About Us
Each year, August 20 marks the date the Presidio de Tucson was established in 1775. But archaeologists have found that our community existed at least 4,000 years before then, and we have been making history ever since. That's why we celebrate for the whole month of August! Be sure to visit the Presidio interpretive center sometime this month. It's at the corner of Church Ave. and Washington St. Call the visitors center at 520-791-4873 for details about special activities. And explore this website to see what else is going on for Tucson's Birthday.
Tucson's Birthday month is sponsored by Tucson's Birthday Planners, a 501(c)3 corporation, and loosely assembled by an all volunteer organization dedicated to celebrating Tucson's unique history, cultural diversity, natural wonders and special place in the universe. You'll find our Board of Directors listed below. Cele Peterson started the month-long Tucson's Birthday celebration in 2006. There's more about Cele Peterson and her ideas about the Birthday here.
Celebrate!
The best way to join in the fun is to take that great idea you have and DO it! Organize your organization, or just invite your family and friends to join you in a celebration of Tucson's history, culture, arts and environment. Make it personal. Like any good birthday gift, it should represent you and your organization as much as it honors the birthday. If you'd welcome a crowd, enter your event in the Birthday Calendar. We'll get your info posted on other web calendars, and send it along in our weekly updates to media. Questions? Send us e-mail at info@tucsonsbirthday.org. We'll get back to you, usually the same day.
Birthday Ambassadors attend their choice Tucson’s Birthday events to help promote all the other events in the Birthday month. They’re encouraged to text, Twitter, Facebook, photograph, videotape and blog about events they attend, and they serve as a street team to promote events to their friends and neighbors. For complete information, click here.
Tucson's Birthday sponsors underwrite website expenses, materials to promote Tucson's Birthday and supplies for our Birthday Ambassadors, including our much-in-demand "I'd rather be in Tucson" buttons. No funds are used to pay salaries; in fact, everyone involved in organizing Tucson's Birthday volunteers their time. If you would like to be a Tucson's Birthday sponsor, just e-mail us at info@tucsonsbirthday.org and let us know how to reach you. We will work with you to create a sponsorship opportunity that meets your needs as well as the Birthday's.
Our 2010 Board of Directors
In Memoriam: Cele Peterson, Tucson's Birthday founder, Centenarian and 76-year Tucson retailer
Chairman: Jeff Nordensson, The Nordensson Group, LLC,
President and Executive Director: Linda Ray, Linda Ray LLC, Tucson's Birthday Co-Founder
Treasurer: Hon. Richard Elias, Pima County Supervisor and fifth-generation Tucsonan
Secretary: David Fisher, long-time arts community volunteer
At Large Members:
Hon. Regina Romero, Tucson City Council
Ray Davies, Retired, a leader in Tucson's education and human relations communities
Lance Laber, Executive Director, DeGrazia Foundation
Tom Prezelski, Hotel Congress, former state legislator
Art Pesqueira, retired owner of Grande Tortilla Factory
