FRANK MILLER CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Honoring Virginia Blumenthal

The Mission Inn Foundation (MIF) is proud to honor Virginia Blumenthal as the recipient of the 2025 Frank Miller Civic Achievement Award. The award ceremony and celebratory dinner will take place on Thursday, May 29 at the Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa. The event Reception begins at 5:00 p.m. with the Dinner Program 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 Virginia Blumenthal 

Virginia Blumenthal is the founding partner of Blumenthal & Moore, devoted exclusively to the defense of the accused.   

Ms. Blumenthal, known for opening the first woman-owned law firm in the Inland area, has more than 45 years of trial experience and is recognized as one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the United States.  

She has been named one of the Top 100 Trial Attorneys in America by the National Trial Lawyers, and her firm has been listed as a Top Ranking Law Firm in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.   

Ms. Blumenthal has been named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, and Alumnus of the Year by the Riverside Community College District. She has also received the Krieger Meritorious Service Award for outstanding community service – the highest honor of the Riverside County Bar Association.   

In 2025, Ms. Blumenthal received the inaugural Impact Award from Inland Empire Magazine.  

In 2024, she received the Ronald O. Loveridge Distinguished Leader Award from the Riverside Police Foundation, was named Best Lawyer in the IE by Inland Empire Magazine, and received an Access to Justice Award from the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino.   

In 2023, she received a Champion for Justice Award from the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County; the Civil Rights Law Giant Award from the Riverside County NAACP Youth Council; and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Corona Chamber of Commerce. Her firm also received the Small Business Eagle Award from the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.   

In 2022, Ms. Blumenthal received the Roy Hord Volunteer of the Year Award from the Riverside Downtown Partnership and the Poly High School Bear of Distinction honor for outstanding alumni.   

Ms. Blumenthal has also been named Riverside County Woman of the Year by the California Legislature. She has received the NAACP Law & Justice Award; the Honorary Life Member Award from the Fraternal Order of Police, Riverside, Lodge 8; the YWCA Women of Achievement “Person Who Makes a Difference” Award; and the Gold Key Award from Soroptimist International of Riverside.  

In 2019, she argued before the California Supreme Court – a rare distinction for a trial attorney – in the matter of People v. Aranda. Three months later, the state high court issued a 6-1 decision in Ms. Blumenthal’s favor.  

She has been the longtime leader of the Riverside County Philharmonic, is one of the founders of the Riverside County High School Mock Trial program, and is serving her fifth term on the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees. She also sits on a range of local boards, including those directing the UC Riverside Foundation, the Riverside University Hospital System Foundation, and the Riverside Unified School District Foundation.   

Her work has been recognized by the President of the United States; the Governor of California; the Mayor of Riverside; the California State Assembly and  

State Senate; the Riverside County Board of Supervisors; and the Riverside City Council.  She has four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  

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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, Dell Roberts and Kathy Allavie.