Neighborhood Celebration

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Tempe's Neighborhood Celebration is an annual event open to the whole community. Community members are invited to connect with their neighbors in the park over live music, breakfast, local vendor shopping, yard games and more. Neighborhood awards are presented in a lively, informal awards ceremony as a part of this event.

The 2026 Neighborhood Celebration event will be held on Saturday, April 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Kiwanis Park. We will see you there!

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See past celebration photos, videos and honorees

2025

2025 award winners and honorable mentions

Neighborhood Awards winners: Christine Baldanza, Sheila Bryant, Lily's Pad, Annie Santoro, Tom Fuhrmann and Laura Kajfez.

Arts and Culture Award winners: Paul Kent, Stu Siefer, Tyson Weed, Kyllan Maney, David Rhodes and Downtown Tempe Authority.

Sustainability Neighbor of the Year: Rupinder Dhaliwal and Kelly Hedberg.

Water Wise Landscape of the Year: Susan Tyrrel.

2025 event photo and video

Watch the award ceremony here. Photos from the event are available for view and download here. Watch a vendor and site tour video here.

2024

2024 award winners and honorable mentions

Neighborhood Awards winners: Broadmor Bike Bus, Cranksgiving, Oasis Lake, Elie Merheb, Lane Carraway, Jeff Caslake, Sid Frede and Tempe Preparatory Academy National Honor Society club.
Arts and Culture Award winners: Tony Duncan, Darlene Justus, Tempe Artists Guild, Farmer Wilson and Kim DeMeritt.
Sustainability Achievement of the Year: Ana Aguilar.
Water Wise Landscape of the Year: Steve Bannochie.
Historic Preservation award: Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation.
The Dolores Huerta Scholarship was presented to Emma Ellexson.

2024 event photos and video

Watch the award ceremony here. Photos from the event are available for view and download here.

2023

Neighborhood Awards

Neighbor of the Year
Mike Bell, Broadmor Neighborhood Association

Neighbor of the Year Honorable Mention
JC Tovar

Neighbor of the Year Honorable Mention
Debbie Keller, Tally Ho Farms Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood of the Year
Estate la Colina Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Event of the Year
Celebration of Life for Paul Cardone “P.C. Day”

Neighborhood-Friendly Business
Drink Me! Tea Room

Arts and Culture Awards

Community Impacter
Ed Wong

Cultural Connector
Dan Thompson

Creative Entrepreneur
Kara Roschi

Tempe Champion
Peggy Moroney

Artistic Trailblazer
Dr. Michael Willson, Director of Bands at McClintock High School

Sustainability and Resilience Awards

Youth - High School
Shalae Clemens

Youth - College
Mauricio Juarez Leon

Group
Keep Tempe Beautiful

Business
Culdesac Tempe

Water Conservation Awards

Water Wise Landscape - Resident
Glenn and Barb Hackbarth

Water Wise Landscape - Resident
Raquel Gutierrez and Ward Jacox

Water Wise Landscape - Business
L3 Harris

Dolores Huerta Scholarships

Rohn Ragland
Katie Ritchie

2022

Neighborhood Awards

Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year
Bike Saviours

Neighbor of the Year
Judy Belkis, Raintree Estates Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood of the Year
Warner Ranch HOA GAIN Night event, Brooke Bogart

Neighborhood Event of the Year
Sunday Feeds, Austin Davis

Neighborhood-Friendly Business
Brick Road Coffee, Gabe Hagen and Jesse Shank

Arts and Culture Awards

Community Impactor
Travis Furnald

Cultural Connector
Mary Ann Kwilosz

Engaged Educator
Matt Dickson

Artistic Trailblazer
Carly Conder

Sustainability and Resilience Awards

Resident
Beth Dietz and John Penry

Youth
Elizabeth Hollman

Business
Drink Me Tea Room, Melissa Harlan

Nonprofit
Habitat for Humanity

Water Conservation Awards

Water Wise Landscape - Resident
Sonja Branch - Shafer Residence

Water Wise Landscape - Business
Jones Studio

Dolores Huerta Scholarships

Sadie Goldman
MiMi Harris

2021

Neighbor of the Year Awards
Margarete Auwarter - Honorable Mention
Linda Crook - Honorable Mention
Mike O'Brien - Honorable Mention
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint Vincent de Paul Society - Honorable Mention
Stacy Ruggiero - Honorable Mention
Jim and Joanne Sippel - Honorable Mention
Marita Swoger - Honorable Mention
Dawne Walczak - Honorable Mention
Karen Behee - Neighbor of the Year
Paul Kent – Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year

