By DAILY PRESS STAFF
DOWNTOWN The Santa Monica Historical Society Museum has received a donation of $630,000 from The Gilmore Family Trust, the lead gift in the museum’s $5 million Endowment Fund campaign, officials with the museum said Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous gift from The Gilmore Family Trust,” said Louise Gabriel, president and CEO of the museum. “The contribution will be used to help preserve the documents, images and artifacts in the museum’s many exhibits, as well as educational and research programs.”
Longtime Santa Monica residents and supporters of the museum, Dr. John E. Gilmore and his wife, Kathleen, enjoyed sharing the unique diversity of the Santa Monica community with friends and colleagues. They were very active in a variety of community organizations.
Among the charities that they supported were the Santa Monica Kiwanis Club, Santa Monica Family YMCA and local Boys and Girls Club. They hoped to help preserve the history and culture of Santa Monica for future generations to enjoy.
“Dr. Gilmore understood the importance of strong community ties and was a proponent for residents to learn and appreciate Santa Monica’s colorful history,” Brett Carter, John Gilmore Estate trustee, said.
“The Gilmores always believed the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum was performing a vital service by preserving memorabilia in celebration of Santa Monica.”
The museum is an interactive cultural center that provides public access to extensive collections through interpretive exhibitions and educational programming, docent-led tours, lectures, multimedia presentations and workshops at the museum and in the community.
The non-profit Historical Society Museum will be relocating to a new permanent facility in the Santa Monica Public Library complex in the spring of 2009. The central Downtown location will serve as a cultural destination where residents and visitors to the city can discover, explore and celebrate Santa Monica’s rich and diverse history in a setting that is engaging, enlightening and inspiring, officials with the museum said.
The Endowment Fund will help pay for operating expenses and ensure that the museum remains a fixture in the community for many years to come, said Ho Nguyen with the museum.
Funds are still needed for capital improvements to the museum’s future home. The goal is to raise $2 million, Ngyuen said. So far the museum has been able to raise $1.3 million.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 14, 2008. Read the original PDF.