While accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona, Terrie Frankel announced she was donating $8,000 from personal checks to various organizations in the area.

The announcement, which came during her acceptance speech at ACF of Sedona’s Spirit of Philanthropy awards celebration on April 22, included a $1,000 donation to the Verde Valley Caregivers, $2,000 donations to the Verde Valley Detachment Marine Corps League, Northern Arizona Healthcare and the Hospice Promise Foundation and a $1,000 check to Cottonwood resident Tania Simms, of Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity.

“I couldn’t make up my mind about which charity to donate to,” Frankel said.

The award celebration included speeches from ACF board members and organizers to celebrate the $1,776,405.66 that ACF Chief Development Officer Todd Stoa said the organization gave out in grants and donations to over 60 nonprofits last year.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award is not given that often — very rarely, actually,” announcer Mary Byrd said. “But the committee felt this was the year and this was the person that really deserved this award.”

The Sedona philanthropist has donated to various charities in her decades living in the area, along with her late husband, Fred Shinn, who died on April 5. Frankel and Shinn helped establish the columbarium now at the Sedona Community Cemetery.

“Inspired by her days as a [United Service Organizations] performer in Vietnam, she helped establish an endowment through Habitat for Humanity to support critical home repairs for veterans and families,” Byrd said.

Frankel said her husband of 15 years taught her a lot about philanthropy and giving.

“The House of the Seven Arches — many are familiar with — has served as a gathering place for countless charitable events and fundraisers benefiting area nonprofits,” Byrd said, referring to Frankel’s home.

Among these have been the Sedona Women, Questers, Sedona International Film Festival, Toys for Tots, Verde Valley Caregivers, Sedona Area Veteran & Community Outreach and Northern Arizona Hospice.

Awards given to area nonprofits include the Business Benefactor of the Year, which went to Thunder Mountain Bikes, Community Collaborator, which went to Marty Glinsky, Nonprofit of the Year, which went to Verde Search & Rescue Posse, Volunteer of the Year, which went to Amy Stearns.

Philanthropist of the Year

The Philanthropist of the Year Gail Milliken. Basil Maher, another Sedona philanthropist, introduced Milliken at the award ceremony.

“What makes Gail’s philanthropy particularly remarkable is her quiet, thoughtful approach,” he said. “She conducts her own research, identifies organizations making meaningful impact and provides support without seeking recognition or public acknowledgement. She serves on no boards, attends no fundraising events except this one, and asks for nothing in return.”

In the past 35 years, she’s donated to 49 Arizona nonprofits, 16 of which serve the Verde Valley, namely the Verde Valley Sanctuary helping survivors of domestic violence.

Nonprofit of the Year

Walking into the ACF luncheon, nine people sat around a table donning bright orange uniforms adorned with patches that read “Verde Search & Rescue.”

“In 2025 alone, they carried out 80 missions, assisted 57 individuals, logged more than 6,000 volunteer hours and, get this, they covered over 52,000 miles across our challenging terrain in our region,” announcer Winnie Muench said.

The posse is a completely volunteer run organization that works in partnership with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

“We have 38 volunteers from the Verde valley that live,” VSAR Capt. Dondi West said. “We’re one team that is serving your community, not only with our time, our commitment, our vehicles, our horses, but we are just here for the sheer joy of trying to get that person back to a place of safety.”

Volunteer of the Year

Stearns volunteers with Northern Arizona Hospice Promise Foundation. She spends time with the people in hospice to make sure they aren’t alone.

Award announcer Stephanie Giesbrecht said she asked Stearns about how often she volunteers and what her calendar looked like.

“I look at a week, and there’s not one space in that calendar, except for maybe two little white spots on either end of the day, which represents just a few hours when I hope she sleeps,” Giesbrecht said. “She sometimes spends all night with her patients.”

Stearns said one of the hospice patients she’s been spending time with really encapsulated why she does what she does.

“They said, ‘Well, Timmy does his own thing,’” Stearns said. “But over time, now he recognizes me. He smiles at me, he steals my thermos, he steals my ball cap and his laughter is silent, but you’ll see him go,” — she shook her shoulders up and down and made a quiet laughing sound.

“It’s days like that that just makes it all worth it.”

Community Collaborator of the Year

Glinsky has previously worked closely with the Red Rock Trail Fund, the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, the Red Rock Mountain Bike Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service’s Red Rock Ranger District.

“He came up with a Bike Bell Program,” award announcer Dick Williams said. “So if you see a basket of bells on the trail head, you can take one, you can use it. There’s been over 10,000 of those bells distributed.”

While Glinsky was absent, he recorded a video of himself for his acceptance speech.

“To be honest, collaboration has never felt like work to me, has been a privilege,” he said in the recording. “The Verde Valley is a special place, and what makes it truly exceptional is the willingness of people and organizations to come together for the greater good.”

Business Benefactor of the Year

Mike Raney, owner of Thunder Mountain Bikes, has spent years organizing the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival.

“During this event, he also promotes trail education, environmental awareness and safety by working with the U.S. Forest Service,” announcer Sandy Heisinger said. “Additionally, when the city of Sedona wanted to revamp the Fest of Fall, they went to Mike and his expertise on event organization to put together one of the key offerings.”

“We provide that sense of freedom that only a bicycle can give you,” Raney said. “Everyone remembers that, can be a kid all the way up through being an adult. I look around the room and I know we’ve provided first jobs to some of your children, and we are truly a community business.”

Those interested in applying for grants, donating to ACF or establishing a fund through ACF can check itswebsite at azfoundation.org, or contact director Chelsea Buck-Leilich at cbuck@azfoundation.org.

“Sedona’s grant cycle will open in August, but I encourage you to check back frequently throughout the year as ACF as a whole, operates over 40 grant cycleseach year,” Buck-Leilich said. “If you are interested in serving as a volunteer grant panelist, we will begin recruiting in June, reviewing applications.”