Sedona AZ (October 7, 2016) – The Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona and its Board of Advisors invited community members and leaders to celebrate the 16th Annual Spirit of Sedona honorees and 2016 grant recipients at an awards celebration on Thursday, September 29. The event provided an opportunity for community members to learn about the projects funded through the annual competitive grants process and hear the stories of the individuals recognized for their significant contributions to the community.
“Honorees this year found ways to make an impact through volunteering, providing employment opportunities for local youth and sharing the profits of their business with the community,” said Tracey McConnell, Regional Philanthropic Advisor for the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona. “It really shows that there’s no one way to be a philanthropist, but when you hear their stories, you see that they’re all guided by that same desire to make a difference.”
2016 Spirit of Sedona Honorees
- Millicent “Mille” Leenhouts, Lifetime Achievement Award
- Barbara Vickers, Philanthropist of the Year
- Doug Copp, Volunteer of the Year
- Sedona Historical Society, Nonprofit Organization of the Year
- Pink Jeep Tours, Business Benefactor of the Year
- Sedona Public Library, Community Collaborator Award
Members of the local Board of Advisors also shared information about the various projects funded through the annual competitive grants process and recognized the nonprofit organizations that received funding. With the support of its advisors and volunteer grant review panelists, the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona awarded a total of $183,000 in grants this year to 44 nonprofit organizations serving Sedona and the Verde Valley in the areas of arts and culture, animal welfare, environment and sustainability, community improvement, social services, children, healthcare, and senior citizens and the disabled. The full list of 2016 grant recipients may be found below.
The Spirit of Sedona was made possible through the generosity of local sponsors including presenting sponsor BMO Harris Bank. Other sponsors included Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery; Eye Boutique of Sedona; Larry Green Chevrolet & Hyundai of Cottonwood; Bill Welter and Paul Tibbs, Financial Advisors, Edward Jones; Behmer Roofing, The Blind Brothers and Weber’s IGA Food and Drug.
For more information about the event or this year’s honorees and grantees, contact Tracey McConnell, Regional Philanthropic Advisor for the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona, at tmcconnell@azfoundation.org or call 928.399.7218.