West Valley Impact Collective (Surprise)

Description

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Impact Collective: Building Stronger Partnerships for Greater Community Impact

Now in its third year, the Impact Collective—hosted by AZ Impact for Good in partnership with the City of Surprise—continues to grow in success and impact. This year promises to be our best yet, bringing together leaders from across Arizona and key West Valley municipal representatives to explore how nonprofits and government can collaborate more closely to advance community missions statewide.

What to expect:

• Government Panel: Hear from representatives of West Valley municipalities who will share insights on strategic partnerships between nonprofits and local governments. Learn about current initiatives, collaboration opportunities, and how aligned efforts can amplify impact across communities in Arizona and beyond.
• Funders Panel: Engage with Arizona grantmakers actively investing in nonprofits serving the West Valley and the broader region. Discover what funders are prioritizing, how they evaluate impact, and what opportunities exist for organizations seeking to grow and sustain their missions. Get your questions answered directly by those shaping funding strategies in the state.

This collective is designed to empower nonprofits from across Arizona with practical knowledge, stronger relationships, and inspiration to accelerate their work for thriving communities everywhere. Join fellow changemakers, municipal leaders, and funders for a day of connection, learning, and growth—all geared toward making a lasting impact statewide.

Who should attend?
Nonprofit professionals, community leaders, municipal staff, funders, and anyone committed to creating positive change across Arizona.

Join us and be part of the movement to build stronger partnerships and greater impact throughout our communities!

Link to Parking Map

Featured Speakers & Panels

We’re proud to welcome a lineup of leaders from across the West Valley and Arizona philanthropy. Together, they’ll share insights on partnerships, funding priorities, and practical strategies to strengthen community impact.

Government Panel

Jennifer Cornelius | City of Surprise 

Jennifer Cornelius began her service as Human Services Supervisor in November 2019.  She manages the City of Surprise Resource Center service delivery including the day to day operations of the center and partnerships with local non-profits and other governmental agencies.  Her role also manages the City of Surprise Community Action  and First Things First grants that serve Surprise and surrounding communities.

Jennifer has over 25 years’ experience both in the non-profit and government sectors including Maricopa County Head Start, Southwest Human Development, and City of Avondale Resource Center.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Hilbert College.

Christina Panaitescu | City of Goodyear

As Community Partnerships Program Manager at the City of Goodyear, Christina specializes in leveraging Asset Based Community Development principles to enhance and preserve community character. Her experience spans healthcare, financial services, and nonprofit organizations, underscoring her dedication to community development. Originally coming to Goodyear to develop a neighborhood services program, Christina established a solid foundation for connecting partners, facilitating civic engagement, and impactful programs. A credentialed Grant Professional, her current role involves overseeing citywide grant initiatives, managing HUD-funded programs, and fostering nonprofit partnerships. She is the current vice president of the Arizona Founding Chapter for Grant Professionals Association (GPA) and recently joined the board for WHAM, the west valley’s primary arts center.

Edith Baltierrez, MPA | City of Avondale

Edith serves as the Assistant Director of Neighborhood & Family Services for the City of Avondale and holds a Bachelor’s in Global Business and a Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University. 

Jaime Gonzalez | City of Peoria 

Jaime serves as the Community Assistance Superintendent for the City of Peoria, leading programs that support residents through housing, neighborhood services, and nonprofit partnerships. She manages federal, state, and local funding sources such as CDBG and HOME, ensuring compliance while directing resources to where they are most impactful. With more than 30 years of service to the City, including two decades in youth and community services before moving into grants and housing in 2011, Jaime has built a career grounded in public service and resident engagement. She is passionate about building partnerships between government and community organizations to create equitable opportunities and improve quality of life for Peoria residents.

Funders Panel 

Jared Leslie | Program Officer | The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation

Jared has worked as a development professional and program leader in the non-profit space for the past 16 years. He has served in various leadership roles that focused on serving individuals, families and communities as they faced health disparities and he worked to increase access to educational resources. His successes ranged from major gifts, events and marketing, to program evaluation and implementation along with board development. His position as Program Officer for The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation (DBHF) sets him in the role and responsibility of meeting with potential grantee’s as they begin the journey of requesting funds from DBHF, and when funding is awarded, he evaluates the impact of the completed grant. He is a 4th generation Arizona native and his 3-month-old and 4-year-old daughters are now 5th generation Arizona native.

Emma Garcia | Chief Community Development and Engagement Officer | Valley of the Sun United Way

Emma Garcia is an accomplished social impact strategist and corporate social responsibility executive with extensive experience in philanthropy, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement. At Valley of the Sun United Way, she leads the organization’s five-year Mighty Change 2026 strategic plan and oversees major donor engagement strategies.

Emma earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds a Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate from ASU’s Lodestar Center as well as a Sustainability Certificate from Harvard Business School Online. She has been recognized with honors including the Phoenix Business Journal’s Philanthropist of the Year and Diversity Champion Award.

Mary Thomson | Senior Vice President, Program Development - Phoenix Region | BHHS Legacy Foundation 

Mary Thomson serves as Senior Vice President at BHHS Legacy Foundation, where she has directed nearly $80 million in grants supporting health care access, prevention, and workforce development across Arizona. With more than two decades of philanthropic leadership, she previously held roles with the Office of Governor Janet Napolitano and the Maricopa Association of Governments. Mary holds a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University, a Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of Arizona, and is a Licensed Master Social Worker.

Tara Hanson | Corporate Giving Specialist Sr. | APS

Tara Hanson is Senior Corporate Giving Specialist at Arizona Public Service, where she leads community investment initiatives and strengthens nonprofit partnerships across Arizona. She brings more than a decade of fundraising and development experience, including leadership roles with Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the ALS Association Arizona Chapter. Tara holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from Towson University.

Moderated by:

Michelle R. Hess | Executive Director | Leadership West 

Michelle Hess is the Executive Director of Leadership West, Arizona’s premier leadership development organization. With a passion for empowering individuals to drive meaningful change, she leads programs that transform emerging and established leaders across business, government, and military sectors. Under her leadership, Leadership West addresses critical regional issues, including water resource management, economic development, and infrastructure planning, fostering collaboration that drives sustainable growth in the West Valley.

Michelle’s expertise in leadership development and regional strategy, combined with her background as a Councilmember for the City of Buckeye, positions her as a visionary in aligning leadership initiatives with real-world challenges. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes strategic planning, community engagement, and fostering partnerships to create lasting impact.