| putting it all together:
the capital campaign at work
by dan berkowitz
 |
Workers
carefully deconstruct the supports
for the front porch before repairing
earthquake damage the Foundation
House suffered in 1994.
photo by Dan Berkowitz |
Some time ago, we announced the Foundation’s $500,000
Capital Campaign. Its goals were to perform a number of essential repairs
to the Foundation’s headquarters, to upgrade the existing systems,
to obtain and outfit new facilities, and — biggest of all —
to retire the mortgage on the property. We began the Campaign with $100,000
in the bank, and contributions are coming in.
The first tangible results of the Campaign are now visible. First came
the renovation of the Foundation offices on the third floor. A new desk
system — one which actually uses the space productively! —
was installed, along with much-needed storage space for files and office
supplies. A new computer work station was added, and new blinds and
carpeting were installed. It’s not plush, but it cleaned up the
space greatly, and makes for an easier work environment for our small
but dedicated staff!
Two rooms on the second floor, which had been rented out for many years,
were taken over by the Foundation. One will eventually be made into
a lounge-cum-guest-room for visiting artists, and the other has been
designated as the Foundation’s new library. Both rooms need a
substantial amount of work, but once they’re complete, it will
mean more “public space” for staff to work in, and for visitors
to enjoy.
The most visible result, though, has been at the front of the house.
Those of you who visited in recent years saw the beautiful front porch
propped up by scaffolding, steel rods, and other ungainly devices. That’s
because damage over the decades, exacerbated by the 1994 earthquake,
weakened the beams supporting part of the second floor, which, in turn,
meant that the roof over the porch was unstable. No one was in imminent
danger – we hope! – but it was definitely unsightly, and
the situation would only have become more unstable and dangerous as
time went on.
 |
photo by Dan Berkowitz |
Well, as you can see from the photo, the whole porch was
disassembled, shored up and strengthened, and then put back together.
It was a long and messy job, but the results are definitely worth it.
When the porch was removed, more damage was discovered to the foundation
of the house, which means more repairs will need to be done than originally
anticipated – but at least the problem was uncovered before any
nasty accident happened.
At the same time as the porch work, new wooden gates were installed,
at both the front entrance and the driveway entrance. These will not
only create a more private environment within the property, but will
also enhance security.
Much more needs to be done, and we haven’t begun to retire the
mortgage. Please help us put the Foundation on a solid footing by contributing
to the Campaign. Contributions of any size are welcome, and “naming”
options are open for large donations. (Want to have the new art storage
area named after you? Call the office for details!)
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