FRANK MILLER CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
honoring Kathy Allavie

The Mission Inn Foundation (MIF) is proud to honor Kathy Allavie as the recipient of the 2024 Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award. The award ceremony and celebratory dinner will take place on Thursday, November 14 at the Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. Seating is extremely limited, so please reserve your space early.

The Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award was established in 1997 to honor individuals, couples or groups who have made significant contributions to the city and community of Riverside. Frank Augustus Miller’s tradition of civic leadership and devotion to this community carries on in the efforts of many leaders and innovators working to promote and enhance the city of Riverside today. It is with Miller’s devotion to community in mind, that the Mission Inn Foundation presents the Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award to Kathy Allavie.

A 4th-generation Riversider and tireless volunteer, Kathy Allavie has devoted herself to supporting education and art initiatives throughout Riverside.  This is particularly significant because of her family’s connection to Frank Miller himself.  She follows a path of civic engagement that her family began generations ago and never tires of giving back to her community. 

A Poly High School graduate and USC alumnus, Kathy has made significant contributions to the Riverside Unified School District and the Riverside community in general. Her journey of volunteerism began in the 1980’s when she joined the Junior League of Riverside, becoming President in 1993. After becoming actively involved in her three daughters’ education and serving as PTA President too many times to mention, she decided to run for School Board, beginning in 2005. During her 17-year tenure on the Board, she became known as a staunch advocate for the arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Because of her input, RUSD boasts a premiere VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) program, as well as one of the top-scoring STEM schools in the region. She was also responsible for establishing a unique UCR-RUSD Pipeline Scholarship for Graduate Students who wished to pursue STEM teaching at RUSD.  

Kathy’s passion for the arts led her to develop many notable projects such as the 2018 ART FLOAT, the largest community art installation in Riverside’s history, which benefited the Riverside Art Museum. She also created GHOSTWALK Riverside, The Giant Orange Project, Art Bark in the Park and the Riverside Banner Project, among many others. She served on the Mission Inn Foundation Board as well as a docent from 2004-2010. 

Her dedication to the arts and her community involvement has led to many notable accolades and honors. She received the Community Impact Award for the Arts from the Riverside Arts Academy in 2020, the Athena Award from the Riverside Chamber of Commerce in 2019, and 61st Assembly District Woman of the Year in 2015. Other awards include the City of Riverside’s “Spirit Award” for outstanding community volunteerism in 2011 and the Art Pick Leadership Award as a distinguished alumnus of Leadership Riverside. Kathy’s dedication and leadership were recognized on a broader scale when she was appointed by the governor to the State of California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing. 

One of Kathy’s significant challenges as RUSD Board President came at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when she helped the district navigate through uncertain times with determination and grace. Her leadership was crucial in charting the course for RUSD during this difficult period. In addition to her contributions to RUSD, Kathy served in the Mayor’s Office as the international liaison for the City of Riverside, coordinating the Sister City program. In this capacity she also facilitated connections with higher education and organized neighborhood and arts events. 

Through her multifaceted involvement and tireless dedication, Kathy Allavie has created a vibrant legacy of care and commitment to the Riverside community. Her advocacy for the arts, support for STEM education, and exemplary leadership during challenging times have made a lasting impact on our educational landscape and community.  

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The Mission Inn Foundation continues to support this vision of a robust Riverside community through its active history and educational programs.  The efforts of the Mission Inn Foundation to preserve, share and continue the legacy of the Mission Inn are supported through contributions and fundraising efforts like the Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award.  Past honorees include Knox Mellon, Tim Hays, Judge Victor Miceli, Peggy Fouke Wortz, Justice John Gabbert, Duane R. Roberts, Arthur Littleworth, Henry Coil, Jr., S. Sue Johnson, Gary Rawlings, Chuck Beaty, Ron & Marsha Loveridge, Judge Charles Field, Cindy Roth, Joe Tavaglione, Jack B. Clarke, Jr., Gordon Bourns, Ofelia Valdez Yeager, Brian Jaramillo and Dell Roberts.