Parker Foundation President’s Message

February 4, 2008

Our foundation joined the Legler Benbough Foundation and the San Diego Foundation to commission a report on Balboa Park titled “The Soul of San Diego, Keeping Balboa Park Magnificent in Its Second Century.”  The report is authored by the Trust for Public Land, and is on our website.  It was delivered to San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who endorsed and released it on January 30.  It is now in the hands of the City’s Balboa Park Committee, who will hold a number of public meetings about the status and future of Balboa Park.  The report provides facts and analysis about the condition of this beautiful and revered park, which is so important to our region in so many ways.  The report discusses alternatives for governance of the park, in light of its deteriorating infrastructure and the City’s financial challenges.  The three foundations are not recommending a particular solution to the park’s woes.  Our purpose is to provide a factual basis for community discussion and to provide as well a catalyst for consideration of various forms of governance which may lead to the availability of dollars – accountably and efficiently managed – for the park’s enhancement.

Our board shares with the Legler Benbough Foundation and the San Diego Foundation a deep commitment to Balboa Park, for all the reasons set forth in the report.  This joint venture squarely addresses our mission to provide for “the betterment of all aspects of life of the people of San Diego County.”  We will be watching closely as the deliberations of the Balboa Park Committee and our community lead toward recommendations, based on broad public participation, in Fall, 2008.

We have recently taken on other challenges to address the quality of life in San Diego.  Since 2006 we have approved grants in the total amount of $275,000 to the San Diego River Foundation to assist in land acquisition along the river’s banks, to improve the quality of the river’s water, and to increase public awareness of the river’s vital importance to our community.

Under the leadership of board member Mary Herron, we are active participants in a variety of coalitions and organizations implementing solutions to San Diego’s housing needs and homelessness.

And, as our summary of grants shows, with an annual grant budget now in excess of $2,000,000, we continue to provide support in a variety of other areas, particularly including visual and performing arts and museums ($680,000 in fiscal year 2007); and adult and youth services ($678,000 in that year).

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Judy McDonald first joined our board of directors in November, 1983.  Pursuant to our bylaws, Judy was ineligible for reelection to a new term commencing January 1, 2007, and spent that year as a director emerita.  However, we hardly noticed the difference.  Judy, as most everyone in San Diego knows, is a committed and enthusiastic volunteer whose knowledge of our community and its people is without peer.  She continued to volunteer for site visits during 2007, and provided us with her knowledgeable insights at board meetings as usual.  I am pleased to report that, as of January 1, 2008, Judy is back on the board.  Her contributions are invaluable.

William E. Beamer
President