Soledad O’Brien, Tom Donahue and Kim Hartmann, 2019 Honorees at Arizona Foundation for Women Awards Luncheon
SCOTTSDALE — Arizona Foundation for Women (AFW) will honor award-winning broadcast journalist and philanthropist, Soledad O’Brien, with the Sandra Day O’Connor Lifetime Achievement Award on March 25 at The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale.
O’Brien covers the political landscape of America, discusses complex and sensitive issues, and provides a media platform for many to share their unique narratives on Hearst Television’s Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien.
“Soledad is a multi-media mastermind bringing a wide spectrum of stories that evoke knowledge in a provocative manner that spark emotions for change,” said Mesha Davis, CEO of Arizona Foundation for Women. “Utilizing her position and voice as a woman empowers other women in their journeys and to express their stories.”
O’Brien is the CEO of Starfish Media Group, a media company covering empowering and authentic social issues stories. In partnership with her husband, Brad Raymond, Soledad co-founded the PowHERful Foundation, which provides young women access and the opportunity to attend college.
The Sandra Day O’Connor Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a woman who has distinguished herself through her leadership and contributions to society through her lifetime achievements and work specifically benefitting women and families. Past honorees include Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Former First Lady Barbara Bush, Billie Jean King, Goldie Hawn, Maria Shriver, Ashley Judd and many others.
Film director Tom Donahue will receive the Voice of Women Award for his active role in advocating for women. Donahue recently directed the film This Changes Everything, which exposes the gender inequality and #MeToo Movement in Hollywood. He also is the director, producer and founder of CreativeChaos, in which he uses his artistic vision to bring attention to systemic issues. Donahue serves as an advisory board member of Women in Media, whose mission encourages gender balance in film and entertainment industries by providing networking, professional development, and advocacy for above- and below-the-line women and all genders who love making movies with them.
The Voice of Women Award is given to an individual, who has demonstrated an ability to inform the public of women’s issues by making education and knowledge of said issues accessible, with responsibility and action.
Kim Hartmann will receive the Marilyn R. Seymann Award. Hartmann is an Arizona local, who continually advocates for women and children in the areas of education, social justice and systemic change. She recently served as vice president on the Scottsdale Unified School Board and is currently serving on the Boards of the Charros Foundation, Business United for Scottsdale Schools (BUSS), and the current board chairwoman of AFW. Hartmann is a passionate nonprofit community capacity builder because she believes strong nonprofits build strong communities. She is the owner and CEO of KCH Solutions, LLC, a management consulting company that specializes in strategic planning, capacity building, leadership development and financial management services. She is a Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Fellow, Valley Leadership alumni and charter member of the Nonprofit Lifecycle Institute.
The Marilyn R. Seymann Award is named after the founder of AFW and was created to honor an Arizonan who has made a difference in the lives of women and children in the state.
AFW’s mission is to advance the status of Arizona women through research, advocacy and philanthropy to ensure their safety, health and economic independence. Domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking are a few areas of focus for the foundation.
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About Arizona Foundation for Women
Arizona Foundation for Women’s (AFW) mission is to advance the status of Arizona’s women through research, advocacy and philanthropy to ensure their safety, health and economic independence. We believe SHE Counts!®
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