Padres to honor second Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award winner of 2015
Gabriela Beas to receive the award for her impact in the area of youth education
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres will honor the recipient of the second Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award for 2015 on Wednesday, May 20 in a pregame ceremony prior to that night's game vs. the Chicago Cubs. Gabriela "Gaby" Beas, region IX migrant services aide with the San Diego County Office of Education, has been selected as the recipient of the award by members of the Padres' Hispanic Community Advisory Council (HCAC).
Beas was selected to receive the award in the area of LEARN (youth education) for her dedication to encouraging and helping students in the San Marcos and Encinitas areas pursue higher education. Beas works with students and their families to help them fully understand and navigate the college application process. She also makes sure to emphasize the importance of giving back to the community, as evidenced by her creation of the Holiday Basket program, through which her students create food gift baskets for the Community Resource Center, a safe haven for families impacted by domestic violence. Beas also was awarded the Peacemaker Award by the "Los Angelitos de Encinitas", a non-profit charity focused on the economically disadvantaged youth of Encinitas, for her work with families in that area.
The Padres' Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award series was established in 2012 to recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations whose work makes a positive impact on those who live and work in San Diego and Baja California's Hispanic community. In support of the Padres Foundation's community vision, four awards will be given throughout the year, one each in the areas of children's health (LIVE), children's education (LEARN), youth baseball/ softball or youth fitness (PLAY) and supporting our law enforcement and military communities (SERVE). For the first time in the program's history, each winner in 2015 will receive $1,000 from the Padres Foundation to be donated to the charity of their choice.
To submit a nomination, visit www.padresbeisbol.com/comunidad (Please note: English nominations can be made by pressing the English nomination button).
All Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award winners will be honored together on the field before the Padres game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, as part of a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.