The Arizona Community Foundation’s Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy is pleased to announce the prize-winning companies in its first-ever BOOST! Prize competition. Fann Contracting, Inc., a Prescott-based highway and civil construction company, Goodmans Interior Structures, an office furniture dealer with offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Albuquerque, will each receive $40,000 to boost their efforts as good corporate citizens.

“Most people understand the many ways in which corporate philanthropy is good for our communities,” said Fred Pakis, who co-founded Scottsdale-based JDA Software in 1985 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Community Foundation. “Strong executives know it’s also good for business, helping companies maintain an engaged and productive work force, improving employee recruitment and retention, and enhancing their reputation in the community.”

​Yavapai Exceptional Industries is one of seven organizations that benefits from FEMAD, the Fann Contracting corporate giving program. Mike Fann is pictured at left with some of the employees at YEI!

Fann Contracting was established in 1960 by James and Sylvia Fann and for over a half-century the company has been fundamental to Arizona’s infrastructure, handling roadway construction throughout the state, public works projects, landfills, underground utilities, and commercial site development.

From the beginning, it has been the Fann family’s tradition to share their success by contributing to area nonprofit organizations. President Mike Fann—with his son, Jason, who is part-owner—proudly follows in his parents’ footsteps in many ways, including leadership of the company’s corporate giving program dubbed FEMAD, for Fann Employees Making a Difference. With employee engagement, matching gifts, and in-kind giving, Fann Contracting actively supports charities that provide assistance to adults with disabilities, individuals with health-related issues, and programs that relate to the development of children and healing for families in crisis.

In addition to increasing Fann Contracting’s giving portfolio, the BOOST! Prize dollars will support the community outreach program Fann intends to develop.  By sharing what the company has learned along the way, he hopes to inspire other businesses to expand their own charitable leadership in the community.

​GoodTHREADS Boutique is a clothing bank for foster, adoptive, and kinship families in Southern Arizona. It is one of several programs established by Goodmans Interior Structures.

Goodmans Interior Structures serves corporations, hospitals, universities, and government agencies located in Arizona and New Mexico. Established in 1954, the company has developed a reputation for being a family-owned business that specializes in customer-centered service, innovative office design, and a commitment to the community.

Goodmans is one of the first certified B Corporations (www.bcorporation.net) in Arizona, a legal designation that recognizes commitment to the community, the environment, and employees. Under the leadership of third-generation President & CEO, Adam Goodman, the company has become a nationwide leader in products that support cultural alignment, workplace strategy, and sustainable construction practices.

Goodmans will use the BOOST! Prize dollars to enhance three of its many programs for giving back to the community. GoodTHREADS Boutique is a clothing bank in Southern Arizona that collects and distributes clothing to foster, adoptive, and kinship families. The AIM to Make a Difference program will get a website portal for furniture repurposing that matches local nonprofits with surplus used office furniture. Good Inc. is an incubator that gives mission-aligned start-ups access to the Goodmans world-class work environment, including mentorship with executives in human resources, marketing, technology, finance, operations and sales.

Goodman himself is an outspoken champion of using capitalism as a force for good and plans to use a portion of the prize money to encourage other leaders to do more.

Last fall, ACF’s Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy began accepting applications for a $40,000 BOOST! Prize from mid-size, Arizona-based companies. The challenge was designed to encourage business leaders to commit more deeply to their charitable efforts and make philanthropy a core part of their operations.

“The leaders of these two businesses—Fann Contracting and Goodmans Interior Structures—not only see the value in corporate philanthropy for their communities and their businesses,” Pakis explained, “They recognize how the impact of their efforts can be escalated with the exchange of ideas among community leaders.”

To that end, both BOOST! Prize winning companies will utilize a portion of the prize money to engage other mid-size businesses in making a difference in the communities where they live and work. They will work with the Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy to develop strategies for telling their powerful stories.

Find out more about the Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy.