Erika Frantzve was Miss Arizona USA 2012

Erika has a gift for marketing, a love for people, and a passion for public speaking. As a former NCAA Women’s Basketball Athlete for Regis University, Erika’s number one love aside from philanthropic work has been sports. She has played basketball since she was five, and also enjoys playing volleyball, golf, and track. Erika has modeled and acted in Los Angeles, Denver, and Arizona. She is currently studying Political Science & International Relations at Arizona State University and will graduate in 2012.

Ever since Erika was little, her mom would always say, “The greatest thing you can ever give someone is your time”. Her mother’s wise words were the foundation to Erika’s constant drive to “give back” to others. In 2006, Erika founded her 501(c)3 charitable organization Everyday Heroes Like You. Over the past five years her organization established a history of assisting other nonprofits nation wide. With board members spread out all over the country, Erika’s organization is constantly finding ways to promote and propagate the “everyday heroes” in our communities that have an altruistic desire to make a difference. Everyday Heroes Like You has done numerous events to support the Sojourner Center, Packages From Home, USO, Marine Corps, Border Patrol Foundation, Arizona Humane Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, UMOM, Children’s Miracle Network, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and many others.

Underneath the Everyday Heroes Like You umbrella Erika has created two outreach programs; Johnny’s Locker and PAWS for a CAUSE. Johnny’s Locker is targeted towards enhancing the lives of teenagers undergoing life-altering circumstances. With the help of Walmart and individual donations, these portable wooden lockers are stocked with numerous items from video games and movies to stuffed animals and school supplies. Everyday Heroes Like You has lockers in the Children’s National Medical Center in Northern Virginia, as well as the Sojourner Center in Phoenix, Arizona. In August 2011 Everyday Heroes Like You had their first PAWS for a CAUSE event, which was put together to raise funds and awareness for the animals that were displaced and abandoned during the Wallow Fire in Arizona this past June. Proceeds from this event went to the Arizona Humane Society and the 121 Project.