Ginger Ward, MAEd

Occupation/Employment

Ginger Ward is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Human Development, which she founded in 1981 with six employees serving 175 families. Today Southwest has over 500 employees serving 80,000 young children and families, and is the largest community-based organization of its kind in Arizona.

Affiliations
Board Member, ZERO TO THREE. Ginger sits on a variety of boards and committees charged with forming policy on, and improving services for, children and families. Current positions include: the Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers; the Arizona State Department of Economic Security Child Care Advisory Committee; the Health Advisory Committee of Children’s Action Alliance; the Healthy Families Steering Committee; Board of Directors for Reach Out and Read and Ryan House; and community advisor to the Junior League. Past positions include the Governor's School Readiness Board and the City of Phoenix Human Services Commission.

She is also a member of the following professional organizations: Arizona Infant Mental Health Coalition; National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); and, ONE – Organization for Nonprofit Executives

Recent Honors/Awards/Recognition/Books Published

Ginger has received:  the Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO (2010);
Business Journal’s – Best Places to Work (2009); Business Journal’s – Best Places to Work (2008);  Phoenix Theatre’s Women Who Care Outstanding Achievement Award (2008); City of Phoenix Golden Heart Award (2007);  Children’s Action
Alliance Champion for Children (2006); and Arizona Cactus-Pine Council Girl Scouts World of Children Award (2002).