Christmas in the Park honors longtime volunteer and board member

There are few people besides Santa Claus who have meant as much to Christmas in the Park as John Herschbach has. And that’s why the longtime board member and volunteer received a surprise honor at the Christmas in July fundraiser held last Saturday night at History Park in San Jose.

Board President Brian Pulliam and Vice President Tony Santos presented Herschbach with a commemorative bench inscribed with his name at the island-themed event. “He has helped steer this incredible organization through challenging times and changes,” Santos said about Herschbach, a former board president.

“There’s no way I could have done it all by myself,” Herschbach said, pointing out the support of his family, Christmas in the Park’s other board members, staff and the legions of volunteers who put on the annual free holiday display in downtown San Jose and the ticketed drive-through event that’s returning to History Park this fall.

“You think of all the kids who don’t have Christmas at home and come down the park,” he said, “and that’s why we do this.”

Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez also was honored at the event for her decades of support — both while serving on the San Jose City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Chavez has been offered the position of chief executive of Bernalillo County in New Mexico, but Christmas in the Park board member Patrick Hammon expressed his holiday wish that she stick around in Silicon Valley.

“Christmas in the Park and Cindy Chavez are both synonymous with this great city,” Hammon said. Chavez, who terms off the Board of Supervisors this year, hasn’t announced her plans yet — but you can bet we’ll know by the time Christmas in the Park opens in November.

GIVING IT HER ALL: Jennifer Cullenbine, Family Giving Tree’s “Queen Elf,” has decided to step down as CEO of the nonprofit she founded 35 years ago at the end of the year. Cullenbine will pass her jingle bells over to Interim CEO Jill Mitsch and serve as director of transition and donor development for the rest of 2024.

“Jill has been an integral and guiding part of our team since 2020, and I have complete confidence in her ability to lead the organization forward,” Cullenbine said in email to supporters.

Cullenbine started Family Giving Tree as a student project, but it has grown so much — now serving more than 2 million people through its annual Holiday Wish Drive and Back-to-School Drive. Andrea Borch, chair of Family Giving Tree’s board of directors, said it was Cullenbine’s vision and kindness that made the programs fixtures in the communities around the Bay Area.

“Her impact on the organization and the lives of those we serve cannot be overstated,” Borch said.

MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S BLOCK PARTY: It’s San Pedro Square’s turn to host this month’s downtown San Jose Block Party, organized by the Urban Vibrancy Institute. More than 3,000 people have RSVP’d for the event Thursday, which gets started at 5 p.m.

Entertainment will be provided by the band Good Time Collective, and there’ll also more than 20 different local makers and artists showing off their work. There’ll be no shortage of places to eat and drink, of course, as San Pedro Square is already one of San Jose’s liveliest spots.

And while you’re downtown, you might also want to check out this month’s edition of CityDance, which will feature Bollywood-style dancing at the Circle of Palms next to the San Jose Museum of Art. Lessons start at 6 p.m. with music and dancing going on until 9 p.m.