PRINT SHARE COMMENT

The 2012 Awards for Philanthropy - Presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals

Each year, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) honors individuals and organizations that, through their tireless work and dedication to philanthropy, have improved the quality of life in their communities and around the world. Recipients of the Awards for

Philanthropy are nominated for demonstrating outstanding commitment and leadership in all aspects of philanthropy. AFP recognizes these outstanding honorees that embody the true meaning of philanthropy—the love of humankind. 

AFP’s 2012 honorees, announced this year on Nov. 15, National Philanthropy Day, include: 

• *new* Bell Canada, Montreal, Quebec: Outstanding Corporation, recognized for its extraordinary philanthropic leadership in addressing the issue of mental health through its comprehensive Let’s Talk initiative.
• T. Denny Sanford, Scottsdale, Ariz.: Outstanding Philanthropist, whose goal is to “die broke” and has given hundreds of millions to charity, much of it to organizations in South Dakota where he started several successful businesses.
• Mr. and Mrs. Jamie and Patsy Anderson, Toronto, Ontario: Outstanding Volunteer Fundraisers, for their extraordinary recruitment, fundraising and campaign management skills in support of mental and pediatric health causes.
• Claudia Looney, FAHP, CFRE, Los Angeles, Calif.: CCS Outstanding Fundraising Professional, for her lifetime of tremendous fundraising success and completion of the largest fundraising achievement campaign by a freestanding children’s hospital in North America.
• The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Outstanding Foundation, honored for its remarkable working in uniting and rebuilding the community after the devastating flooding of 2008.
• Jeneece Edroff, O.B.C., Victoria, British Columbia: Changing Our World/Simms Outstanding Youth Philanthropist, Ages 5-17, honored for her courage in overcoming the challenges of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a debilitating genetic disease, and raising more than $6.7 million to help children and families.
• Megan and Justin Churchman, El Paso, Texas: Changing Our World/Simms Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Ages 18-23, a dynamic brother-sister team who have been involved in philanthropy since they were children and have built houses in Mexico, supported an orphanage in Cameron and continue their work while in college.

These individuals and organizations will be honored at AFP’s Celebration of Philanthropy on March 31, 2012, during its International Conference on Fundraising in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"Each of these honorees has chosen to make a difference in the world by getting involved and motivating to join with them in pursuit of their noble causes," said Andrew Watt, FInstF, president and CEO of AFP. "They are the epitome of philanthropy—love of humankind—and serve as our role models, inspiring us to follow in their footsteps. I congratulate them all and look forward to honoring them in Vancouver at our conference next year."

The awards are being announced on National Philanthropy Day®, sponsored by VISA, which involves more than 50,000 people in nearly 100 communities across North America, coming together to celebrate the impact of giving, volunteering and engagement. NPD events involve the honoring of local philanthropists, and a complete list of events, as well as more information about philanthropy and wise giving, can be found on the official National Philanthropy Day® website.