This article originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on September 19, 2025
San Francisco, Calif. – The inaugural Jim Griffith Memorial Award was presented to Giants Enterprises President Stephen Revetria on May 1 at the Fairmont Hotel during the 37th Guardsmen Celebrity Dinner & Sports Auction. The event raised nearly $315K for 500 under-resourced children to attend The Guardsmen’s Camp Mendocino summer program, as well as to support the hundreds of children who participate in the free, youth baseball leagues of the Giants Community Fund.
Revetria is a champion of causes benefiting the physical, mental wellness and educational opportunities for Bay Area youth. As a former Guardsmen president and long-standing supporter of thirty years, Revetria directed and raised funds for this charitable organization’s programs serving under-resourced students. In 2002, Revetria further augmented the Sports Auction by inviting the participation of Giants’ baseball celebrities and forming a connection between The Guardsmen and the Community Fund.
“Stephen Revetria is most deserving of this inaugural honor to recognize his decades of volunteer service in our community,” said Guardsmen President Matt Keipper. “In establishing this award to remember the inspirational legacy of longtime Guardsmen Jim Griffith, we proudly acknowledge Stephen’s profound impact. Through his personal and professional endeavors, Stephen has advanced the Guardsmen’s mission to create meaningful opportunities that enrich the lives of Bay Area children through the lens of sport.”
Among the evening’s celebrities: Honorary event chairman and former Giants first baseman J.T. Snow; Maverick’s surfing champion Jeff Clark; Olympic runner Shannon Rowbury; former 49ers’ champion Bill Ring; 2024 Olympic gold medal rower Justin Best and former NFL tight end Dwayne Allen, who shared emcee duties with Bay Area sports talk legend Damon Bruce.
The auction also coincided with the Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind campaign, a statewide initiative developed by Governor Gavin Newsom for his Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, on which Revetria serves. These free, online resources promoting the benefits of daily physical activity, mindfulness and play in California K-12 schools, were also shared with The Guardsmen and their education program partners.
“I am deeply humbled by this honor. Jim was a friend and a man whose legacy continues to inspire all of us: He believed in the power of community, of rolling up your sleeves, and most of all, in giving every child a chance,” said Revetria. “Fellowship and philanthropy are at the core of The Guardsmen’s mission. And when we invest in athletics and education for under-resourced youth, we’re not only providing gear or coaching – we’re giving children the opportunity to enhance their education while developing confidence, fitness and a sense of belonging.”
About Stephen Revetria
Celebrating his 25th season with The San Francisco Giants, Stephen Revetria, a Bay Area native and University of San Francisco alumnus, leads the vision in developing Giants Enterprises’ non-baseball event strategy at Oracle Park. In 2016, Revetria was an integral participant at the inaugural Sport at the Service of Humanity conference at the Vatican, convened by Pope Francis. Revetria serves as an Advisory Council member to the Wender Weis Foundation for Children and is a former trustee to the San Francisco Boys & Girls Clubs. Revetria is also a Trustee Emeritus to the Olympic Club Foundation and USF, where he helped develop the Pat Gallagher Fellowship which rewards a Sports Management Masters student with a year-long, San Francisco Giants internship.
About the Jim Griffith Memorial Award
Jim Griffith, who died in January 2025, was a skilled athlete and a U.S. Masters Swimmer, an inspirational mentor and a devoted Guardsmen, serving as the organization’s longtime Christmas Tree Czar. This award recognizes individuals integral to the Sports Auction’s success, as well as their community-wide support of endeavors that improve the lives of young people.
About the Guardsmen
Founded in 1947, The Guardsmen is a charitable men’s organization that provides life-enhancing opportunities for under-resourced Bay Area youth by raising funds for academic scholarships, summer camperships and athletic programs. Their annual endeavors also include the San Francisco Wine Auction and The Guardsmen’s Christmas Tree Lot at Fort Mason Center.
About Giants Enterprises
Giants Enterprises, the entrepreneurial arm of the San Francisco Giants dedicated to developing new ventures beyond the Major League Baseball franchise, hosts one-of-a-kind experiences at Oracle Park, throughout San Francisco, on San Francisco Bay and beyond. At the intersection of Sports, Entertainment, Hospitality, Events, Service and Tourism, Giants Enterprises has produced thousands of events over the last 25 years, including the 34th America’s Cup, delivering the Official Spectator Experiences and successfully commercializing the event for the first time in its 160-year history. In addition, Giants Enterprises has executed major concerts, Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018, professional and college football games and The Giant Race series. One of the top hospitality, event, entertainment and sports consultancy teams in the world, Giants Enterprises operates more than 20 venues in and around Oracle Park. For more information, visit giantsenterprises.com.
CONTACT:
Morgan Perry | mperry@sfgiants.com