Az Business Angels magazine — in conjunction with the Arizona Community Foundation and Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits — will cast a spotlight on the nonprofits, individuals,  business leaders, and organizations that are making the biggest impact on our communities at the first annual Az Business Angels Awards on Nov. 7, 2019.

“We want 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,” says AZ Big Media Publisher Josh Schimmels. “Equally important, we will 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.”

Az Business Angels will recognize, honor and bring together Arizona’s nonprofit community with the corporate leaders who support them at the Az Business Angels Awards, which is sponsored by WaFd Bank Arizona.

“When the first issue of Az Business Angels was launched in 2017, its mission was to challenge business leaders and companies to match their skill sets and desire to give back to the community by working with nonprofits that desperately need the help,” says Michael Gossie, editor in chief for AZ Big Media, which publishes Angels and eight other magazines. “The magazine was created to give new hope to nonprofits and inspire businesses and business leaders to make a difference and to make it their unconditional mission to connect, volunteer and give back to the communities they serve. Now, we get to honor those organizations and individuals at the Az Business Angels Awards.”

Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order):

Fundraising event of the year

Heart Ball

Man & Woman of the Year (LLS)

Wish Ball

Most innovative awareness campaign

Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge

Northwest Valley Connect

Tito’s Vodka for one-n-ten

Nonprofit executive of the year

Michelle Moorhead, Teen Lifeline

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

Becky Ruffner, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona

 Nonprofit of the year (healthcare)

Hospice of the Valley

Southwest Behavioral and Health Services

United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona

Nonprofit of the Year (education and youth)

Academies of Math and Science

Arizona Science Center

Childhelp

Nonprofit of the year (social services)

Flagstaff Shelter Services

Gabriel’s Angels

Habitat for Humanity

Payson Senior Center

St. Vincent de Paul

Outstanding social enterprise

A New Leaf

Cafe 54

UMOM New Day Centers

Volunteer of the year

Scott DeWald, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie

Kevin McHolland, EY

Sam Young

Partnership of the year

FirstBank with the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits and Arizona Gives Day

WaFd Bank Arizona and the Care Fund

UnitedHealthcare and Arizona Food Bank Network

In-kind services provider of the year

CHASSE Building Team

Creations in Cuisine Catering

HMA Public Relations

Outstanding collaboration between a business and nonprofit

Phoenix Children’s Hospital and KTAR

The James Agency and Colleen’s Dream Foundation

Vantage Mobility and Ability360

Az Business Angel of the year (individual)

Eric Olsen, Fasturtle

Rick Ueable, Foods 2000

Kevin Walsh, Quarles & Brady

Outstanding social responsibility

Charles Schwab

GoDaddy

Snell & Wilmer

Suntec Concrete

Televerde

Az Business Angel of the year (business)

American Express

Desert Financial Credit Union

Isagenix International

Meritgage Homes

USAA

All of this year’s finalists will be featured in the November issue of AZ Business Angels magazine and at the awards dinner and reception on Nov. 7, 2019. To learn more about event sponsorship opportunities, email Josh Schimmels. For ticket and event information, email events@azbigmedia.com.