June 2010
Library Preview Draws Support of Local Business Leaders
Over $100,000 in Commitments pledged at June 17 event
Members of four local business groups - the Avenues of Art & Design, the Sunset Strip Business Association, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the West Hollywood Marketing and Visitors Bureau - were treated to a sneak preview of the new library building on June 17.
Over 60 guests donned protective hard hats and joined contractor Dan Adams and architects Steve Johnson and Michael Schulman of MDA Johnson Favaro for 20-minute tours inside the new library building.
After the tours, guests relaxed in a private room at The Abbey and enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and Library Martinis, a special cocktail created for the occasion. The short program featured Master of Ceremonies Don Lucas, a warm welcome from City Councilmember Abbe Land, a screening of the campaign video, and inspirational remarks from West Hollywood Library Fund Chair Christopher Bonbright, who shared how important it is to raise the remaining $4.5 million needed to meet the goal of the campaign.
Guests responded to the call for support by making over $100,000 in commitments to support the library. Alan Johnson of the Ramada Inn pledged a lead gift of $50,000 in support of the library with $20,000 allocated toward scholarships to support and promote youths in the arts. The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce committed to raise $25,000, of which over $6,000 has already been pledged by its membership to name the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce flat files in the West Hollywood Room. The Roxy Theatre will raise $10,000 through a membership upgrade program and two concerts over the next year. The Avenues of Art & Design has designated LibraryPark as its charity partner this year. Barbara Lazaroff has increased her commitment to $10,000 to name a bookcase in the children's area. The Sunset Marquis will contribute $5,000 and an equal amount of in-kind support. Additional gifts were received from Ruben Esparza, Barbara Hamaker, David Johnson, Joe Lamas, Todd Riemer and Marc Yeber.
Thanks to our donors, guests, local business leaders, volunteers, and everyone else who helped to make this event a success!
Community Campaign Meets First Challenge
In March, donor David Streets made a generous pledge to the campaign for LibraryPark on one condition - that his donation be matched by new contributions from the community by May 31. Thanks to you we have met - and exceeded - that challenge! Your gifts, combined with David's generosity, have resulted in more than $100,000 toward the construction of the new West Hollywood Library.
We are grateful to the more than 40 donors who answered the challenge by contributing $57,000 between March 1 and May 31. In total, we have raised over $5.5 million toward our $10 million goal.
What makes gifts like David's so special? They encourage the community of West Hollywood and beyond to unite in order to achieve a common goal - making LibraryPark truly a place Like No Other. Challenge grants demonstrate the power of individuals who join forces to create a valuable resource that will benefit the entire community. If you're interested in making your own challenge gift, contact LouAnne Greenwald (323-469-1871 or lgreenwald@weholibraryfund.org).
Our sincerest thanks to David Streets and to everyone who helped by contributing to meet the challenge!
West Hollywood shows PRIDE in Library
Hundreds of thousands turned out for the 40th LA PRIDE on the weekend of June 12-13. The promise of the new West Hollywood Library's signature collection of LGBT literature, history and personal materials, expanded Ron Shipton HIV Information Center and the vision of the new building displayed on a banner drew many guests to the City of West Hollywood's tent. An enthusiastic group of West Hollywood Library Fund Board members, staff and volunteers greeted them and shared ways to get involved in the campaign. Thanks to all who helped or stopped by!
Pictured: West Hollywood Library Fund's display at LA PRIDE
Chamber of Commerce Event Benefits LibraryPark
The Spirit of New Orleans drew a crowd of more than 100 people to the Sunset Boulevard showroom of Hornburg Jaguar on the evening of May 26. Hornburg Jaguar and Devin Ford Photography hosted the mixer for members of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and their guests, who listened to New Orleans-style jazz while sampling delicious hors d'oeuvres and small-production wines viewing an exhibit of Devin's photographic work.
Devin's subjects include fashion, portraits, pets, travel, interiors and more. She generously donated one of her photographs as a prize to be won by a lucky guest that evening, and offered to give 20% of the proceeds from sales of her other photographs on display to the West Hollywood Library Fund.
Construction Update
The new West Hollywood Library construction team continued bringing all areas of the building closer to completion during the month of May. They placed the concrete walls for the plinth parking garage and applied concrete finishing to the concrete walls of the 5-story parking garage, where installation of the stairs has begun.
There's a lot going on inside the building, too! The library's stairs are under construction and the crew is working to complete interior wall construction as well as the installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
Workers are installing waterproofing around the perimeter of the structures and framing the building's exterior wall system, and have demolished the alley roadway asphalt to prepare for the installation of utilities.
We look forward to watching the progress continue!
Board Member in the News
Congratulations to West Hollywood Library Fund Board member Joseph A. Cislowski on his election to the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee from the 42nd Assembly District.Join Us
Find us on Facebook! "Like" us and stay up to date on the latest library news and be part of the conversation as our campaign progresses.For more information about the campaign and how you can help, please contact Campaign Manager LouAnne Greenwald via email at lgreenwald@weholibraryfund.org.
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