'Finding one's passion in life is indeed a gift, but then making that passion one's life commitment takes dedication, planning, organization, determination and time," according to Bill and Judy Gresser.

They believe that Howard Blitz, founder and chief executive officer of Yuma's Freedom Library, exemplifies a person who identified his passion and made that passion a reality.

It's for this reason, and many more, that they nominated Blitz for recognition as the 2024 Citizen of the Year.

"His love for our country, its Constitution, and its commitment to freedom came to life in the form of the Freedom Library, a 501c3 here in Yuma, founded 28 years ago," the Gressers noted in their nomination.

"Its purpose is to promote an understanding and acceptance of the Freedom Philosophy and the principles of liberty as expounded in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution."

They pointed out that Blitz has lived that commitment through the classes he teaches and makes available to the community at the Freedom Library. He takes those same social studies classes to public and private schools in Yuma County. When there is more demand for classes than he can personally teach, he recruits volunteers to work with the students, they noted.

Every semester he personally teaches 12 series of classes on the U.S. Constitution and economics which culminate in essay contests for participants to earn $1,000 scholarships toward either their college tuition or to attend a freedom and liberty-focused weeklong workshop presented annually by the Freedom Foundation.

More than 400 students have taken these classes, resulting in the awarding of more than 150 scholarships, for a total in excess of $150,000 in the past 28 years, according to the Gressers.

Funding for these scholarships is covered through online fundraising efforts, community events and "outright asking for donations" at presentations given throughout the year, quipped the Gressers.

His vision to have a replica of the Statue of Liberty here came into being in 2022 when Yuma's own "Lady Liberty" was dedicated after years of planning and fundraising. The statue created by Blitz's nephew, an artist who creates sculptures made of discarded/repurposed metal objects, stands on 4th Avenue at 26th Street "for passersby to enjoy and be reminded of the precious concepts of liberty and freedom upon which our country was founded," the Gressers stated.

In addition to his volunteer time devoted to the Freedom Library, "where he has never received compensation for his time and tireless dedication," Blitz is a member of the Caballeros de Yuma, Toastmasters Club and Sunrise Optimist Club.