades.

“We need to focus on these grades,” said Dooley who is also this year’s Ajo Rotary Club president. On the first day of school the Rotary Club provided each 4th, 5th and 6th grade student with a back pack filled with a notebook, 12 pencils, 12 erasers, 4  markers, scissors, a glue stick, a ruler, and a box of 16 crayons.

The club also hopes to buy books to give these students. “Books and school supplies aren’t enough,” says Dooley, “The kids need attention from adults.” Dooley wants the club to oversee a group of adults that help kids with their school work, something like the Lion’s “Ajo Lions Enthusiastic Reading Team” (ALERT).

Dooley is hoping clubs and individuals will help out with this effort, with monetary donations and also donations of time spent with kids at school.

Those interested may call Dooley 520-387-5618
or write Ajo Schools, P. O. Box 68, Ajo, Arizona 85321.