SAN DIEGO — Balboa Park spans 1,200 acres and is visited by millions of people from around the world, every year.
From museums, classes and outdoor space, there are many who help make it what it is today — and three of those organizations were just honored with a Spark Award by the nonprofit, Forever Balboa Park.
"We go around and pick up trash and litter kindness," Lila Cleary-Stoner said, from Cleanup Kitsune. As lovers of the Japanese culture, the nonprofit Cleanup Kitsune started in the Friendship Garden at Balboa Park — they now pick up trash in their signature masks, at events and farmers markets all over San Diego.
"We go around in costumes to break up the mundane and catch people off guard," Cleary-Stoner added.
They wanted to raise awareness about waste in a fun and entertaining way. They hope their efforts inspire others to be more mindful of their own trash.
"We all have a responsibility to each other and our shared spaces to keep it clean for the next person," Corey Cleary-Stoner added.
Cleanup Kitsune is this year's winner of the Forever Balboa Park Spark Awards, under the Enhancing Ecosystems category.
"We're just grateful, elated," Lila and Corey said.
Two others were recognized as well. The Spark Award for Igniting Innovation went to the San Diego Automotive Museum for their Ignite Academy.
"They work with underserved kids to really prepare them for when they enter the workforce," Janessa Wheeler said from Forever Balboa Park.
And finally, the Spark Award for the Crossing Boundaries category is for the border wall preservation project. It recognizes those who are helping preserve the rich cultural history between the U.S. and Mexico.
"The Museum of Us and Friends of Friendship Park intervened and were able to save portions of the wall and now have plans to get that art back into the community so that it isn't lost in construction," Wheeler said.
In addition to their award, the San Diego Foundation gave each organization $5,000 as a thank you for helping make Balboa Park such a clean, inspiring and diverse destination.
"Forever Balboa Park's mission is to advance and improve Balboa Park so that people in nature can thrive together," Wheeler added.
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