Community Champions

“[Humans] are called upon not to be like a thermometer conforming to the temperature of society, but [they] must be like a thermostat serving to transform the temperature of society.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

At the 2024 State of the City Address, Mayor Nancy Smith put out a call to action for all residents to get involved and be an active part of their community. She asked for each and every one of us to become a Community Champion. In the quote above, Dr. King was arguing that we must change society rather than only be changed by what is happening around us. That means finding ways to get involved and actively participate in shaping the community you want to live in.

We now are launching a way for residents to make nominations and share the spotlight with individuals, groups, organizations and more who are shaping out community.

There is no action too small or too big to spotlight, so if you know someone who deserves the praise, let us know!

Select the button below to nominate a community champion(s) that deserve recognition.

Nominate a Community Champion

2025 Community Champion Honorees

Bearded man with brown hair and blue shirt smiling happily.
347Facts.com

Couple stanind together smiling in front of a home. The woman is wearing a black jacket and blue dress and the man is wearing a blue shirt.
Kid's Day Maricopa

Woman with black hair in front of a park wearing a black jacket and color filled shirt.
Juanita Allen

Woman standing in a park in front of a lake wearing a black shirt with "Ride347.com" written against a white backdrop of the state map outline of Arizona.
Ride347.com

Young kid with brown hair wearing a dark blue hoodie standing in a classroom.
Unity Club

A man standing in a tennis court wearing a purple shirt.
Jeff Fizer

A trio of senior citizens wearing white caps standing and smiling happily while wearing lanyards with racer numbers written on them.
Memorial Day 5K

2024 Community Champion Honorees

A man sitting in front of a back drop of historical photos smiling with white hair and a purple shirt with the words "Paul Shirk" written on it
Paul Shirk

A man with spiked brown hair and a beard sitting in a classroom with a Seattle Seahawks flag in the background.
Joshua Bowlin

A couple sitting in a library with shelves of books behind them. The woman has short brown hair and a black shirt and the man has short grey hair and a light blue shirt with the City of Maricopa Police Department logo printed on it.
Charlene & Randy Dodson

A man sitting in a school with the outside of classrooms in the background with short grey hair and a black polo shirt.
Jim Irving

A man wearing glasses with short white and grey hair and a grey shirt.
Community of Hope Church

A couple standing on a soccer field. The man has short brown hair and a beard wearing a grey shirt and the woman has long blonde hair in a braided ponytail with a white jacket and blue shirt.
Joe & Celeste Templin

A man standing inside of a community center with people walking around and sitting at tables behind him. He has short grey hair, glasses, and wearing a blue shirt.
Chip Freeman

A young man with brown hair wearing a black shirt in front of a classroom with young children working behind him.
Jayden Hill

Mike Riggs Community Service Award Winners

The Inaugural Mike Riggs Community Service Award. It is named for our late Public Works Director, whom we lost unexpectedly in 2022. Mike was the real deal when it came to community service. He went above and beyond, serving not just the community but also his colleagues and neighbors. His impact on all of us is still felt.

Mike wasn't the type to sit back when he saw someone in need. He was a doer, often working behind the scenes with little fanfare. He just made things happen. We want that legacy of giving to endure. In honor of Mike, we're thrilled to shine a spotlight on a group of folks who embody his can-do attitude. Just like Mike, they saw an opportunity to lend a hand and took charge. This bunch, with their strong community connections and the support of volunteers, came together to organize an event that not only pays tribute to others but also brings in hundreds of Maricopa residents – both as participants and eager spectators.

For their stellar teamwork and self-reliance in making this community service happen, it brings me immense joy to present the first-ever Mike Riggs Community Service Award to the brains and muscle behind the Maricopa Veteran’s Day Parade!

2024 - Organizers of the Maricopa Veterans Day Parade

2025 - Chris Leon

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