Nominate a community hero
For the third year in a row, the Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) is seeking nominations for its Hero Awards, which recognize the service and valor of Douglas County first responders, Armed Forces members, and community heroes doing transformative work serving people in Douglas County.
The DCCF 2025 Hero Award categories are:
Armed Forces Hero: This category includes active-duty military and veterans. Nominees should have demonstrated exceptional courage, self-sacrifice, extraordinary compassion, or life-saving actions that go above and beyond the call of duty.
First Responder Hero: This category includes civilian and commissioned law enforcement personnel (police officers, sheriff deputies), firefighters, emergency medical services, dispatchers, and search and rescue teams. Nominees must have responded to a situation showcasing exceptional courage, selflessness, extraordinary compassion, or life-saving actions that go above and beyond the call of duty, including providing remarkable emergency assistance.
Community Hero Award: This award honors an exceptional nonprofit organization, community leader, volunteer, or corporation based in Douglas County. Nominees should have made a significant impact on charitable initiatives through financial contributions, the deployment of organizational resources, encouraging employees to give their time and resources to the Douglas County community, or a combination of the above.
Outstanding volunteer community service that is sustained, direct, and impactful is also eligible for consideration.
The recipients of these awards will be honored at the third annual DCCF Heroes Gala on September 12, 2025, at Signature Aviation South at the Centennial Airport. This event helps raise funds for DCCF and the Community Emergency Relief Fund, which can be quickly accessed and distributed to provide direct assistance to our community, nonprofit partners, and first responders during catastrophic events affecting Douglas County.
To nominate a Hero or for more information about the Heroes Gala and to purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit dccf.org/events/2025-heroes-gala.
By Sara Goodwin
