Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Special Recognition Award

(June 2009) Yolanda Martinez, project manager in the Neighborhood Services Department, received the honor for making a significant contribution towards the city's Lead Hazard Control Program in its goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning.

NeighborWorks America, 2009 Government Service Award for Local Service

(May 2009) Neighborhood Services Department employee Joe Belval received the recognition for his significant contributions to improving the lives of Phoenix residents through his support for community development and affordable housing. Read the news release

Maryvale Revitalization Corporation, Educating Excellence Award

(May 2009) The city's Palo Verde Library received the award at the 14th Annual Maryvale Dignitary Breakfast. The award recognizes outstanding citizens, businesses, city of Phoenix agencies/staff and local students for their ongoing efforts to make Maryvale a better place. Read the news release

Arizona Community Action Association, Heart in Hand Award

(May 2009) Phoenx City Councilman Michael Johnson, District 8, was recognized for his dedicated leadership to improve the lives of low income families and his efforts to ensure a "fair share" of federal dollars for the city and end disparity in funding. Read the news release

National Association of Police Organizations, 2009 Top Cop Award

(May 2009) Phoenix Police Officer Fabian Gonzalez was honored with the award for thwarting a gunman who threatened to shoot a shopping mall security guard. Gonzalez, who was off duty at the time, shot the gunman, who survived his injuries to face charges. Nine other police officers from across the nation will receive the award. Read the news release

Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Courage of Conviction Award

(February 2009) Police Commander Kim Humphrey received the award for his work advocating against domestic violence and is known as a national expert on the issue. He developed a training curriculum, which has been used for more than 10 years by the Phoenix Police Department; helped imitate three major studies on domestic violence in collaboration with the Police Department and ASU’s Morrison Institute; and has served on the Governor’s Commission to Prevent Violence Against Women. Read the police good news story

Greater Phoenix Youth at Risk, Leadership Excellence Award

(January 2009) Deputy Aviation Director and Acting Public Information Director Deborah Ostreicher was honored for her work with Greater Phoenix Youth at Risk -- an organization that mentors homeless and at-risk children and teenagers. The Leadership Excellence Award in the Corporate Responsibility category is from Arizona Business Magazine and the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits. This was the first year these awards ever have been presented.

Children's Action Alliance (CAA), Jacque Steiner Public Leadership Award for Children

(October 2008) The CAA presented the award to Phoenix City Councilmember Greg Stanton for his public leadership on behalf of Arizona’s children. Stanton's contributions included pushing for educational after-school programs and creating a KidsCare Task Force in the Creighton School District to promote health-care offerings for children.

MetLife Foundation, Community-Police Partnership Award

(October 2008) The Capitol Weed and Seed Coalition, Phoenix Police Department and Fax Net 1 were honored with $25,000 this week by the MetLife Foundation for significantly reducing crime and improving the quality of life in downtown Phoenix neighborhoods. The Phoenix partners were selected from more than 500 applications nationwide. Read the news release

Phoenix New Times, "Best of 2008" Issue

(October 2008) The local newspaper named several city programs and facilities to its annual "Best Of" issue. The Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program and Herberger Theater Center were among them. Read the news story

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona, Healthcare Hero Award, First Responder

(August 2008) Police Commander Chris Crockett won a “Healthcare Heroes” award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Commander Crockett was recognized in the “First Responder” category for his coordination of the statewide "Crystal Darkness" TV broadcast to educate the community on the dangers of crystal methamphetamines.

