Celebrating Innovation in Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a source of health and wellness, economic benefit, and cultural enrichment for the San Diego region and beyond. Forever Balboa Park’s sPARK Awards recognizes outstanding people and organizations that amplify Balboa Park’s distinct role and positive impact. Please join us to celebrate award winners and nominees; learn from engaging speakers; and enjoy delicious bites, an open bar, and the company of fellow Balboa park lovers!

The sPARK Awards inspire a sense of belonging, welcoming a wide range of nominees: individuals and organizations; nonprofit, public or private sector; and within or beyond the boundaries of Balboa Park. There are three categories of award: Igniting Innovation, Crossing Boundaries and Enhancing Ecosystems (see descriptions below). Award winners are selected after careful review of nominations by a volunteer Selection Committee with diverse knowledge, experience, and backgrounds, and a shared love for Balboa Park. Each awardee will be given a cash prize for their nonprofit of affiliation, to fuel continued innovation and curiosity.

Event includes:

• Botanical Building and Gardens Welcome Reception with heavy hors d'oeuvres
• The Prado Ballroom Awards Ceremony
• Evening coffee and desserts in the House of Hospitality Courtyard
• Remarks by Forever Balboa Park Leadership
• Engaging speakers focused on innovation and change-making in San Diego
• Awards Presentation

Award Categories

• Igniting Innovation Award: The Igniting Innovation Award recognizes innovation, imagination, and risk-taking related to Balboa Park. Individuals, organizations, partnerships or collaboratives may receive this award for efforts that spark new ways of viewing or experiencing Balboa Park, leading to increased opportunities, possibilities, and potential.
• Crossing Boundaries Award: The Crossing Boundaries Award recognizes interdisciplinary or cross-sector collaboration that demonstrates Balboa Park’s multifaceted impact. Individuals, organizations, partnerships or collaboratives may receive this award for efforts that cross disciplinary, organizational, cultural, generational or other boundaries to make connections among nature, art, science, performance, learning, history, civic engagement or other areas of interest.
• Enhancing Ecosystems Award: The Enhancing Ecosystems Award recognizes outstanding efforts to improve the environmental wellbeing and sustainability of Balboa Park, and thus, the natural world. Individuals, organizations, partnerships or collaboratives may receive this award for efforts that enhance Balboa Park ecosystems, expand environmental stewardship within or through Balboa Park or support the connection between Balboa Park’s natural spaces and community health.

Nominations are currently open. Please nominate a candidate at 4-bp.org/spark

To sponsor the sPARK Awards, please contact Phillip Sammuli at Phillip@balboapark.org (619) 331-1109

For questions on registering for this event, please contact Annie Petersen at Annie@balboapark.org (619) 331-1991

For media inquiries, please contact Briana Tellez at Briana@balboapark.org (619) 331-1929

At this event you may be photographed, videotaped or recorded. By attending this event, you may be included in these photos and videos. Your attendance at this event grants your permission to be in these photos or videos which may be used for educational, archival or promotional purposes.