Arizona Citizens for the Arts Relaunches Business Volunteers Arts During Pro Bono Week

PHOENIX, Ariz., October 24, 2013 /3BL Media/ - A program matching business professionals with arts organizations needing skills-based consulting expertise to meet their mission and expand their impact in the community will be “relaunched” by Arizona Citizens for the Arts at a celebration during Pro Bono Week.

With funding from Wells Fargo and under management by Arizona Citizens for the Arts, Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) will be reintroduced to the community at a celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 9-10 a.m. at Wells Fargo History Museum, 145 W. Adams St. in downtown Phoenix.

“Business Volunteers for the Arts brings together professionals in a range of business specialties with arts organizations looking for specific skills to help build their capacity, improve their business practices and assist in growth and reach,” said Catherine “Rusty” Foley, executive director of Arizona Citizens for the Arts.

BVA volunteers provide support in areas of expertise including accounting, finance, law, marketing, public relations, human resources, strategic planning, information technology, graphic design and event planning. 

BVA provides full training for volunteers before matching them with arts organizations.  For now, Foley said matches will be limited to organizations operating in the City of Phoenix.

Funding for the relaunch was provided by Wells Fargo through a $50,000 NeighborhoodLIFT grant.

“Community support is at the heart of Wells Fargo’s Vision & Values and we are proud to support nonprofits like Arizona Citizens Action for the Arts in their efforts to help strengthen and stabilize Phoenix communities,” said Pam Conboy, Wells Fargo Arizona Lead Regional President.

BVA suspended operations in 2012 with the closing of the Arts and Business Council of Greater Phoenix.

Arts organizations and volunteers interested in participating in Business Volunteers for the Arts can find an application on the Arizona Citizens for the Arts website at www.azcitizensforthearts.org.

For more information, contact Robin Hanson at RobinHanson@azcitizensforthearts.org or by calling (602) 253-6535.

-30-

Arizona Citizens for the Arts
Arizona Citizens for the Arts is the premier arts advocacy organization in Arizona dedicated to promoting  discussion and awareness of the importance and impact of the arts in achieving quality of life, educational excellence and economic vitality in communities across Arizona.  For information visit www.azcitizensforthearts.org.

About Pro Bono Service
Pro bono--short for pro bono publico, "for the public good"—refers to professional services delivered without expectation of a fee to organizations serving the social good. It is both a form of support for community organizations as well as an increasingly core part of the ethic of business professionals from design to HR and technology, who believe that high-quality professional services are too important to only be available to those who can afford them.

Contacts:
Rusty Foley, Executive Director, Arizona Citizens for the Arts, (602) 253-6535

Steve Carr, The Kur Carr Group, Inc., (602) 317-3040