For Tommy Tanzer, the proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” isn’t just a saying — it’s a framework that has guided more than two decades of work supporting Park City students through Back to Our Roots.
The donor-advised fund under the Park City Community Foundation now enters its 21st year with a renewed focus and record-setting momentum, as the Park City-based nonprofit doubles down on its mission to support first-generation students navigating life after high school.
Founded in 2006 by longtime educator and sports agent Tanzer and a group of Park City teachers and community members, Back to Our Roots — formerly the Eileen G. Bailey Memorial Scholarship Fund — was created to honor the legacy of a beloved educator and friend of the founders while building pathways for local students to succeed beyond graduation.
Former Park City High School scholarship adviser Dana Ardovino recalled when Tanzer came into her office wanting to recognize Eileen Bailey and the legacy she left in the school district.
“The Back to Our Roots group grew up in a very small and wonderful place,” Ardovino said. “They were former students of Eileen and Tommy and came back to raise families in Park City. Thanks to their fundraising and donations, they have continued to make a difference in so many lives.”
Since then, she said, the program’s impact has been visible, not just in the financial support it provides, but in the way it recognizes and encourages students who might otherwise feel overlooked.
“Scholarships reward our amazing students by recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, volunteerism, leadership and other activities, as well as hard work and overcoming obstacles,” she said. “There is a need in Park City. Even a $500 award can make a meaningful difference — it provides hope and encourages students to keep striving and to continue their education.”
She described Back to Our Roots as a hands-on effort from the beginning, with Tanzer and a group of former students and educators providing both scholarships and mentorship to help Park City students stay on a path to success through college.
“Being the scholarship adviser at (Park City High School) was the most rewarding job I ever had, and it was an honor to serve the students and their parents and to meet so many generous donors over the years, including Tommy,” Ardavino said.
Nancy Michalko, another former Park City High School scholarship adviser, said she also saw firsthand how Back to Our Roots helped expand access to higher education, particularly for students who may not have otherwise considered college. She said Tanzer worked closely with alumni and the broader community to build support around students navigating unfamiliar systems, helping shift expectations for what was possible after high school.
“What stands out is the sense of hope,” Michalko said. “For many students, that support gave them the encouragement to keep going and see college or trade school as something that was actually within reach.”
That support, she added, was especially important for students whose families were unfamiliar with the college process, where even basic steps can feel out of reach without guidance.
“For a lot of students, especially those whose parents didn’t go to college, there’s a whole language around how to even get there,” she said. “If you don’t have that at home, you need outside programs and people to help you understand this whole new world.”
Over the past two decades, that vision has translated into direct support for 527 Park City High School students, with more than $670,000 distributed through tutoring, mentoring, college preparation and scholarships.
“At the core of their mission is a commitment and promise that 100% of all funds donated to Back to Our Roots go directly to the students,” Tanzer said. “There are no monies going to administrative or legal costs, mailing, advertising, public relations, tax preparation or record keeping. All those costs are borne by the founders and volunteers of this program.”
That model has become central to the organization’s identity and a key reason for continued donor support. In the last 14 months, Back to Our Roots has seen its most successful fundraising stretch to date, raising $90,000 and securing a pledged commitment of $75,000 annually, contingent on meeting its expanding goals in 2026.
Those goals are increasingly focused on first-generation students, a group Tanzer and the organization see as both underserved and critical to the community’s future.
The program has seen strides in growth. This year alone, 48 students — 35 pursuing college and 13 entering trade schools — have applied for support. The organization expects each qualifying student to receive between $1,600 and $1,850 to help launch their post-secondary journey.
The organization’s ambitions go well beyond initial scholarships, Tanzer said. Back to Our Roots is actively working toward a long-term support model that follows students through graduation and into their careers, including a proposed endowment designed to help graduates pay down student loan debt.
“This is a dream and a bold endeavor,” Tanzer said. “But no more or less than the dreams that we’ve made come true so far.”
The effort is closely coordinated with Park City High School’s first-generation support team and college counselors, whose work Tanzer credits with preparing more students than ever to pursue higher education, including programs out of state and abroad.
“Back to Our Roots has committed to focus on putting in additional financial resources to ensure that these courageous students can chase their dreams,” Tanzer said. “The plans are to help these students all the way through college and into their future careers.”
For Tanzer, a former elementary school teacher and two-time Teacher of the Year, the work is deeply personal, tying back to a career that began in Park City classrooms before shifting into professional sports. In the later role, he negotiated more than $500 million in contracts for Major League Baseball players. He said the same skills that defined that career — advocacy, negotiation and long-term planning — now shape how he supports students navigating their futures.
As the organization enters its third decade, that dream is evolving. Tanzer said it’s less about one-time support and more about long-term investment in students who are often navigating college and career pathways for the first time in their families.
“They work hard, they’re fair, they’re religious, they’re family oriented, they value education, they don’t spend money, they’re perfect Americans,” Tanzer said about first-generation students. “Why not help elevate them?”
For more information or ways to support, contact Tanzer directly at [email protected].