3 Deserving Community Members Are Awarded at AZ Bowl Luncheon

Tucson is home to many talented and passionate individuals who have dedicated their lives to developing and enriching their community. Last Friday, the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl hosted a Kickoff Luncheon to honor three Tucson residents who have made an impact not only within our Southern Arizona neighborhood, but across the nation.

Excitement was in the air at Reid Park DoubleTree hotel where the luncheon featured keynote speakers University of Arizona’s athletic director, Greg Bryne and former Arizona football star Ricky Hunley. 

The ceremony honored Tucson resident and 1996 Olympian Kerri Strug with the Governor’s Arizona Strong Award for her performance in the games two decades ago.

Strug, an accomplished and skilled gymnast, stunned crowds in her performance as she defeated her odds of a rather horrific ankle injury and took home a gold medal. “Kerri valiantly represented her native Tucson and her country on a global stage, showing the world what it means to compete with spirit, with determination, and with real grit,” said Mike Deder, executive director of the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. “She is a living symbol of the strength that defines us as Arizonans.”

As a deserving recipient of the award, Strug represented her community with prowess and fearlessness, showcasing exactly what it means to be Arizona Strong.

Two more Tucson natives were honored for their work to strengthen and unite the community, Liz and Fletcher McCusker. This dynamic duo have been committed to making the city a better place for children, families, and businesses. Their decades of work were recognized with the presentation of the Heather and Jon Volpe Tucson Strong Award. “With Liz’s unyielding commitment at Tu Nidito to our kids impacted by serious medical conditions and loss, and Fletcher’s leadership in reimagining a fresh sense of vibrancy in economic development and downtown revitalization, it’s clear that the McCuskers are Tucson Strong at its very best,” said Feder.

As members of the Tucson community, our team appreciates the hard work and continuous tenacity that these individuals demonstrate in their day to day lives. We thank them wholeheartedly for improving our city and continuing to be examples of what it means to be “Arizona Strong”.

More about the Arizona Bowl:

The NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl is owned and operated by TD4Tucson, a nonprofit organization based in Tucson, and will kick off on Decemember 30, 2016 at 3:30 pm MST at Arizona Stadium.  In its debut last year, the bowl raised more than $85,000 for local charities and contributed $16 million in local economic impact. This year’s game will feature teams from the Mountain West and Sun Belt Conferences, with partnership support from the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission and Campus Insiders. For more information visit www.NOVAArizonaBowl.com.