Janett Gaytan, a community activist and aspiring architect, will be honored before San Diego's game Tuesday night as the recipient of the third Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award for 2016.
Gaytan was selected as the recipient of the award by members of the Padres' Hispanic Community Advisory Council. She also will receive $1,000 from the Padres Foundation to be donated to the charity of her choice.
Gaytan received the award in the area of PLAY (youth fitness) for her work advocating the rehabilitation of Los Niños Community Park in San Ysidro, where ground was recently broken on the transformation project. The park is expected to be ready this year and will provide a safe place for families and children. Gaytan helped campaign to raise funds for the project, which led to the San Diego City Council awarding a grant of more than $500,000 to the San Diego Parks & Recreation Department.
Gaytan also has served as a liaison between community and law enforcement agencies, including the San Diego Police Department and Customs and Border Protection. She has also worked with these organizations to fix street lights, install pedestrian crosswalks and implement new security programs in the community.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Padres' Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Award, 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's Hispanic community. 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 more information on the Comunidad Award or to submit a nomination, visit www.padresbeisbol.com/comunidad.