At the Goldwater Institute, our work this year has been strengthened by Americans who refuse to surrender their rights. Their determination in the face of government pressure reminds us all of the enduring story of our nation: a free people will always have a reason to give thanks. We cannot possibly name every individual who stood firm this year, but a few stories shine a particular light on what the audacity of liberty looks like in practice.
We honor Elijah Stacy, recipient of the 2025 Goldwater Institute Freedom Award. Elijah suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal muscle wasting disease, and he has dedicated his life to eliminating others’ suffering. His extraordinary perseverance in the face of the disease embodies the dignity and determination at the heart of the American ideal. Elijah’s refusal to accept limits—medical or bureaucratic—reminds us that freedom advances when individuals choose resolve over resignation. And his advocacy for the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments reflects the courageous spirit that has long defined our nation.
We give thanks for Nicole Graves, an Indiana mom who stood up for her daughter and her constitutional rights when her school district retaliated against her for advocating for her child’s safety and for recording a meeting with her child’s principal. Nicole is holding her ground and is advocating for all parents’ rights. Goldwater is proud to defend Nicole because her stand affirms that parents, not government officials, are the primary stewards of their children’s education.
We’re also thankful for property-rights defenders like Jim Griset, whose pursuit of a boutique hotel on Prescott, Arizona’s historic Whiskey Row is emblematic of what it means to own and use one’s own property free from the whims of local officials. The city repeatedly denied his permit based on vague and subjective standards until Goldwater’s lawyers, applying the Permit Freedom Act, forced the city to follow objective law rather than the personal opinions of those with power. Jim’s perseverance under regulatory pressure reminds us that when government invents rules as it goes, it undermines investment, innovation, and the promise of American free enterprise. His victory shows we don’t have to accept it.
These individuals—Elijah, Nicole, and Jim—remind us why the Goldwater Institute exists. Liberty endures only when ordinary people show extraordinary character. The future of freedom depends on citizens who are willing to act and stand up for themselves.
This Thanksgiving, we extend our gratitude to all who refuse to yield in the face of government overreach and stand up for their individual rights. They exemplify the virtues that keep our republic strong. Their courage inspires our work every day and strengthens our resolve to defend constitutional freedoms in every state across the country.
From all of us at the Goldwater Institute: thank you, and may your Thanksgiving be filled with gratitude, purpose, and the enduring promise of American liberty.
