2023 Ark Valley Pride Award Recipients will be announced on May 15th! Nominate your local heroes today at hello@goPfCA.com.
2022 Award Recipients
Stacy Falk
Grand Marshal
The Grand Marshal is currently our only LGBTQ+-specific award, aside from our youth awards, and is given to a member of the LGBTQ+ community who embodies queerness, dedication to our community to make it better, and the motivation to make it happen.
Youth Awards
Youth of the Year
Ashton Xavier Nick Jay Ace Daley
The Youth of the Year Award is intended to recognize and celebrate youth who have overcome adversity and demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments in school and community.
Advocate of the Year
Erin Johnke
The Youth Ally of the Year Award recognizes and honors contributions made by an individual or group who shows a consistent commitment to helping the LGBTQ+ community by using their resources and centers of influence to provide opportunities for and empower LGBTQ+ individuals, employees, organizations, or the community-at-large.
Big Bear Award
Megan Lombardo
The Big Bear of the Year Award is selected by youth and peers and intended to recognize and honor individuals who have a commitment to youth equality and creates opportunities and care for young people of all colors, cultures, and communities.
Business of the Year
Fun Street Family Arcade & Scotty Hughes
The Youth Business of the Year Award is selected by youth and intended to recognize and honor individuals and businesses that have a commitment to youth equality in employment, community, and support and creates opportunities for young people of all colors, cultures, and communities.
Rainbow Award
Remus Simpson
The Rainbow Award recognizes emerging leaders who show ongoing and exceptional growth for their contribution to our community.
Leadership Award
Liza sisneros
The Leadership Award is selected by youth and peers and is intended to recognize and honor individuals who have proven to be kind and effective leaders.
Social Justice Warrior
Danica McFadden
The Social Justice Warrior Award is selected by youth and peers and is intended to recognize and honor individuals who organize around change, take on policy and law, and make change happen out front or behind the scenes.
Youth Awards for other young people will be announced during the Ark Valley Pride Youth Awards on Saturday, June 4th at 10:30 a.m.
Ark Valley Pride only lists award recipients once they accept their awards.
Community Awards
ALLY of the Year
Tamar Madrigal
The Ally of the Year Award recognizes and honors contributions made by an individual or organization who shows a consistent commitment to helping the LGBTQ+ community by using their resources and centers of influence to provide opportunities for and empower LGBTQ+ individuals, employees, organizations, or the community-at-large.
Cornerstone award
Andrea Carlstrom and Chaffee County Public Health
The Cornerstone Award is intended to recognize individuals or organizations that show a consistent commitment to race, gender, and age equality by creating opportunities through employment, funding, and community outreach.
Elevation award
Salida Sangha
The Elevation Award is intended to recognize and honor individual(s) or organizations that through mindfulness and faith lifts not only the members of our LGBTQ+ community but the community as a whole.
Business Ally of the Year
Howl Mercantile
The Business Ally of the Year Award is intended to recognize and honor individuals and businesses that have a commitment to equality in employment, community, and support and creates opportunities for people of all colors, cultures, and communities.