Oro Valley honors Lisa Bayless | News

Over the years, Lisa Bayless has brought fireworks — then snow — to the town of Oro Valley.

Yet her community commitments do not run hot and cold; Bayless constantly holds Oro Valley close to her heart, and finds joy in giving back to the place where she works and lives.

Over the last eight years, Bayless, her husband and “chief giving officer” Jeff Stitt, and the Lisa Bayless Team at Long Realty have donated more than $665,000 to help the town and its citizens thrive.

For what Mayor Joe Winfield described as Bayless’ “humble heart and generous spirit,” on Feb. 18 the town council honored Bayless with a video tribute, special remarks and a certificate of recognition.

“You exemplify all that is best about Oro Valley,” the mayor said.

“I love living in Oro Valley, I love doing business here,” Bayless told a small gathering afterward. “I am very grateful for my partnerships with the town. My values and Oro Valley’s are similar. Thank you for all of the love. It means the world to me.”

Bayless’ contributions to town and community events are many, and far-ranging. Beyond Fourth of July fireworks and real white stuff at SnOV, as examples, she sponsored the town’s 50th anniversary parade, bought shoes and socks for 100 needy children through the Amphi Foundation, and paid off outstanding lunch debt for all Oro Valley students enrolled in Amphitheater Public Schools in 2021, and again in 2025.

She’s been a consistent supporter of the Oro Valley Police Department, sponsoring OVPD’s National Night Out, purchasing upgraded ballistic vests for officers, paying for three police K-9s, and sponsoring the Cops and Kids holiday shopping program.

When she is the title sponsor at the Oro Valley Chamber’s State of the Town speech and luncheon each year, Bayless spends little time talking about herself, or the real estate business. Instead, she singles out individuals — nonprofit leaders, educators, students and others — “who are doing good.”

“Lifting up others,” Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett said.

In December, Barrett and Councilmember Mary Murphy stood at the annual Oro Valley holiday tree-lighting event … sponsored by The Lisa Bayless Team at Long Realty.

“We said to each other, ‘It seems like she ought to get an award for all the things she does for our community’,” Barrett recalled.

Fast forward to Feb. 18.

“You make our community feel like home, to everyone,” Murphy told Bayless.

“What is especially meaningful to me, is it’s not just the financial support, which is almost everywhere … but also the presence she has,” Barrett said. “It’s not just the writing of a check. She’s actually physically present with us at those events.”

“Everywhere you look in Oro Valley, if something good is happening, when you pull the curtain back, Lisa and her husband have an intimate role in what’s going on, and the team is a big help as well,” said Dr. Harry “Mo” Greene II. “I can’t thank you enough. You do it so selflessly and so beautifully. We couldn’t do it without you.”

“It would be hard for me and the council to really overstate the positive impact Lisa and Jeff have had, and continue to have, on our community,” Winfield said.

In the video, Parks and Recreation Director Roz Epting, Chief of Police Kara Riley and recreation facility manager Nick Scala cited examples of Bayless’ generosity and expressed thanks.

“We’ve always been able to count on you and your husband’s support of this agency,” Riley said. The chief declared Bayless “so instrumental in keeping this community safe.”

“What you do enables us to do our jobs every day,” Epting said. “You help us fund different items, as well as bring community here, and we are very thankful for what you do.”

“You truly make these events really special,” Scala said.

The certificate of recognition thanks Bayless for “your impact on the quality of life in Oro Valley. Over the years, you’ve helped fund numerous events and public safety initiatives. Your generosity and passion for Oro Valley are deeply appreciated.”

“We do our best to invest in the community we serve,” Bayless told town staff before the recognition. “We thank the community for all they give us. We would not be where we are now without the support of our community. We’re very grateful for the town and residents and support we’ve received. We’re happy to give back.”

Bayless lauded her team as they approached the front of council chambers for photographs.

“This is the magic,” she said, pointing to her colleagues.

“I love Oro Valley so much and was so happy to get the love that night,” she said on March 5. “I was blown away, and I was truly, truly honored and touched. It meant the world to me, and to be able to share it with my team was really a great thing.”