Phil Pace and Jeff Loya, co-owners of Phil’s BBQ in the Midway District, were honored with inaugural Inspiration Awards by The Center for Wealth & Legacy, a nonprofit organization assisting business owners in growing the value of their business and passing along their knowledge to future generations. The honor came on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. Phil’s BBQ, an establishment on Sports Arena Boulevard, might be lesser known for the many philanthropic ventures of Pace and Loya. The two support a number of charities through cash donations, sponsorships and other awareness campaigns.  Some of the highlights include raising $38,000 in 2009 and $40,000 in 2010 for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentoring program to assist children of parents deployed in the military. The pair also helped raise $10,000 at the Shamu and You Family Fun Walk for Rady Children’s Hospital, and have given personal donations to the San Diego Humane Society totaling $17,000 since 2008. The Inspiration Awards program was conceived by R.J. Kelly, founder and president of Wealth Legacy Group, as a vehicle by which to connect and inspire others to follow in the footsteps of socially-minded business leaders. The ceremony featured presentations by esteemed speakers Ken Blanchard, nationally recognized leadership and management guru; and Randy Ataide, executive director at the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute, Point Loma Nazarene University.  For more information, visit www.wealthlegacyseries.org/. – Staff report