We hear the word “collaboration” often these days, but it is important to recognize that it isn’t just a buzz-word. It is a sincere effort to unite and accommodate the missions of all organizations involved. It is a testimony that the collective whole will yield the greatest results, and together touch more lives, help more people, and make all our efforts that much more worthwhile.
Collaboration is a theme of the Summer Youth Program Fund; the funders themselves have exemplified this spirit. Collaboration is a component of the application itself, encouraging organizations to reach out to one-another, with the common goal of helping those in greatest need. Because this practice is essential to maximizing and leveraging available resources, we have designed an award program to showcase its significance.
To honor this Spirit of Collaboration, the Arizona SYPF has established a recognition award, bestowed once each year, in grateful appreciation for efforts and support of the Summer Youth Program Fund mission and philosophy.
Recipients of This Distinguished Award
The Lodestar Foundation seeks to maximize the growth and impact of philanthropy through the pursuit of two strategies: (1) to encourage philanthropy, public service and volunteerism; and (2) to encourage and support collaborations, consolidations, mergers and other long-term cooperative activities among nonprofits working in the same area, through the application of business practices, in order to increase efficiency and eliminate duplication of efforts.
Hunkapi, (pronounced Hoon-KAH-pee) a Native American word translated to mean “I am related to everyone”, offers horse programs that emphasize learning about relationships with yourself and others. Hunkapi was founded as a research program in 1996. When compared to other sports, the research showed that horseback riding was the most positive intervention for children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism. The positive results prompted the launching of the community outreach program in 1999. Today, the benefits of the Hunkapi Horse Program are experienced by many, ages 3 through adult, with and without behavioral, emotional and developmental needs.