Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
Local First Arizona recently celebrated its annual We Rise Demo Day, bringing together Black entrepreneurs from across the state to showcase their businesses and compete for grant funding after completing the organization’s six-month business accelerator program.
The Shark Tank-style event, supported by the Arizona Financial Foundation and Arizona Financial Credit Union, gives graduates of the We Rise Business Accelerator an opportunity to pitch their businesses before a panel of judges and compete for funding to support future growth.
Held June 17 at the Phoenix Bioscience Core Innovation Center in downtown Phoenix, the event featured six entrepreneurs presenting their business plans and growth strategies. The top prize, the $10,000 Arizona Financial Kelvin Smith Small Business Grant, was awarded to Be More Clean Hydrotherapy, according to a press release.
The top three finishers were:
- First place: Elizabeth Joseph, Be More Clean Hydrotherapy. The business focuses on addressing chronic illnesses through diet and lifestyle interventions, including digestive disorders, diabetes and mold-related health concerns.
- Second place: Chloe Johnson, Johnson & Company Landscaping & Renewal. The family-owned landscaping company provides landscaping services while creating employment opportunities within the community.
- Third place: Ashley Dickerson, Married in Mocha. The company provides wedding management services and works to advance connection and sustainability within Arizona’s wedding industry.
Last year’s Kelvin Smith Small Business Grant was awarded to Agnes Adams, founder of Yond Institute of Learning in Goodyear. The vocational school offers healthcare training programs designed to prepare students for careers in the healthcare field.
Since partnering with the We Rise Business Accelerator in 2021, Arizona Financial Foundation has supported the program through sponsorships and educational resources. Arizona Financial employees work with participants on topics including business banking, financial management, lending opportunities and long-term business planning.
“With Black business owners facing nearly triple the risk of capital-related hurdles, the We Rise initiative was launched to bridge that financial gap,” Local First Arizona Senior Small Business Development Manager Carmen Attikossie said.
“Our annual Demo Day represents the crucial intersection of readiness and possibility. These graduates present their visions with the professional acumen and assurance necessary to obtain tangible investment. Thanks to our collaboration with Arizona Financial, we are opening doors to funding and networks for entrepreneurs who have traditionally lacked such critical resources.”
The $10,000 grant is named in honor of Kelvin Smith, a longtime Arizona Financial Credit Union board member, small business owner and community advocate who began serving on the credit union’s board in 1997.
Established in 2024, the annual grant was created to continue Mr. Smith’s support of entrepreneurship and small-business development, according to a press release.
