2026 East Valley Woman & Man of the Year

Nomination Form

2026 East Valley Woman / Man of the Year Q&A

Positive Paths exists to empower underserved East Valley women to achieve economic stability, personal growth, and professional success through education and mentoring that foster resilience, confidence, and life-long self-sufficiency.  We do this through scholarship and mentoring programs, professional development programs, and supportive services.

Name of Nominee(Required)
Please confirm this person's residence or business is located in the East Valley(Required)
Address(Required)

Please describe how this person has significantly contributed to helping women in the East Valley. Submit this cover sheet with a strong description which explains and provides specific examples of how your nominee has met one or more of the criteria below. Resume and/or biography should be included.

  • Demonstrated outstanding leadership in empowering, supporting, and employing underserved women in the East Valley and within their professions.
  • Introduced new and innovative ways to assist underserved women achieve economic stability, personal growth, and/or personal success.
  • Committed significant time beyond their professional job role to a cause that supports at-risk women through education and mentoring to foster resilience, confidence, and/or life-long self-sufficiency.
  • Provided significant resources to Positive Paths or other cause that supports at-risk women. Served as a spokesperson for addressing underserved women’s issues and needs.
  • Created collaborative partnerships to better serve at-risk women and their families (if applicable).
  • Is this person well-known in the community or industry that would help generate support for this award and for Positive Paths?

If your nominee is selected, part of your responsibility is to make sure they understand that this event is Positive Paths’ largest fundraiser of the year. We will need their help with securing financial contributions, promoting our gala to their networks, purchasing a table/sponsorship, participating in auctions, etc.

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    Nominated by(Required)
    Positive Paths has aligned our nomination criteria to our mission (above) to support underserved women in the East Valley. A strong nomination should include specific descriptions and examples of how your nominee has met one or more of the criteria listed in the nomination form (a through d). Your nomination can be written in essay format or you may respond by addressing each of the criteria your nominee has met. It is not necessary to meet all of the criteria listed. Our selection committee will also need to understand your nominee’s professional background so please include either a resume and/or biography.
    The decision to review or ask nominees for information is completely up to you to decide. Our experience is that some nominees may work with individuals close to the person being nominated to complete the nomination to keep this as a “surprise” if the person is selected, while other nominees will work directly with the person being nominated to complete the nomination.
    The due date is October 31, 2025. Nominations can be submitted earlier than the due date.
    A selection committee made up of Positive Paths board members independently evaluate each nomination form and resume/biography and utilize the criteria on the nomination form to rate each candidate. The committee meets to discuss all candidates and make a recommendation to our Positive Paths Gala Committee.
    Nominees can expect to hear back from Positive Paths in December 2025 or early January 2026 timeframe.
    Our Woman/Man of the Year will be honored at our annual Positive Paths Gala scheduled for March 20, 2026. As this is our largest fundraiser of the year, we will need their help with securing financial contributions, promoting our gala to their networks, purchasing a table and/or sponsorships, participating in auctions, etc. The individuals being recognized will be expected to attend the gala and give a brief acceptance speech. In the months leading to the gala, we will need a professional headshot and bio for our press release and will schedule them into a local studio to be videotaped. Our goal is to simultaneously honor individuals who are already making significant contributions to at risk women while raising awareness of significant needs yet to be addressed.

    Other questions that arise should be addressed to Kate Hastings, Executive Director, at hastings@positivepathsaz.org

    Nominations (inclusive of this cover sheet and the description addressing the criteria) 
must be received no later October 31, 2025.

    2026 East Valley Woman / Man of the Year

    OUR MISSION

    Positive Paths exists to empower underserved East Valley women to achieve economic stability, personal growth, and professional success through education and mentoring that foster resilience, confidence, and life-long self-sufficiency. We do this through scholarship and mentoring programs, professional development programs, and supportive services.

    Our annual Gala will recognize one female and one male who have 
significantly contributed to achieving our mission by helping women in the East Valley.

    Nominations (inclusive of this cover sheet and the description addressing the criteria) 
must be received no later October 31, 2025.