Alley Upkeep Awards
Bonnie Pace-Duncanson – Alley Upkeep Golden Rake

Arts & Culture Awards
Lisa Bernal-Brethour - Engaged Educator
Angelica Little - Compassionate Responder
Colleen Jennings-Roggensack/ASU Gammage - Community Impactor
Sherrie Zeitlin/Art Resource Center - Creative Entrepreneur

Sustainability Awards
Steven Klug – Resident
Anna Melis - Youth
24 Carrots - Business
Green Light Solutions - Non-profit

Water Wise Landscape Award
Barb and Wade Carter – Landscape Award

Dolores Huerta Scholarship
Maya Steinberg, Tempe High School Senior - Scholarship Recipient

If you weren't able to join us last year, you can view the event at https://youtu.be/ZoyoTeIYIDE

2020

Neighbor of the Year Awards
Mckell Keeney - Honorable Mention
Gail Majors - Honorable Mention
Alison Quinn, Gary Brennan & Jana Lynn Granillo - Honorable Mention
Ken Perron - Honorable Mention
Ryan, Amy, Nathaniel and Cameron Stewart - Honorable Mention
Joel Stern - Neighbor of the Year
Kim Gaffney Loza – Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year

Alley Upkeep Awards
Tony Pike – Alley Upkeep Golden Rake
Jesse Fairchild – Alley Upkeep Golden Rake

Property Beautification Awards
Tony Liberatore – Property Beautification Honorable Mention
Brent Weinberger – Property Beautification Award Winner

Arts & Culture Awards
A Claire Slattery – Cultural Connector
Callie Shutters – Community Impact
Paige Reesor – Engaged Educator
Ron May – Artistic Trailblazer

Sustainability Awards
Wendy Jung – Sustainable Resident
Kyle McIntosh/MAC6 – Sustainable Business

Desert Lush Landscape Award
Roberta Neil Miller – Lush Landscape Award

2019

Neighbor of the Year Awards
Janet Hamlin, Warner Ranch HOA - Honorable Mention
Ward and Leslie Walston, Great Harvest Bread Company - Honorable Mention
Gayle Molenaar and Ellen Williams, Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Jamie Pate, Alta Mira Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Sue Rolan, Chipperwood Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Anne Till, Alameda Meadows Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Kevin Brown, Hudson Manor Neighborhood – Neighbor of the Year Award Winner
Judy Tapscott, Alta Mira Neighborhood - Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year Award Winner

Alley Upkeep Awards
Duncanson Alley - Golden Rake Award Winner
Rothermel Alley - Golden Rake Award Winner

Property Beautification Awards
Habitat for Humanity, Tempe Parkview Townhomes Project - Honorable Mention
Wiese Residence – Property Beautification Award Winner

Arts & Culture Awards
Such Styles - Engaged Educator Award Winner
Rodney Hu, Yucca Tap Room - Creative Entrepreneur Award Winner
Gayle Shanks and Bob Sommer, Changing Hands Bookstore - Community Impact Award Winner
Evan Liggins - Cultural Connector Award Winner
Sherry Barry and Angela Johnson, FABRIC - Innovation Award Winner

Sustainability Awards
Marie Provine and Mike Shelton - Sustainable Residents Award Winner
Desert Roots Kitchen - Sustainable Business Award Winner
Broadmor Elementary School Garden, The Learning Patch - Sustainable Non-profit Award Winner

2018

Neighbor of the Year Awards
Kathye Allen, Chipperwood Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
John Brittain, Marlborough Park HOA - Honorable Mention
Stephanie Cargill, Hollis Park Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Debbie Clegg, Shalimar Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Richard Dippold, Marlborough Park HOA - Honorable Mention
Dave Kellar, Scudder Park Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Michele Meyer, Evergreen Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Ted and Carolyn Raper, Broadmor Neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Deb Gain-Braley, Papago Park View Neighborhood – Neighbor of the Year Award Winner
Tempe Empty Bowls - Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year Award Winner

Property Beautification Awards
Michael and Sheila Manion, Alta Mira neighborhood - Honorable Mention
Eric and Debbie Muilenberg, Alta Mira neighborhood - Honorable Mention
John Kozel – Property Beautification Award Winner
John and Emily Tanner, Wilson Arts and Garden neighborhood – Golden Shovel Award Winners

Sustainability Awards
Special Moments Catering - Sustainable Business Award Winner
Arizona State University, NatureWorks and the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation - Sustainable Community Collaboration Award Winner

Historic Preservation Awards
Kirkland McKinney Ditch Lining Project - Award Winner
Tomlinson Estates Historic District - Award Winner
Gila River Indian Community - Award Winner