We are thrilled to announce the finalists for this year's annual Philanthropy Awards! Please join us in celebrating these incredible fundraising professionals and all they do for this community.

Outstanding Fundraising Professional

Laura Williams-Parrish serves as the Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships at Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity, where she helps her team with grants. As a member of the Grant Professionals Association, her experience in the nonprofit sector includes serving the deaf and hard of hearing community of the Pikes Peak region as a nationally certified sign language interpreter and executive director of the Pikes Peak Center on Deafness; development and fundraising for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic; and grant management for the Pikes Peak Workforce Center. In her career as a grant professional, Laura has secured/managed more than $6.6M in grant funding.

Derek Wilson is the Senior Director of Development and Communications at Special Kids Special Families, where he focuses on enhancement of mission resources through relationship building, marketing, and team member development. Prior to coming to SKSF, Derek was the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for Silver Key Senior Services, Donor Relations Director for the Southern Colorado Region of The Salvation Army, and Director of Extended Studies at the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing & Health Sciences at UCCS.

Derek holds a BS in Political Science and a Masters in Educational Leadership, both from Northern Arizona University. Derek is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Pikes Peak (LPP), a civic leadership program for the Pikes Peak region. He has also served on several local boards (YMCA, Tri-Lakes Cares) and was a nominee for the LPP Leading the Way award (2022), and a nominee for the Senior Resource Council Joe Henjum Business Professional of the Year (2022). 

Young Fundraising Professional

Daniel Minich is the Director of Alumni Relations & Engagement at Colorado State University (CSU) Pueblo Foundation. He has previously served the foundation as the digital donor relations coordinator, and has held other roles in the public and non-profit sector. He is an alumnus of CSU Pueblo where he received a BS in Mass Communications, and he also received a MS in Organizational  Leadership from CSU Global. Daniel serves as the President-elect for AFP SOCO.

Kelly Stoecker is the Corporate Giving Specialist at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR). Kelly has been in her role for almost two years and has been with HSPPR for almost five. Prior to HSPPR, Kelly worked with a local corporate sponsor for three years, dialing in all the details from the corporate side. Kelly has her Bachelors in Business Administration – Marketing from Georgia Southern University. 

Join us on Friday, September 27 at AFP SOCO's 18th Annual Summit on Philanthropy to honor these fantastic finalists and award this year's winners! 

Click here to register for the Summit.