Diane Delong

“Living in the Prescott area provides so many wonderful opportunities to get involved, share your gifts, strengths and new ideas. Agencies, schools and non-profits work closely together to benefit others and ultimately make a positive impact on the entire community.”

After moving to Prescott in 1987, Diane quickly became involved in a number of organizations and volunteer positions including public relations chairman, board member and advisory board member for Yavapai Big Brothers/Big Sisters, a member of the public relations committee and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, as well as on various committees and leadership positions at the Prescott United Methodist Church. She also did freelance writing for several communication projects and newsletters for area non-profits. In 1990, she proudly became a founding member of Prescott Area Leadership under the direction of Dr. Ron Barnes and served on the original steering committee. 

Since 1997, she has worked for Catholic Charities as Senior Program Manager of North Star Youth Partnership. North Star values all youth and empowers them to be healthy, self-assured, and involved in their communities. North Star engages youth through an array of youth development activities and educational programming including after school programs, youth leadership and service-learning opportunities, sports and recreation and special events in both Yavapai and Maricopa Counties. Diane co-founded Prescott’s Teen Maze, now in its 21st year and Girls & Sports Day which is celebrating 19 years this September. During North Star’s last 23 years, over 300,000 Yavapai & Maricopa youth have participated in its programming. She is co-author of the publication Build It And They Will Come, a guide to help communities plan and implement a Teen Maze/Fair and a chapter for Partners in Prevention: Whole School Approaches to Prevent Adolescent Pregnancy and STIs, a publication by the American School Health Association. 

Diane is a graduate of Iowa State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She also completed the Nonprofit Management Institute certificate in 2002 from Arizona State University and Yavapai College. In 2009, Diane was named Prescott Woman of the Year by Prescott Area Leadership. She is married to Bob DeLong, Principal R & D Engineer at Genesys Aerosystems and they are the proud parents of three children: Brynn, Manager of Corporate Operations, GAP Inc. in New York City; Nick who lives in Seattle, WA and is Assistant Manager at GAP; and Haley, Project Professional for SCS Environmental Engineers in Santa Rosa, CA. In her spare time, she loves traveling to visit her children, walking with her dogs and refinishing old furniture.