Tucson, AZ -- Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) proudly announces that the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented to The Stonewall Foundation Fund and the Small Family in recognition of their remarkable philanthropic leadership, lifelong dedication to the arts, and enduring impact on the Tucson community.
The TMA Lifetime Achievement Award, first presented in 2017, celebrates the career of an artist, patron, or community member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing TMA and the arts community of Southern Arizona. Awardees exemplify artistic excellence, philanthropic leadership, and dedication to arts education and advocacy.
Founded in 1960 by William and Susan Small, The Stonewall Foundation began with a mission to support local causes and create lasting community benefit. Named for Susan’s ancestral home on the Isle of Jersey, the Foundation’s inaugural year of giving totaled just $490. Over the past 65 years, the Foundation has grown into a cornerstone of charitable giving in Tucson, making transformational contributions to dozens of organizations—including TMA, which it has supported continuously since its founding.
A devoted advocate for art and architecture, William Small served on the TMA Board of Trustees and was appointed Board President from 1952 to 1953 at just 28 years old. In the 1970s, he played a central role on the museum’s building committee, helping bring to life the vision for TMA’s first purpose-built home. The museum opened its new building, designed by William Wilde and Andy Anderson, in May 1975 with the inaugural exhibition Tucson Collects.
Following William’s passing in 1994, the Foundation continued under the leadership Susan and their son Rick Small, and in 2021 it merged with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) to become The Stonewall Foundation Fund. In 2022, Bill and Cathleen Small joined Rick as equal donor advisors, relocating to Tucson to carry the family’s multigenerational legacy of community stewardship and cultural investment forward.
This year’s honorees are longtime supporters of TMA’s Leadership Circle, the museum’s foremost philanthropic membership group, which plays a critical role in sustaining the museum’s permanent collection, exhibitions, and educational programs.
“TMA’s history is deeply intertwined with the generosity of the Small family and The Stonewall Foundation,” said Christopher Gordon, Interim CEO of TMA. “They have been at the heart of our growth for decades, and their unwavering commitment has shaped not only our institution but Tucson’s cultural identity as a whole.”
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