Prescott Valley council honors longtime volunteers, names Donna Darlene Packard an inaugural honoree

Vice Mayor Matt Zurcher announced at a Prescott Valley council meeting that the town’s inaugural community-service honorees include Donna Darlene Packard and her partner, recognizing more than two decades of volunteer work supporting veterans, preserving local history and bringing therapy dogs to hospitals.

Zurcher described the recipients as a couple who "have served our community with unwavering commitment," singling out their work for veterans and their efforts to preserve and share local history. He said one of the honorees previously served on the Prescott Valley Town Council and that the other served on the board of the Central Arizona Fire Medical Authority and chaired the Prescott Valley Healing Field, roles the vice mayor cited while introducing the award.

"My name is Matt Zurcher, vice mayor for Prescott Valley, and it is my privilege to announce our inaugural honorees," Zurcher said, asking the council and audience to join him in recognizing the pair for their volunteer contributions, which he said span hospitals, veteran services and community events. He invited the honorees to join council members onstage to receive the recognition and named Donna Darlene Packard aloud.

The town record supplied in the meeting named Donna Darlene Packard; the partner who was referenced repeatedly during the introduction was not named in the meeting transcript. According to Zurcher, the couple’s work includes bringing therapy dogs to hospitals and organizing or chairing community remembrance projects such as the Prescott Valley Healing Field. Zurcher characterized their combined service as woven into the fabric of the town over "over two decades."

Packard was invited to join the council onstage to accept the recognition during the meeting. The council did not provide further formal citations, award text or a date for a public ceremony in the portions of the meeting recorded in the transcript.