Members of the Coronado Historical Association’s Spreckels Society gathered for an extraordinary evening of fellowship, great food, and sweeping views, continuing a cherished tradition of community leadership and stewardship. The annual Spreckels Society Party and Benefit serves as CHA’s primary fundraiser dedicated exclusively to sustaining the museum’s vital youth education initiatives, ensuring that local children connect with Coronado’s rich heritage for generations to come.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Spreckels Award to Coronado Councilmember Kelly Purvis. The recognition carried special significance this year, marking thirty years since Purvis founded the Spreckels Society while serving as CHA’s very first Development Director. The award honors an outstanding Spreckels member whose extraordinary vision and dedication continuously shape the museum’s future and preserve Coronado’s historic identity.
The festive gathering brought together sustaining members from the Spreckels, Polo, and Founder membership levels and was made possible thanks to Carrie and John O’Brien, event chair Caroline Murray, and CHA’s lifetime benefactors Leslie and Don Budinger. Thanks to the Spreckel Society’s generous support during the annual paddle raise, CHA will continue to expand its flagship third-grade Jr. Historian Program and Coronado 101 initiatives. Proceeds guarantee that local youth history education remains accessible to all local students.
Established in 2009, the Jr. Historian Program serves approximately 250 third-grade students each year across the Coronado Unified School District, Sacred Heart Parish School, and Christ Church Day School. Fully aligned with California History/Social Science Standards, the curriculum brings history alive outside the traditional classroom. Museum educators and trained volunteer docents guide students through hands-on discovery using authentic artifacts, historic photographs, letters, and postcards from CHA’s extensive archives. The program culminates in immersive walking field trips through the CHA Museum, the Hotel del Coronado, and the surrounding downtown historic district, allowing students to experience life in Coronado from 1885 to the present day.
To date, over 3,000 local third graders have stepped into the shoes of young historians through this effort. The Spreckels Society Party and Benefit stands as a powerful testament to the community’s commitment to preserving local history and inspiring the next generation of Coronadans.
