Annual awards Celebration
Ashley Judd, 2018 Sandra Day O’Connor Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree, and Lin Sue Cooney, 2018 Awards Luncheon Mistress of Ceremonies.
For over 26 years, the annual AFW Awards Event has helped support grant-making for local nonprofits whose focus is women and their well-being. It also raises awareness for the Arizona Foundation for Women and its operations. The Board of Directors annually identifies individuals who are leading the way in improving of the lives of women locally and nationally. The Foundation recognizes individuals for three awards: The Sandra Day O’Connor Lifetime Achievement, Voice of Women and the Marilyn R. Seymann Award.
The event traditionally brings together upwards of 800 attendees. These individuals from all over Arizona contribute to supporting the mission of advancing the status of Arizona’s women through research, advocacy and philanthropy.
Past honorees
SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
1997: Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor
1998: Elizabeth Dole
1999: Tipper Gore
2000: Marian Wright Edelman
2001: Erin Brockovich
2002: Barbara Bush
2003: Sally Ride
2004: Yvonne Fedderson and Sara O'Meara
2005: Pat Mitchell
2006: Marlo Thomas
2007: Laura Bush
2008: Janet Napolitano
2009: Madeleine K. Albright
2010: Andrea Jung
2011: Billie Jean King
2012: Frances Hesselbein
2013: Goldie Hawn
2014: Marilyn Carlson Nelson
2015: Cindy Hensley McCain
2016: Maria Shriver
2018: Ashley Judd
2019: Soledad O’Brien
2020: Gretchen Carlson
2022: Sheila E.
2023: Mary-Louise Parker
VOICE OF WOMEN AWARD
2003: Lesley Jane Seymour
2004: Carole Black
2005: Eve Ensler
2006: Sally Field
2007: Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D.
2008: Anna Deavere Smith
2009: Victoria Rowell
2010: Tea Leoni
2011: Eileen Fisher
2012: Ambassador Barbara Barrett
2013: Ernie Allen
2014: Ambassador Swanee Hunt
2015: Congresswoman Linda Smith
2016: Bruce Arians
2018: Dr. Jen Welter
2019: Tom Donahue
2020: Christi Paul
2022: Debbie Nez-Manuel
2023: Andrea Tyler Evans
MARILYN R. SEYMANN AWARD
2001: Marilyn R. Seymann
2003: Cramer-Krasselt
2004: Linda Pope
2005: Patti Naughton
2006: Deborah G. Carstens
200:7 MonaLou Callery
2008: Jeanne L. Herberger
2009: Honorable Ruth McGregor
2010: Diane Halle
2011: Sergeant Chris Bray
2012: Tamara Woodbury
2013: Missy Anderson
2014: Michelle King Robson
2015: Honorable Rebecca White Berch
2016: Kendis Muscheid
2018: Dr. Ken Snyder
2019: Kim Hartmann
2020: Barbara Strachan
2022: Candace Lew, MD
2023: Sheriff Paul Penzone