The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is proud to announce the six honorees selected for the 2027 SAVMA Awards presented by the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family. These individuals, groups, and programs demonstrate what is possible when volunteer service is paired with strong leadership, thoughtful engagement, and a commitment to community impact.

The 2027 honorees represent service across education, youth leadership, cultural preservation, family support, affordable housing, and nonprofit governance. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and the Volunteer Engagement Professionals who make meaningful service possible across Southern Arizona.

Meet the 2027 SAVMA Award Honorees

Volunteer of the Year Award

Honoree: Jaycie Ryrholm, Literacy Connects

Jaycie Ryrholm expands access to learning for adult English learners while strengthening the next generation of volunteer teachers. In addition to teaching twice-weekly online classes, she serves as a substitute, supports workforce-development courses, contributes to curriculum redesign, and mentors apprentice teachers and interns. Her willingness to welcome wait-listed learners and new instructors reflects a consistent focus on access, confidence, and lasting capacity.

Youth Volunteer Award

Honoree: Ana Fabiana Fernández Acuña, Cradle to Career Partnership Pima County Youth Leadership Table

Ana Fabiana Fernández Acuña turned youth voice into action by helping create Youth Futures Day, a youth-designed and youth-led initiative connecting young people with educators, employers, nonprofit leaders, and elected officials. Over a year of planning, she helped secure grant funding, coordinate the project, complete progress reporting, engage volunteers, and facilitate youth-led discussions. Her leadership demonstrates that young people are not only preparing to lead in the future—they are shaping their community today.

Exceptional Governance Volunteer Award

Honoree: Laura Brown, Board Chair, Amerind Museum

Laura Brown brings decades of nonprofit governance experience to her seven years of service on the Amerind Museum Board, including three years as Board Chair. Under her leadership, Amerind expanded and diversified its Board, strengthened long-term planning, broadened community partnerships, advanced accessibility projects, and launched opportunities for young Indigenous artists and scholars. She also mentors newer Board members and models the active, strategic leadership strong nonprofit governance requires.

Corporate or Group Volunteerism Award

Honoree: Tucson Juneteenth Festival Inc.

Tucson Juneteenth Festival Inc. demonstrates the power of a volunteer-led organization. With no paid staff, its Board, committees, and community volunteers contribute more than 2,500 hours of service each year, valued at more than $84,000. Community participation has grown from about 20 outside volunteers to more than 100 in four years, helping keep approximately 90% of the organization’s events free while building cross-sector partnerships and preserving African American history and culture.

Exceptional Volunteer Program Award

Honoree: Ronald McDonald House Southern Arizona

Ronald McDonald House Southern Arizona engages roughly 1,800 unduplicated volunteers who contribute about 19,000 hours each year to create a home away from home for families whose children need healthcare. Volunteers cook meals, maintain welcoming spaces, support families, serve in governance and events, and build community around the House and Family Rooms. The program pairs this breadth of service with relationship-based recognition that helps volunteers understand the difference their work makes for families.

Exceptional Volunteer Engagement Professional Award

Honoree: Jennifer Brown, Habitat for Humanity Tucson

Jennifer Brown has strengthened Habitat for Humanity Tucson’s volunteer program through recruitment, onboarding, communication, recognition, and community partnership. During three years as Volunteer Coordinator, her outreach has helped bring roughly 500 new volunteers to Habitat Tucson, while she has recruited, onboarded, trained, and mentored more than 50 interns. Her commitment to continued learning and professional development reflects the growing importance of skilled Volunteer Engagement Professionals to mission delivery.

Join Us in Celebration

The SAVMA Awards celebrate more than individual achievement. They recognize the systems, relationships, and leadership that make volunteer service meaningful and sustainable. By honoring these six outstanding honorees, SAVMA lifts up examples of volunteerism and Volunteer Engagement that strengthen Southern Arizona.

Details for the 2027 SAVMA Awards Celebration, including registration and event information, will be available on SAVMA’s website. Join us in celebrating Jaycie Ryrholm, Ana Fabiana Fernández Acuña, Laura Brown, Tucson Juneteenth Festival Inc., Ronald McDonald House Southern Arizona, and Jennifer Brown.

The Selection Process

Each year, SAVMA convenes an independent panel of community judges to review eligible nominations. Judges score nominations using criteria specific to each award category and then deliberate to select the honorees. Panelists do not score or participate in deliberations for categories in which they have a conflict of interest. This process supports fair, consistent, and thoughtful recognition of exceptional volunteer service and Volunteer Engagement.

About the SAVMA Awards

The SAVMA Awards recognize exceptional volunteers, groups, programs, governance leaders, young volunteers, and Volunteer Engagement Professionals whose work strengthens organizations and communities throughout Southern Arizona. Through the awards, SAVMA celebrates both the people who serve and the professional practices that help volunteer involvement achieve meaningful results.

Join Us in Celebration

The 2027 SAVMA Awards Celebration is more than an event—it’s a gathering of hearts committed to service. By honoring these outstanding individuals and groups, we uplift the spirit of volunteerism that defines Southern Arizona.

📅 Date: Friday, January 22, 2027
🕗 Time: 8:00 a.m.
📍 Location: Tucson Convention Center

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now at savma.org.

We are deeply grateful to our 2027 Selection Panel:
Melissa Dye, Beverely Elliott, Lovely Ganthier, Moises Gomez, Emily Litchfield, Justin Lukasewicz, Cori Rodriguez, Joe Rottman, Jessica Sueskind, and Katie Maxwell.