2018 Honorees

Please join the Yerba Buena Alliance in celebrating our 2018 Honorees.

Organizational Champion Award

San Francisco Travel

We recognize San Francisco Travel for their role in helping to bring conventions to the Moscone Center that benefit surrounding hotels, restaurants and retail establishments, and for helping to bring millions of visitors a year to Yerba Buena Gardens. Acting as a specialized economic development agency, San Francisco Travel works to promote the destination worldwide while ensuring that tourism, the top generator of outside revenue into the city’s economy, is kept in the forefront as citywide decisions and policies are made.

Unsung Hero Award

Brian Boitano

Brian Boitano, World and Olympic Champion Ice Skater, we honor him for bringing Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center to the forefront as a place for youth, sports and excellence through his creation and commitment to Brian Boitano Youth Skate Program. His organization introduces over 10,000 children from San Francisco Unified School District to an afternoon of professional instruction, healthy snacks, Youth Skate T-shirt, a free-pass to come back and personal best training from Harper for Kids. Brian is a San Francisco champion both on and off the ice.

Guardian of the Gardens Award

Willie Abasta

Presented to Willie Abasta of TODCO, recognizing his 30 years of involvement as the resident manager of Mendelsohn House, Alice Street Gardens and all his contributions to the Yerba Buena neighborhood to make it a wonderful and safe place for seniors.

2018 Honorary Committee

Rev. Roberto Andrey

Saint Patrick Church

Debroah Cullinan

Executive Director

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

The Honorable London Breed

Mayor

San Francisco

Joe D'Alessandro

President & CEO

San Francisco Travel

The Honorable Willie L. Brown

Former Mayor

John Elberling

President

TODCO

Joe D'Alessandro

President & CEO

San Francisco Travel

Mark Farrell

District 2 Supervisor

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Messay Girma

Facility Manager

Fifth & Mission Parking Garage

Paige Scott

Manager

Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center

Supervisor Jane Kim

District 6 Supervisor

San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Lori Starr

Executive Director

Contemporary Jewish Museum

Messay Girma

Facility Manager

Fifth & Mission Parking Garage

Andrew M. Kluger

Chair Board of Trustees

The Mexican Museum

Linda Harrison

Director and CEO

Museum of the African Diaspora

Jack Sylvan

Senior Vice President of Development

Forest City Enterprises

Jacqueline Volkart

General Manager

St. Regis San Francisco

Carol M. Tang, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Children's Creativity Museum