Angaza Awards

(May 2008) Police Commander Jeri Williams and Fatimah Halim from Community and Economic Development Department spent Mothers Day at a ceremony honoring them and others with the first-ever Angaza Awards. Angaza means “be light” or “give light” in Swahili and the awards are for outstanding women in the community.

azcentral.com, Best of 2008 Awards

(May 2008) The Orpheum Theater, Sky Harbor International Airport and Fat Man's Pass were four city sites honored in azcentral.com’s Best of 2008 awards. The Orpheum was a critics’ pick as best small concert venue. The Herberger Theater was a readers’ pick for Best Regional Arts Center. Sky Harbor International Airport was a readers’ pick as Best Place for People Watching and the famed Fat Man’s Pass at South Mountain was a critics’ pick for best family hike.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Pro Patria Award

(April 2008) The city, along with the Fire, Police and Aviation departments, was honored with the award for supporting employees deployed in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom. The Pro Patria award is presented annually to employers who demonstrate exceptional support for U.S. national defense by adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserve. Read the news release

Make a Difference, Difference-Maker Award

(April 2008) The Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) was honored for partnering with the nonprofit organization on successful neighborhood and community improvement efforts. Read the news release

Arizona Department of Transportation-Aeronautics Division, Airport of the Year

(April 2008) Phoenix Goodyear Airport received the honor for its excellence in community relations, airport management, airport maintenance activities as well as innovative activities and programs implemented at the airport. Read the news release

The Phoenix Business Journal, 2008 Forty-Under-40

(April 2008) The publication recognized four city employees for their community service efforts by featuring them in the 2008 Forty-Under-40 section of a recent edition. The employees are Alexandra Jones from Budget and Research, Ruben Gallego from District 7 Councilman Nowakowski’s office, and Cynthia Weaver and Stephanie Ribodal from the Public Information Office.

United Blood Services, Valentines for Life Awards

(February 2008) Four city blood drive locations received these annual awards based on their high percentage of participation. The Platinum Award went to the Police Academy and Headquarters, Gold to City Hall, and Bronze to Aviation and the Phoenix Convention Center.

South Mountain Laveen Chamber of Commerce, "Spirit of South Mountain" Award

(February 2008) Ocotillo Library was recently recognized for its 40-year history of helping local children and teens to learn to love reading, being the first library in the Phoenix Public Library system to offer Internet access to the community, and providing resources for job searching, resume writing and researching information. Read the news release

Association of Immunization Managers, Bulls-Eye Award

(November 2007) The Phoenix Fire Department’s child-immunization program won a national award from the Association of Immunization Managers – the first-ever Bull’s-Eye award. It honors the department’s successful Baby Shots program, which has provided regularly scheduled child immunizations to areas of need within the city for more than 12 years.

Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Awards

(June 2007) The city was honored with two of the awards, for the Phoenix Union High School Exterior Rehabilitation for the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the Post World War II Commercial Historic Building Photography Project. Read news release

Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA), President's Award

(May 2007) Councilman Greg Stanton was recognized by the ACAA with the organization's highest honor, which recognizes individuals for their commitment to fight poverty and homelessness in the state. Read news release

National Parks and Recreation Association, Excellence in Aquatics Awards

(March 2007) The Parks and Recreation Department was recognized at the organization's National Aquatics Conference in Atlanta for demonstrating excellence in planning and managing diversified aquatics services. The department earned the award for cities with more than 500,000 residents, and this is the third time the department has won the award. Read the news release

Valley of the Sun United Way, Innovative Campaign Partnership Award

(March 2007) Phoenix was honored at a recognition luncheon for its 2006 Community Service Fund Drive that raised $1.4 million for United Way. The city is one of only eight other organizations in the One Million Dollar Club.

United Blood Services, Valentines for Life Award

(Feb. 2007) The city was presented six awards for donating 1,387 units of blood in 2006. The specific areas of the city that were recognized for going above and beyond include: the Police Academy, Police Headquarters, Phoenix City Hall, the Aviation Department, Fire Department Administration, and the Phoenix Convention Center.

Amateur Softball Association, Award of Excellence

(Nov. 2006) The Parks and Recreation Department won the award for conducting two of the highest-rated national championships in 2006. The city hosted the 2006 ASA Coed Major National Championship and the 18 & under 2006 Girls Western National Championship.

Valley of the Sun United Way

(Dec. 2005) The city of Phoenix and its employees were recognized for raising more than $1.3 million during their annual fund drive. Read the news release