• Pima Association of Governments: Rick Myers was named the recipient of the 2017 Thomas L. Swanson Regional Leadership Award. The Swanson award is given in honor of the late PAG executive director Thomas L. Swanson to acknowledge an individual or organization that has affected positive change in the region in the areas of transportation, air quality, water quality or economic vitality. Myers co-chaired the 2005 citizens committee that helped develop the 20-year Regional Transportation Authority plan approved by voters in May 2006.
  • University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center: Received $780,000 to begin conducting basic and clinical research in children’s postinfectious autoimmune encephalopathy. The research funds came from the Arizona Department of Health Services ($250,000), the University of Arizona Health Sciences ($250,000), the UA College of Medicine — Tucson ($250,000), and the PACE Foundation ($30,000). CPAE is a spectrum of autoimmune disorders that result when the body’s immune system attacks the brain as a result of an infection like strep throat.
  • FASTSIGNS of Tucson-Oracle: The locally owned and operated business received the Pinnacle Club Award at the 2017 FASTSIGNS Convention. The honor was given to the top performing centers ranked 26 to 125 for sales volume between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016.
  • Tucson Association of Realtors: Received the Russell P. Long Lifetime Achievement Award from The Hearth Foundation. The award is given to an individual or a company that has committed time and support over an extended number of years to champion the mission, vision and values of The Hearth Foundation.
  • Tucson Airport Authority and Tucson Values Teachers:
  • The two Southern Arizona organizations won MAP Dashboard’s Community Action Figure Awards Contest, receiving prizes of $5,000 each. They were selected for their effective use of MAP Dashboard information and graphics to improve the community. The Tucson Airport Authority combated major carrier cuts by using MAP Dashboard data in their presentations to more than 18 airlines over the past two years. Tucson Values Teachers used MAP Dashboard information to tell the story of Arizona’s growing teacher workforce crisis and worked with MAP staff to expand education indicators.

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