Libbey Bowl Campaign Reaches Initial Goal!
In one of the most ambitious community fund-raising efforts in Ojai history, the Save Libbey Bowl community campaign announced this week that it has reached its goal of $3 million toward reconstruction of the historic amphitheater.
Successful completion of the community campaign means that Phase I of the Bowl project can now start on time at the end of June. Construction has been planned in phases, with this first phase including re-orienting and building the basic shell, re-grading the seating area and installing new seating, creating a new entrance with the Trimpin public art, and planting of over 20 new trees and hundreds of native plants.
“This has been one of the most gratifying community projects I’ve been privileged to participate in,” said Community Campaign Chair Alan Rains. “More than 600 households, businesses, service clubs and non-profit organizations have contributed gifts ranging from less than a dollar to six-figures. Indeed, this Bowl has been built by the community.”
The intense grassroots campaign involved some 150 volunteers and included such activities as neighborhood parties, Bakers for the Bowl, Bucks for the Bowl, and a day-long aerobics marathon. A community-wide “demolition party” is slated to begin at 4:30pm on Saturday, June 19 to celebrate the success of the campaign and to thank donors and volunteers.
Jeff Haydon, who has coordinated planning among the three main funding sources – the City of Ojai, the Ojai Music Festival and the community campaign – said he expects fund-raising efforts to continue, buoyed by the momentum generated over the last eight months and the need to build the other two phases.
“All of us working on this effort are immensely grateful and moved by the generosity of the community,” Haydon said. “While we can and need to pause to celebrate this historic accomplishment, we must keep the fundraising momentum going to ensure that we can build out more than just the basic project to include dressing rooms and bathrooms that are needed to make the Bowl more functional and financially self sustaining. There are still people in the community who have expressed interest in donating—their gift is still very much needed to help build the full project. Everyone in the community needs to be part of this historic project.”
Volunteers have a number of fundraising events still on tap – including more neighborhood parties, garden tours, 10K runs, soup parties, chili cook- offs, and more– to raise funds for completion of the construction. Dozens of supporters will be continuing these efforts until the new Bowl opens in June 4, 2011.”
