Ed Darby Foundation

🚴‍♂️ What an incredible day!
Today, EDF had the privilege of riding in the Bike Club Rally alongside over 500 students. The joy on every face was something truly special to witness. 🍀
So proud to see our EDF students representing: Anderson, Celia Clinton, Hawthorne, John Hope Franklin, Springdale, and Unity showing up and showing OUT!
We rode from Hardesty National BMX Stadium all the way to The Gathering Place….and every single pedal stroke was filled with energy, pride, and pure community love.
This is what excellence looks like. 🚲✨

What does it look like when students get to dream big?
It looks like Unity’s Global Gardens kids discovering something new at Big Dipper. It looks like students stepping to the mic at Tulsa Changemakers Pitch Night to share how they’ll change their community. It looks like the fierce, brilliant debaters at Monroe Demonstration Academy.
EDF got to witness all of it this week and we are so grateful.
This is why we do what we do: ensuring every student in the McLain feeder pattern has access to experiences that show them what’s possible.

What a special day for our Springdale community and one of our very own.

Earlier this evening, Springdale Elementary was buzzing with energy as students and families gathered for a hands-on STEAM Family Night and Centennial Celebration. With the help of our incredible expanded learning partners, families explored, created, and learned side by side, bringing to life exactly what expanded learning is all about.

And then… the night got even better.

We’re incredibly proud to share that Jorge Arellano, one of our dedicated Expanded Learning Coordinators, was honored at the Bob Dylan Center during Educator Appreciation Night as a recipient of the Bob Darby Troubadour Teacher Award—named in honor of our very own Bob Darby.

Jorge pours his heart into students at both Springdale Elementary and John Hope Franklin Elementary School, creating opportunities, building relationships, and showing up day after day for kids who deserve every chance to succeed.

To see that work recognized, especially in Bob’s name, means so much.

Jorge, we are proud of you. And we are grateful for the impact you’re making. 🍀

What a moment for McLain High School.

The WIZ 2026 is a powerful reminder of what happens when students are given the opportunity, support, and space to shine.

We’re proud to support this work alongside the McLain leadership, Clark Youth Theatre and incredible educators like Karlena Riggs who are helping bring the arts back to life for our students.

This is what opportunity looks like. This is what confidence looks like. This is what showing up and SHOWING OUT looks like.

👏 Bravo, McLain.

At the Ed Darby Foundation, everything we do is rooted in people who believe in others and Bob was the very best of that.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate his life, his legacy, and the lasting impact he made on our community.

At the Ed Darby Foundation, we believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed and that only happens because of the dedicated educators and staff who show up every day for our students.

Today, we delivered cookies to our partner schools in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day ☘️!

Our shamrock symbolizes how lucky we are to work alongside such committed leaders and teams. These treats are just a small thank you for the impact they make each day.

We are grateful for you and proud to be your partner.

🏐 McLain Boys Volleyball — Season Opener!

This team is extra special because it started with students asking for the opportunity.

After advocating for a boys volleyball team, these students put in the work, showed up to practice, and took the court at Jenks to open their season with Coach Morales leading the way.

At the Ed Darby Foundation, we believe in creating opportunities and in listening when students raise their voices. This is what it looks like when students are empowered to shape their own experiences.

We are proud to support McLain and celebrate these student-athletes as they build something new for their school.

Great day to be a Titan! 💙👏

Unity Learning Academy’s Glow Night was a beautiful celebration of African American history.

Art teacher Mrs. Tomlinson turned the school into a glowing gallery where students proudly showcased their glow-in-the-dark artwork inspired by influential African American artists, innovators, and changemakers.

It was inspiring to see families walking through the displays and celebrating the creativity, history, and stories behind each piece.

The Ed Darby Foundation is proud to support ULA and all schools in the McLain feeder pattern where students are encouraged to explore, create, and shine.

We love seeing the “Darby Cart” rolling through Monroe! ☘️

Each week, classes with the fewest tardies are rewarded with a well-earned snack. They are celebrating the simple but powerful habit of showing up on time and ready to learn.

The Ed Darby Foundation is proud to support the students and staff at Monroe and to celebrate the positive culture they are building every day.

Small moments like this help reinforce big lessons about responsibility, consistency, and success.

Keep making every minute count, Monroe! 👏

Our students enjoyed a well-earned snack from the Darby Cart over the past week!

The Darby Cart is one small way we honor the incredible work of the Ed Darby Foundation, which continues to support our school and invest in opportunities for Monroe students. Their commitment to education and community reminds us that when people believe in students, great things happen.

This week’s treats also celebrated something important: being in class on time. Each week we recognize the classes with the fewest tardies, reinforcing the idea that showing up prepared and on time sets the tone for learning and success.

A big congratulations to the classes who earned the Darby Cart this week. Keep showing up, being ready, and making every minute count!

The Ed Darby Foundation continues to see the incredible impact of Expanded Learning programs across the McLain feeder pattern. In recent weeks, students have been exploring new interests, building confidence, and discovering their talents through hands-on learning with some of our amazing community partners.

Students are engaging in:
📚 Literacy activities with Gaining Ground
📣 Cheerleading, basketball, flag football, art, and STEM through EnRich Ed and The Opportunity Project
🔬 STEM exploration with Education for Scholars
🌱 Global Gardens, where students are planning a new “Bob Garden” in honor of our beloved Bob Darby
🎶 Learning harmonica with Tangled Up in Tunes
🎧 Mixing and composing music with SWAT Meet
🗣 Student leadership and civic engagement with Tulsa Changemakers, who have identified gun violence as the impact topic they are working to address

Because of these dedicated partners (and many others!), students across the McLain feeder pattern are discovering new passions, developing their voices, and learning that they have the power to shape their communities.

This is what Expanded Learning is all about! It is giving students opportunities to explore, create, lead, and dream BIG.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and board member, Bob Darby. Bob was proud of his work with the Ed Darby Foundation and deeply committed to the community we serve. 

As Ed’s brother, Bob carried forward this mission with heart and humility. He was truly the boots on the ground, showing up with generosity, laughter, and a genuine love for people. His support of students, families, and partner organizations across North Tulsa made a real difference in countless lives.

Bob was also a music lover, fisherman, and a devoted husband, father, and grandpa. He was a bright presence to all who knew him. 

His giving spirit and steady commitment will be dearly missed, but his legacy lives on in the work he loved.

Robert Joseph Darby - View Obituary & Service Information Share Memories and Support the Family.