A huge crowd gathered Thursday at Chateaux Luxe to pay tribute to the winners and finalists of the first Az Business Angels Awards.

“The goal of this event is to engage the nonprofit leaders of Arizona in order to learn more about their missions, the causes they support and the people who work tirelessly to serve them,” said Josh Schimmels, publisher of AZ Big Media and creator of the awards program. “Equally important, we want this event to pay tribute to the leaders of Arizona’s for-profit community who sit on boards, donate time, support company community initiatives and give back through various means to the nonprofit community.”

The title sponsor of the event was WaFd Bank Arizona and the premier sponsor and event partner was the Arizona Community Foundation.

To see photos from the event at full size, double-click on the image.

 

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There were 14 awards presented to nonprofits and for-profit organizations and individuals. Here are the winners and finalists of the first Az Business Angels Awards:

Fundraising event of the Year

Winner: Heart Ball

Man & Woman of the Year (LLS), Wish Ball

Outstanding social enterprise

Winner: Cafe 54

Finalists: A New Leaf, UMOM New Day Centers

Most innovative awareness campaign

Winner: Girl Scouts’ Cookie Dessert Challenge

Finalists: Northwest Valley Connect, Tito’s Vodka for one-n-ten

Nonprofit executive of the year

Winner: Daniel Openden, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)

Finalists: Becky Ruffner, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, Michelle Moorhead, Teen Lifeline

 Nonprofit of the Year (Healthcare)

Winner: Hospice of the Valley

Finalists: Southwest Behavioral and Health Services, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona

Nonprofit of the Year (Education and youth)

Winner: Childhelp

Finalists: Academies of Math and Science, Arizona Science Center

Nonprofit of the Year (Social services)

Winner: Flagstaff Shelter Services

Finalists: Gabriel’s Angels, Habitat for Humanity, Payson Senior Center, St. Vincent de Paul

Volunteer of the year

Winner: Sam Young

Finalists: Scott DeWald, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, Kevin McHolland, EY

Partnership of the year

Winner: FirstBank with the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and and Arizona Gives Day

Finalists: WaFd Bank Arizona and the Care Fund, UnitedHealthcare and Arizona Food Bank Network

In-kind services provider of the year

Winner: CHASSE Building Team

Finalists: Creations in Cuisine Catering, HMA Public Relations

Outstanding collaboration between a business and nonprofit

Winner: Phoenix Children’s Hospital and KTAR

Finalists: The James Agency and Colleen’s Dream Foundation, Vantage Mobility and Ability360

Az Business Angel of the year (individual)

Winner: Rick Ueable, Foods 2000

Finalists: Eric Olsen, Fasturtle, Kevin Walsh, Quarles & Brady

Outstanding social responsibility

Winner: GoDaddy

Finalists: Charles Schwab, Snell & Wilmer, Suntec Concrete, Televerde

Az Business Angel of the year (business)

Winner: Desert Financial Credit Union

Finalists: American Express, Isagenix International, Meritgage Homes, USAA