National Philanthropy Day Honoree Bios Outstanding Corporate or Foundation Philanthropist Award Honoree: BHP Copper, Inc.                           With a 50 year history of charitable giving, first as Magma Copper, then as BHP Copper this corporation has impacted thousands of lives and over a hundred nonprofit organizations in our community. BHP Copper is a subsidiary of BHP Billiton, one of the world largest copper producers. Since 2000, they have given over $3 million dollars to Southern Arizona charities. Almost five years ago, BHP announced business closure plans. Yet, they did not let this interrupt their commitment to supporting worthy causes. In fact, their charitable contributions have almost doubled over the past two years. Their philosophy is this: “BHP is establishing a legacy of productive mining, stewardship and sustainable development today, tomorrow and into the future.” Nominated for the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist Award by Brenda Goldsmith of the El Rio Health Center Foundation, they have personally donated thousands of volunteer hours to Tucson causes. Representatives serve on Boys & Girls Clubs, El Rio Health Center Foundation, Angel Charity and Strength Building Partner’s Boards. BHP Copper supports organizations such as American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, Assistance League of Tucson, Big Brothers/Big sisters, Friends of Oracle Park, Habitat for Humanity, Junior League of Tucson, March of Dimes, MDA, MS Society, One-on-One Partners, Oracle Public Library, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, Therapeutic Riding of Tucson, Triangle Y Camp, and Tu Nidito. Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award Honoree: Drs. John and Helen Schaefer Drs. John and Helen Schaefer have been philanthropists in the Tucson community for over 5 decades. Their involvement knows no bounds. They support a myriad of organization and causes from the arts to basic human services—enriching the community on every level. Their ongoing leadership and philanthropy in the Tucson is an amazing example of commitment and caring. Both John and Helen have demonstrated a vision and lifelong passion for philanthropy, giving time, talent and treasure to the charities they support. Helen has decades of continuous service, as a YMCA policy maker, first at the Ott Branch on their board of managers and then on the Metropolitan Board of Directors beginning in 1997. She was elected board chair in 2007. Her work has been instrumental in shaping donor relations and inspiring members of the community to help the YMCA. In addition, Helen has a long history of service with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. She has served as president of the board of trustees and on numerous committees. Currently she serves as chair of the Program Advisory Committee. John and Helen have sponsored TSO's MasterWorks series since 2000. John served as one the Educational Enrichment Foundation’s first board members. He was instrumental in creating the University’s Center for Creative Photography in 1975—today it houses the most comprehensive collection of works by 20th century North American photographers in the country. The Schaefers have touched thousands of lives through their involvement with the University of Arizona and dozens of local charities: Tucson Boys Chorus, Therapeutic Riders of Tucson (TROT), Youth on their Own, SW Assn of Indian Arts, Nature Conservancy, Girl Scouts, and many more. Their dual nomination for this award was from Susan Franano of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Dane Woll of the YMCA of Metropolitan Tucson. Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award Honoree: Jeffrey Minker Jeffrey Minker and his wife, Barbara, have made Pima County’s Triangle Y Ranch Camp—a YMCA camp in Oracle, Arizona—a focus of their philanthropy for over 20 years. What began as a letter writing campaign turned into a full-fledged Corporate Campership program that has provided more than 3,000 children with wonderful camp memories. Jeffrey’s campaign reached the remarkable $1 million milestone in 2008. Motivated by his own experiences at a YMCA camp as a child, Jeffrey has made it his mission to ensure that as many children as possible are given the same opportunity. Each child receives a week of camp as part of a scholarship program. The families of these children would never be able to fun the experience on their own. He has served on the camp board of managers and helped create a master plan that turned the once rustic camping grounds into a cozy retreat center for children and adults alike. The Minkers’ philanthropic efforts have impacted children throughout Pima County, including those who are part of the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui Nations. Jeffery was nominated by Dane Woll of the YMCA of Metropolitan Tucson. Outstanding Youth Philanthropist Award Honoree: Catalina Foothills High School Student Council Catalina Foothills High School Student Council is the recipient of the first ever Southern AZ Chapter Outstanding Youth Philanthropist Award. Nominated Cindy Parseghian, President of the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation.  In 1994, three of the four children in the Parseghian family were diagnosed with a fatal disease for which there is no cure. Neimann Pick, Type C is a rare neurodegenerative pediatric disorder. The family made a very difficult decision to go public with this knowledge, and friends and schoolmates rallied in support. What began as a penny drive in elementary school became a movement that has touched the lives and sparked a philanthropic spirit in hundreds of children. The Parseghians lost Michael at the age of nine in 1997; Christa succumbed to the disease at the age of ten in 2001. Throughout their short lives, they inspired their schoolmates to raise money for the sake of helping others. Marcia entered Catalina Foothills High School, knowing that her illness was progressing. However, her illness inspired a deeply felt tradition of giving and caring among the whole school population. The Catalina Foothills walk/run, benefiting the Parseghian Foundation was founded in 2005. Marcia was able to participate in this inaugural event, but sadly passed away the following year. Even though most students never knew any of the three Parseghian children, their spirit lives on in the spirit of philanthropy that is now an embedded tradition at Catalina Foothills. Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award Honoree: Deborah Dale Deborah Dale of Primavera Foundation is this year’s outstanding fundraiser. Deborah displays a love of our community, commitment to helping others, and an outstanding ability to motivate others. Everyone she meets notices her spirit and her infectious enthusiasm. Deborah more than demonstrates the ethics, talent, knowledge and leadership that exemplify the best in the fundraising profession. Deborah’s record for dollars raised is impressive. In fiscal year 2007-08 alone, Deborah led a team that successfully raised $4,390,057 for Primavera’s programs and services. One of Deborah’s talents is working with volunteers. Anyone on the Primavera Cooks Committee would surely sing her praises. One of Deborah’s outstanding characteristics, in addition to her intelligence, is her desire to adhere to the ethical standards of the fundraising profession.  She never hesitates to question ethical situations and handle them professionally. The list of volunteer activities that make up Deborah’s life are too numerous to mention. It is, however, safe to say that she is a person that has truly made in impact on Southern Arizona in countless ways. Deborah models what all fundraisers aspire to through her giving spirit, through the dozens of organizations where she has volunteered her time and donated her talents and her passion. Her energy is boundless and her enthusiasm for whatever project she undertakes is infectious.