OneAZ Credit Union brought together more than 150 business and community leaders in Phoenix for its annual “Aspirations” event in partnership with Novle, where the OneAZ Community Foundation also awarded $750,000 to five Arizona nonprofits focused on economic opportunity, education, and community development.
The event featured a panel discussion with OneAZ President & CEO Mike Boden, Chicanos Por La Causa President & CEO Alicia Nuñez, ASU Hispanic Business Students Association VP of Corporate Relations V’Andre Watson, and Founder & President of La Promize Company and La Onda Radio, Laura Madrid, focusing on how investment in Arizona’s Hispanic community is shaping the state’s economic future.
Panelists pointed to mentorship, access to capital, and representation as key barriers and opportunities for Latino communities. Watson, speaking from his experience as a student leader, described community investment as “something that can change people’s lives,” while Nuñez emphasized the need to bring more voices to the table and build intentional partnerships.
The OneAZ Community Foundation awarded grants to five Arizona-based nonprofits:
- $225,000 to Local First Arizona Foundation
- $225,000 to Valle del Sol
- $125,000 to the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- $100,000 to NAU Foundation
- $75,000 to the Be A Leader Foundation
Boden said the credit union’s approach goes beyond financial products, focusing instead on long-term relationships and local impact. “It’s critical that we maintain a sense of community,” he said, noting that growth without connection risks leaving communities behind.
The event, now in its third year, reflects a broader push by OneAZ to expand its presence and investment across Arizona, particularly in underserved and fast-growing communities.
