Press Releases

“The community is very fortunate to have historic and beautiful Rosemont College as a neighbor and friend. I am so glad that I can participate in Reflect | Renew | Rejoice: The Campaign for Rosemont College through the 2010 Cresset Dinner. I hope friends and associates join me in this most worthwhile journey.”

“Bill is one of Philadelphia’s most civically minded citizens and genuinely cares about the community in which he lives,” said Rosemont President Sharon Latchaw Hirsh, Ph.D. ’70. “He has contributed a great deal of time and energy to many worthy organizations in our area and Rosemont is so delighted to be among them. We are pleased to honor Bill Giles with this year’s Cresset Award.”

Bill Giles is the recipient of the 2010 Cresset Award. The Cresset Award is given annually by Rosemont College to outstanding individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting values and to supporting education for all people. Giles, chairman of the Philadelphia Phillies, will be honored at the 22nd Cresset Award Dinner on April 22, at the Please Touch Museum, in Philadelphia, PA. This year’s dinner will be chaired by Dan Polett, president/owner of Wilkie automotive dealerships, and his wife, Margo Barry Polett ’61, of Gladwyne, PA.


Giles is very well known for his prolific front office baseball career which began in 1959 when he was named GM of the Nashville Vols, a Cincinnati Red’s minor league team. From there he moved throughout the industry arriving in Philadelphia with the opening of Veterans Stadium, at the request of the Carpenter family, to assist with the business end of the operation in 1969.

In 1981, while serving as the executive director of the Philadelphia Phillies, Giles organized a group of investors to purchase the Phillies when the Carpenter family put the team up for sale. The acquisition was a success and Giles would go on to serve as President of the club until June 1997, when he accepted the position of Chairman. Four years later, Giles was nominated to serve as honorary president of the National League (NL), a role in which he represents the NL at the All-Star Game and postseason play.

During Giles’ tenure, the Phillies have obtained five National League championships, two World Series titles, and a new home in Citizens Bank Park, a project which Giles played a key role in the design concept and securing the financing from the Commonwealth and the city of Philadelphia.

While it seems as though baseball has been Giles’ life he has found time to serve many of the Philadelphia’s regions most prestigious and prolific organization. For 18 years, Giles served as the Chairman of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitor Bureau and was instrumental in bringing the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Marriott Hotel to fruition. Today he holds the title of chairman emeritus with the organization.

Other volunteer titles that he has held include member of the executive committee of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Philadelphia Sports Congress; past president of the Boy Scouts of America and the Corporate Alliance for Drug Education. Currently, Giles is on the board of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and the Police Athletic League. He is a member of the Union League, the Rotary Club, and the visitors boards of the Temple University Medical School and Temple’s Journalism School. Additionally, Giles has been honored many, many times for his contributions to Philadelphia region.

Giles and his wife, Nancy, reside in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and are the proud parents of three grown sons, Michael, Joseph, and Christopher and eight grandchildren.

Previous Recipients:
2009 - Deb Takes ’98
2008 - Fred & Kathy Mullan Rotondaro '65

2007 - Pat Ciarrocchi '74

2006 - Robert Ryan & Barbara Spiro Ryan

2005 - Helen Meeks Horstmann, MD '67

2004 - Thoman J. Healey & Margaret Sachs Healey, Ph.D. '67

2003 - John Thomas Paul & Judith Savaiano Paul '70