Media contacts:                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kate Marquez kate@saaca.org
Chelsey Killebrew chelsey@saaca.org
Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance
(520) 797-3959

Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance wins Non-Profit of the
Year Pinnacle Award alongside two SAACA Board of Directors
On Thursday, Aug. 25 the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance was awarded for Non-profit of the Year  at the 2011 Pinnacle Awards from the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce

Aug. 25, 2011—During a morning of honor and gratitude, the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce (NPCCC) honored organizations and individuals who have helped to build the foundation of a strong community.

Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance won the 2011 Nonprofit of the Year Pinnacle Award, among other worthy nominees – Healthiest Town in America, Tohono Chul Park, MentorKids and Big Brothers / Big Sisters.

“We are extremely honored to receive this award and must thank our Southern Arizona Business Committee for the Arts partners for helping our organization expand in such dynamic ways,” said SAACA Executive Director Kate Marquez.

SABCA is a proud affiliate of the national Business Committee for the Arts, ensuring the arts flourish in America by encouraging, inspiring and stimulating businesses to support the arts in the workplace, in education and in the community. SABCA offers not only business growth opportunities, but provides cultural development that produces successful cities, economies and commercial achievement.

“Many of the NPCCC reception attendees were linked to SAACA in some form – business partners, members of our board and even our two co-founders – and just looking around the room reminded me of the journey SAACA has been on, with an organization growth of 200 percent,” Marquez said.

SAACA board members and partners also won awards at the ceremony. Greg Forszt, SAACA President, won Community Leader of the Year; Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., SAACA business partner, was awarded with Large Business of the Year; and Al and Marilyn Cook, SAACA Board Member and his wife, won the Legacy Award.

“This is a gathering of many purposes,” Dave Perry, NPCCC President / CEO wrote in a letter to attendees.  

“Congratulations to all of you – you have weathered one of modern America’s most troubled economic times, and you keep doing so, every day. We stand today, all of us, tougher for the experiences, wiser for the lessons, sharper for what’s to come, and committed to good days ahead,” Perry added.

Online: www.saaca.org
Phone: (520) 797-3959

NOTE TO MEDIA:

About the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance
The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to ensure that, through engagement in arts and culture, our communities produce strong, inspired citizens. SAACA enlists artists, businesses, governments, and individuals to expand artistic and cultural opportunities in their respective communities. To enhance access to the arts and to promote cultural awareness in the communities it serves, SAACA presents large-scale festivals, events and other programs. The Alliance also promotes educational opportunities in the arts and culture for both the young and the old.

Organization History
The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SAACA) grew out of the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (GOVAC), an organization established in 1997 to provide artistic and cultural opportunities for residents of northwest Tucson. GOVAC eventually became one of the largest arts organizations in the region. In 2009, owing to its success, the group expanded its mission to include creation of partnerships with business, governments, and communities throughout Southern Arizona that would encourage innovative, creative cultural expression in the arts for years to come.

For more information about programs and events produced by the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, go to www.saaca.org.