George H. “Buddy” Amos, Jr. (1934-1990), a native of Tucson and the owner of Tucson Realty and Trust Co., believed in giving back to the community that he loved so much and imparted that spirit upon his family and those around him.
A natural fundraiser, it was hard for him to turn down requests to spearhead donation drives. He could often be found with other community leaders, “dialing for dollars” in a phone bank at Jim Click’s Automotive Group. Phil Amos remembered that as time went on, his father was growing increasingly concerned about sustaining the good work the local nonprofits were doing to benefit the community.
The answer to the merry-go-round of raising-and-spending-and-raising-and-spending came when Buddy learned about the community foundation model: charitable contributions are pooled and invested to strategically address local needs.
In 1980, Buddy, along with James “Jim” Burns, Edward R. Moore, Jim Click, Jr., and F. Grainger Weil, created a community endowment organization that they called the Greater Tucson Area Foundation and laid out a framework for investment.
On April 29th, 2015 to honor his vision and ability to inspire, the Buddy Amos Founders Award was created and given to the Amos Family by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona at the 35th Anniversary event. Phil and Hank accepted the award on behalf of their father and the entire family.
2022 Award Recipient
CFSA is pleased to share that the 2022 Buddy Amos Founders Award recipient is Andrew (Andy) Rush, artist and founder of The Drawing Studio.
Founded in 1992 by Andy and a core group of Tucson artists, The Drawing Studio brings art and the benefits of creating art to the entire community. They offer classes and workshops, host events and exhibits, and foster awareness of the positive effects of creativity on individuals and the entire community. Under Andy’s leadership, The Drawing Studio envisions the world as a better place where art and creative spirit are fostered as cultural necessities.
An artist himself, Andy shared, “At The Drawing Studio, I take great pleasure in working with people from all walks of life who bring incredible life experience and richness to the study of art, a richness that informs their visual expression once they have the tools and practices to inform their work.”
A former professor of art at the University of Arizona, Andy is a printmaker, sculptor, and drawer. He has been active as an American artist since 1959. His art has been included in many national exhibitions, especially of prints and drawings, and he has been a book illustrator and public artist. In 1981, he took an interest in tile and relief sculpture, especially in public places, garden settings, and other architectural applications. He is a resident and founder of the Rancho Linda Vista art community in Oracle, Arizona, established in 1968.