Announcing the SAVMA Award 2026 Honorees
The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is thrilled to announce the honorees of the SAVMA Awards 2026. Celebrated on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. at the Tucson Convention Center.
These distinguished awardees exemplify the best of volunteerism, leadership, and community engagement across Southern Arizona. We invite you to join us as we celebrate their achievements, honor their contributions, and uplift the spirit of service that strengthens us all.
Meet the SAVMA Award 2026 Honorees
Volunteer of the Year Award
Honoree: Rose Taulton, Juneteenth Festival Kids Zone Chair
Rose is the heart of volunteerism in Tucson. With over 1,000 hours of service in 2025, she has positively impacted more than 5,000 individuals through her leadership at the Juneteenth Festival Kids Zone and her volunteer service with over a dozen organizations. From distributing books and mentoring youth to supporting food banks and rescue missions, Rose’s quiet determination and joyful spirit inspire everyone around her.
Exceptional Governance Volunteer Award
Honoree: Katie Maxwell, Board President, Youth On Their Own (YOTO)
Katie’s governance leadership has transformed YOTO, helping over 1,600 youth experiencing homelessness pursue graduation and success. With an educator’s heart and an advocate’s vision, she has improved board diversity, created new committees for advocacy and education, and devoted more than 10 hours a month to advancing YOTO’s mission. Under her guidance, YOTO’s graduation rate soared to 93%.
Corporate or Group Volunteerism Award
Honoree: Team Depot (Home Depot Associates), Habitat for Humanity Tucson Partner
Team Depot exemplifies what happens when corporate culture embraces volunteerism. With 60 associates contributing 500 hours, valued at nearly $16,000, Team Depot helped build 15 homes for families in need and supported veteran housing projects. Their consistency, teamwork, and generosity have made them one of Habitat Tucson’s most trusted and passionate partners.
Exceptional Volunteer Program Award
Honoree: Greater Tucson Leadership (GTL) Volunteer Program
GTL’s alumni-driven volunteer program is the engine behind its transformational leadership development. Through roles like Lead Tucson Issue Day Committees, where volunteers plan and deliver full-day civic learning experiences, GTL strategically engages its alumni and community leaders. Volunteers contribute thousands of hours annually, shaping programming across education, healthcare, justice, and governance while receiving meaningful recognition for their efforts.
Exceptional Volunteer Engagement Professional Award
Honoree: Angelica Town, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona
Angelica is redefining what it means to be a Volunteer Engagement Professional in Southern Arizona. In just one year, she tripled the number of youth-volunteer matches in Graham County, expanded partnerships, and launched new leadership opportunities for volunteers Angelica established a peer network of local agencies that run similar programs, share best practices, and collaborate to improve outcomes for volunteers and the youth they serve. Her work with the Graham County Chamber of Commerce and Gila Valley Nonprofit Network speaks to her growing recognition as a leader in the local nonprofit sector.
Join Us in Celebration
The SAVMA Awards 2026 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: Thursday, January 22, 2026
🕗 Time: 8:00 a.m.
📍 Location: Tucson Convention Center
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now at savma.org.
Let’s come together to celebrate Rose, Katie, Team Depot, Greater Tucson Leadership, and Angelica, and to be inspired by their example as we continue to build a thriving, civic-minded culture across Southern Arizona.
The Selection Process
Each year, SAVMA convenes an Independent Panel of Judges, comprising community leaders with deep expertise and a commitment to volunteerism. Judges score nominations using a rubric tied to award criteria. They meet to deliberate and finalize honorees. This year’s selection process was rigorous, thoughtful, and grounded in fairness and integrity. (Panelists did not take part in reviews and discussions if they or their organization were nominated.)
We are deeply grateful to our 2026 Selection Panel:
Monique Conway, Melissa Dye, Marga Gamas, Jaime Guerrero, Joe Rottman, and Larry Starks.