Sharon Thralls, sustaining member of the Junior League of Pasadena, is the recipient of the 2016 Nancy Reed Payne Achievement Award. In 1995, the award was created to recognize and honor sustaining members who have made an exceptional contribution to the JLP and the community throughout their Junior League careers.

Thralls is a woman with a long list of outstanding accomplishments as a member of the JLP and beyond. She has been supporting the community through her dedicated volunteer service for more than 40 years, and has been a member of the Junior League of Pasadena since 1978.

From 1978-1984, Thralls was a founding member of the board of directors at Kidspace Museum, a children’s hands-on museum created by the Junior League of Pasadena. She simultaneously served on the Board of governors at Parsons School of Design and the board of directors for the Junior League of Pasadena. From 1983-1984 she served as president of the JLP, administering a seven person executive committee and a 47-person board of directors. Prior to her JLP presidency, she had an impressive career within the JLP in positions including community vice president and chairperson of the Advisory Planning Committee.

The award will be presented at the Junior League of Pasadena’s annual Simply Speaking benefit luncheon on Saturday, April 30 at the San Gabriel Country Club. The event will also feature a silent auction, keynote address by Meaghan Rose, CEO of RocksBox, and presentation of the Community Impact Award to Akila Gibbs, executive director of the Pasadena Senior Center. To purchase tickets to Simply Speaking, visit www.jlpasadena.org/estore. Proceeds from the event go toward the JLP’s programs supporting business, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills for women in the community.