Rancho Santa Fe family to be honored with the Friends of Balboa Park’s Millennium Award

Friends of Balboa Park, the non-profit organization committed to preserving Balboa Park’s legacy for future generations through park-wide projects, will host its 13th annual luncheon, “A Salute to Volunteers and Visionaries,” at noon on Oct. 29 at the Balboa Park Club. The Friends of Balboa Park’s annual luncheon honors volunteer leadership and provides public recognition of people and organizations in Balboa Park with the presentation of The Millennium Award and the Inspiration Awards.

The Millennium Award is presented to individuals and organizations committed to the betterment of the park. The Gildred family of Rancho Santa Fe will be awarded the Millennium Award in recognition of 78 years of leadership, stewardship and volunteer activity in Balboa Park, which began in 1935 with Philip L. Gildred’s position as managing director of the California Pacific International Exposition. Gildred was also a co-founder of the House of Pacific Relations’ “International Cottages,” which opened during the exposition.

The Gildred family’s philanthropic legacy and devotion to community service continues even today. Among the pillars are the sons of Philip and Helen: George L. Gildred, Jr., along with their respective wives, Alison Frost Gildred and Lyn Stephens Gildred, all who have assumed important and enduring leadership positions at several institutions in Balboa Park.

Tom Gildred, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Philip L. Gildred, Sr., will accept the Friends of Balboa Park’s Millennium Award on behalf of the Gildred family.

Interim Mayor Todd Gloria and County Supervisor Ron Roberts will present this year’s awards, and Friends of Balboa Park Founder Betty Peabody will be a featured speaker.

“The Friends are proud to honor these individuals for their remarkable dedication to the Park,” said Friends of Balboa Park Executive Director Kathleen Stoughton. “Their vision and devotion have helped make Balboa Park the extraordinary place that it is today.”

The Inspiration Awards are given to volunteers nominated by their peers in the Balboa Park community. The public is invited to attend the event to honor and celebrate the people who have make Balboa Park so special.

For more information, visit www.FriendsOfBalboaPark.org or call (619) 232-2282.