HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Living Desert47-900 PORTOLA AVENUE
PALM DESERT, CA 92260
(760) 346-5694
FAX (760) 568-9685
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mrs. B.J. Skilling*
Chairman
Dennis Godecke*
Vice Chairman
Building & Grounds
E. Eugene Yeager*
Vice Chairman
Development
Richard Spelke*
Vice Chairman
Finance
Mrs. Mary Jane Jenkins
Vice Chairman
Special Events
Mrs. Peggy Bernthal*
Vice Chairman
Education
Mrs. Lawrence A. Cone*
Vice Chairman.
Guest Services
Secretary
W. Curt Ealy
Legal Counsel
Michael B. Burns*
Treasurer
Karen Sausman
President/CEO
Assistant Secretary
John Barr
Mrs. Carin Berglars
Buford Crites
Mrs. Daphne DeMartino
Mrs. Robert Engle
Mrs. Shirley Farley
Mrs. Barbara Filiatreaux
Scott Haug
Mrs. H. Earl Hoover
Mrs. Carolyn Hunt
Mrs. Sis Jackson
Mrs. Joan P. Keyston
Mrs. Louise Knowles
Haddon Libby
George E. Maas
Patrick McCarthy
John T. Schwarzlose*
Ms. Tisha Shaski
Sherman A. Smith
R. Laurence Spicer*
Mrs. George B. Storer
Mrs. Marilyn S. Tennity
Mrs. Frederick G. Wacker, Jr.
Mrs. Dorothy L. Weber
Mrs. Peggy Fouke Wortz
Mrs. Carol Wright*
HONORARY BOARD
President Gerald R. Ford
Mrs. Betty Ford
Mrs. Dolores Hope
Mrs. Ruth Applegarth
Mrs. Helen Dengler
Stanley A. Rosin
THE LIVING DESERT
April 3, 2006
Mayor Jim Ferguson
The City. of Palm Desert
73-510 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, Ca 92260-2578
MONO
Dear Mayor Ferguson:
The Board of Trustees of The Living Desert joins me in recognizing
the leadership role that Palm Desert has played in the cultural and
educational life of our desert community by supporting projects at The
Living Desert such as Eagle Canyon and our state of the art parking
lot.
As Palm Desert, has grown into a popular, internationally known resort
recognized for it's year round sunshine and spectacular golf courses,
public art, and world class shopping on El Paseo, so has The Living
Desert blossomed into an organization specializing in much more than
gardens, and animal exhibits. It has become a first rate educational
facility with an outdoor, living classroom that welcomes over 30,000
local school children every year, many at no charge to their schools.
Hundreds of volunteers — young and old — and specially trained
docents give thousands of hours each year to educate and assist our
visitors. We also provide veterinary animal care facilities and
rehabilitation to an average of 1,500 injured and orphaned wild
animals brought to us annually.
Of course, growth is necessary at all levels to fulfill our mission to
educate, conserve and preserve: Our growth since our inception in
1970 has been based upon our knowledge that to be a successful
community organization we must involve all segments of the
community from school children to retirees, from tourists to full time
residents. Our goals center on three important areas; strengthening
our general operations, building an endowment to secure the future,
and expanding our facilities to meet our conservation and education
goals.
0
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* Executive Committee
The Living Desert respectfully requests $50,000 to support construction of
the Stephen B. Chase Administration Building. The new, 20,000 square
building will be located in the City of Palm Desert to the north of the new
entrance. The administrative offices will include the President's office and space
for various departments such as development, membership, public relations and
marketing, accounting, human resources, special events, and others. A 2,500
square foot Board Room with a catering kitchen will house Board meetings as
well as small events. A main gallery and a smaller gallery will showcase the
Chase collection of California Plein Air art and occasional changing exhibitions
open to the public. A beautiful outdoor courtyard adjacent to the galleries and
Boardroom will be used for special donor events and catering space. This
courtyard patio has a .pathway that leads directly onto the center core of The
Living Desert's grounds.
The estimated cost of construction is $7,200,000 of which $6,900,000 has been
raised. The lead gift was provided by Stephen B. Chase, and, other major gifts
have been received from Board of Trustees members. We anticipate additional
major support from our membership, foundations and corporations. The Living
Desert has a proven track record of achievement in education, conservation and
preservation, administrative and, managerial capacity, audience support,
thoughtful organizational planning, and capable execution.
We invite the City of Palm Desert to support The Living Desert as we are
providing for the future by building for now. We would sincerely appreciate the
consideration of the City of Palm Desert of this request for funding. Thank you for
the opportunity to submit this request.
Sincerely,
usman, President/CEO.
cc: Councilman Robert Spiegel
Councilman Richard Kelly.
Councilman Buford Crites
Councilwoman Jean Benson