Phoenix, AZ – The Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) today announced its recipients for the Inaugural Business Awards to be presented at the chamber’s annual Black and White Ball, Saturday April 3, 2004 at the Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri.

The recipients are Julian Nabozny, Entrepreneur of the Year; Valle del Sol, Inc. Corporation of the Year; Eddie Basha, Man of the Year; and Pam Del Duca, Woman of the Year. The honorees were selected using specific criteria for each category and reflect each recipient’s contribution to the local Hispanic small business community.

Julian Nabozny is an owner/operator of a McDonald’s franchise in South Phoenix. Over the last several years, Nabozny has hosted Thanksgiving Day celebrations for as many as 3,000 area residents. He distributes McDonald’s food, gifts, turkeys and fruit baskets. In the past, Nabozny has brought a mobile mammography unit to his restaurant to provide free screening exams for economically disadvantaged women.

Valle del Sol Inc. was established in 1970 as a non-profit, community-based organization providing counseling, substance abuse treatment, prevention services and a

host of other social services to the local community. Although Valle del Sol Inc. is a not- for-profit corporation, the organization holds itself accountable by doing business with minority vendors. The organization spends nearly $2 million dollars per year for purchases from local vendors that represent a fair number of Latino-owned businesses. Valle del Sol Inc. is also the largest Hispanic behavioral health provider in Maricopa County. Providing 19 different programs and services, Valle del Sol Inc., under the direction of Luz Sarmina-Gutierrez, President and CEO, offers programs for the elderly in addition to providing services such as workforce development and leadership training.

Eddie Basha is the Chairman of the grocery chain that bears his family’s name. With over 144 stores, the Bashas’ family of stores has grown to include not only their mainstream stores but also includes AJ’s Fine Foods and the popular Food City chain which caters to a predominant Hispanic market. Bashas’ Thanks a Million program allows customers to shop for a local school, church or non-profit group by electronically linking a group to their Bashas’ Thank You Card. This program has raised over $5 million for school equipment.

Pam Del Duca is founder and president of the Delstar Group, a diversified business enterprise that owns and operates 32 retail specialty shops in Arizona and California. Over the last ten years, Pam Del Duca has donated over a million dollars of her money to groups like Chicanos Por La Causa, The Phoenix Urban League and the Phoenix Indian Center. Del Duca has also created a training program that helps members of the local community gain training for jobs created by Del Duca’s ventures.

The Black and White Ball is the AZHCC’s premier fundraising event. For more information on purchasing tickets or tables for this event, please go to the chamber’s website at www.azhcc.com or call 602-279-1800 for more information.