10/07/2016
Why I am Thankful for what GOD has given me!
Back in September 2012 I went to my 1st ever For Our City Maricopa Meeting. I was invited by former city councilman Leon Potter to attend. I accepted his invitation. Myself and my wife Kim went to the meeting to learn more about how we could give back and serve our community. Anyone that knows me knows I always give of myself and do what is needed to help this wonderful community. During the course of the meeting MFD Captain Richard Jackson let the group know he was going to have to step down as Executive Director due to his duties with Maricopa Fire Department. Mayor Christian Price asked if anyone was interested in volunteering to take on the role. I do not know if it was my urge to serve my community, or I just went temporarily insane. I slowly raised my hand and Leon Potter said I nominate Eric Lacz, then Patty Coutre said I second the motion, Mayor Price said all in favor say "I" all 10 people at the meeting said "I". I was officially the new Executive Director of For Our City Maricopa. It took just 20 short seconds.
I really had no clue what I had gotten myself into, just that I needed to step up and make it happen. By the way we were in the middle of putting on the 1st Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Maricopa bringing several churches and Faith based groups together. The Thanksgiving dinner was held at the then Catholic church on Honeycutt Rd, with an incredible assist from the LDS church next door. What an awesome event we had close to 100 volunteers and fed over 225 people that day. A great opportunity for Community and Volunteering. When you serve your community great things will happen in your life.
One day after Thanksgiving I was contacted by Maricopa Police Department and asked to help with their 1st ever "Shop with a Cop" event. How could anyone say no to making Christmas special for those children in need? Not me of course. So while MPD worked on setting up 1 or 2 tip a cop events, My wife and I worked on a silent auction that was held at Great Western Bank. We were able to get Walmart to donate a 40 inch LCD TV, Harrah's donated a $500 gift basket, My wife and I donated 2 full house cleanings from our cleaning business,and The Duke donated 2 golf packages for the auction. Now just to let you know the expectation was to take 3 or 4 kids shopping with an officer the 1st year. But it did not turnout the way everyone had hoped. Instead we raised $3,000 and were able to take 16 children on a fun day of shopping and hanging out the the men and women of MPD. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work side by side with MPD on all of their MPD Cares 4 Kids events.
We have held 4 Shop with a Cop events raising over $20,000 and taken over 140 children shopping and creating life changing experiences for all children and adults involved.
We have held 3 MPD / Walmart Backpack Giveaways in the last 3 years and provided over 800 backpacks and supplies to children in need.
We have been blessed to be able to support a variety of Community Groups such as: The Optimist Club of Maricopa, The American Legion and the VFW, and MVCC Food Bank.
We have planned and managed 3 Community Thanksgiving dinners that provided food for almost 1,000 people in Maricopa.
My wife Kim and I have been blessed to serve with over 300 wonderful volunteers in the past 4 years that I have been Executive Director of For Our City Maricopa.
This is the point in the post where I have struggled to find a way to say THANK YOU! and I will be stepping down from the role of Executive Director of For Our City Maricopa effective 12/31/2016.
Thank You for the wonderful volunteers that made For Our City Maricopa a great organization to be part of everyday.
Thank You Chief Steve Stahl Maricopa Police Department for your faith in me to provide a support system for your MPD Cares 4 Kids program for the past 4 years.
Thank You to Mayor Christian Price for showing your complete faith in my ability to lead this organization through many ups and downs and allowing me to take For Our City Maricopa to new heights.
Thank You to the wonderful residents of Maricopa for embracing, sharing, and supporting the efforts of For Our City Maricopa the past 4 years.
Thank You GOD! for showing me, empowering me, and loving me through this incredible journey. I am truly BLESSED!!!
and
My Best Friend, My Soulmate, My Best Half, without you by my side I could not have completed this journey.
I am truly a BLESSED MAN !!!
