Watch the interviews with the 2009 Winners

Congratulations to the 2009 Winners!

Winners of Eight’s annual Be More Awards™ were announced Thursday, May 7, 2009 at the Camelback Inn, according to Eight’s General Manager Kelly McCullough.

Nearly 300 guests attended the event honoring the outstanding achievements of Arizona’s nonprofit organizations. Categories ranged from outstanding marketing initiatives, exceptional educational outreach, innovative organization endeavors, extraordinary fundraising and event efforts, and commitment to arts and cultural awareness. Dr. Robert F. Ashcraft, founding director of the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation at Arizona State University, delivered the keynote address.

“Eight’s Be More Awards™ offer an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the inspiring contributions of Arizona’s nonprofit organizations,” said McCullough. “They are truly the unsung heroes of our community. Nonprofits provide assistance when it is needed most — from social services, health care and enhanced educational opportunities, to the performing and visual arts that enrich our lives.”

The awards presented were:

BE MORE … Unstoppable
The Non-Profit Organization of the Year
Winner:  Waste Not, Inc.
Finalists: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Arizona, Free Arts of Arizona,
Highlands Center for Natural History, Rosie’s House: A Musical Academy for Children

BE MORE … BRILLIANT                                               
Outstanding Achievement in Innovation                  
Presented by APS                                           
Winner:  Waste Not, Inc.
Finalists: Gabriel’s Angels, Gabriel’s Dream, Inc.

BE MORE … Entertaining
Outstanding Achievement in Special Events
            Winner:  UMOM New Day Centers
Finalists: Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc.,
Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation

BE MORE … Knowledgeable
Outstanding Achievement in Educational Outreach
Presented by Intel
            Winner:  Highlands Center for Natural History
Finalists: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Arizona,
Community Outreach & Advocacy for Refugees

 
BE MORE … Informed
Outstanding Achievement in Marketing
Presented by SCF Arizona
Winner:  Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
Finalists: Native Health (Native American Community Health Center),
Phoenix Animal Care Coalition (PACC911)

BE MORE … Creative
Outstanding Achievement in Arts & Culture
Presented by Wells Fargo
Winner:  Free Arts of Arizona
Finalists: Del E. Webb Center for Performing Arts,
Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children

BE MORE … Humble
The People’s Choice Award
Presented by The UPS Store
Winner:  Girls Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Inc.
Finalists: 100 Club of Arizona, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

BE MORE … Encouraged
The Judges’ Choice Award
Presented by The UPS Store
Winner:  Kitchen on the Street, Inc.
Finalists: ICAN, St. Joseph the Worker


The award categories range from outstanding marketing initiatives (Be More Informed), exceptional educational outreach (Be More Knowledgeable), innovative organization endeavors (Be More Brilliant), extraordinary fundraising and event efforts (Be More Entertaining, and commitment to arts and cultural awareness (Be More Creative). Additionally, there is the People's Choice Poll (Be More Humble), the Judges Choice Award (Be More Encouraged) and the top honors of Non-Profit Organization of the Year (Be More Unstoppable).