Dale Larrew, an Apache Junction resident who volunteers at a variety of nonprofit organizations, was thanked recently at an event at Tumbleweed Grill & Bar.

Local residents Sandie Russell and Maggie Berizzi asked area residents to attend the event to surprise Larrew and honor him as a hero for his consistent participation in community events in Apache Junction.

“Heroes are not born but rather are made after an occurrence of momentous bravery or from an extended period spent consistently ‘taking the higher road,’ choosing to put the needs of others before their own, and in the case of Dale Larrew, persistently striving to improve the lives of our neighbors in Apache Junction,” according to a release.

Larrew serves on the advisory board for the Salvation Army of Apache Junction, is a longtime member and former president of the Kiwanis Club of Apache Junction, serves meals weekly at the Salvation Army and Healthy Harvest, and offers to support many other local causes and individuals whenever an opportunity to do so presents itself, it states.

Larrew was born in Omaha, Nebraska; went to college for Harley-Davidson Motorcycle repair, was a color guard in the Sea Cadets and received the Junior Achievement award.

He moved to Glendale 20 years ago and moved to Apache Junction five years ago to be close to his parents.