Act One, Arizona’s leading charitable organization dedicated to providing access to the arts through student-focused programming and educator resources, announced that its CEO and President, Geri Wright, a Fountain Hills resident, has been named as one of Phoenix Business Journal’s 2019 “Outstanding Women in Business”.

Wright will be recognized with the additional honorees in the “Outstanding Women in Business” Awards Special Section, to be published in the April 5 issue of the Phoenix Business Journal, as well as at the 18th annual “Outstanding Women in Business” Awards luncheon

This year marks the 18th consecutive that the Phoenix Business Journal has highlighted the community leadership, professional accomplishments and personal achievements of female leaders across the Greater Phoenix Valley.

Nominees are pioneers in the business and non-profit sectors who have achieved excellence in their career. Ultimately, 25 honorees were selected from 280 nominations.

In May 2015, Wright joined Act One, which provides field trips to the arts for students from Title 1 schools, and executes the popular Culture Pass program.

Under her leadership, Act One has more than doubled its budget, and has dramatically increased the number of students it serves.

During the current school year (2018-19), more than 44,000 students will go on arts field trips coordinated and funded by Act One.

More than 500,000 Arizonans will have the opportunity to experience the arts for free through the Culture Pass, which is available in 60 libraries statewide.

Before joining Act One, Wright was director of development at Arizona Theatre Company. She also served as regional chief development officer for the American Red Cross, overseeing fundraising efforts, corporate and foundation partnerships and individual giving programs for most of Arizona.

During her tenure at the Red Cross, she started the region’s first Tiffany Circle of philanthropic women and led the team that established a partnership resulting in the largest unrestricted corporate gift ever received by the American Red Cross.

She joined the Red Cross in May 2010 following 12 years as director of development at the Heard Museum, Phoenix.

She serves on the board of ONE (Organization for Nonprofit Executives) and is active on the sustainability committee. An avid horsewoman, she served on the board of Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship for four years.

Geri is a graduate of Valley Leadership Class 34 as well as the American Express Nonprofit Leadership Academy. In 2013, she was honored as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Arizona Chapter.