Earlier this spring, with city parks under lockdown and citizens feeling the unease and uncertainty of the economic slowdown, the trustees of the Piedmont Beautification Foundation decided to pause their traditional springtime mail fundraising campaign.
Reliant on supporters whose generosity ensures that Piedmont parks are beautiful and welcoming to all, the non-profit organization was in the midst of winding up their campaign to raise funds for the Linda Beach Tot Lot and California Playscape, along with other various projects. Donors to PBF can also give commemorative trees, benches and/or contribute to an Endowment Fund for parks and/or for sports fields. [Learn MORE.]
“The Tot Lot at Linda Beach is one of the most used city recreation facilities and is long overdue for upgrades,” states the PBF website which asks donors to contribute to the “all-new nature playscape…[featuring] climbing and play elements that allow for free-form exploration, and provide easy access for strollers and to restrooms.”
— The Piedmont Beautification Foundation website
PBF was nonetheless mindful that this spring was not an ideal time to pass the hat, and the trustees decided not to move forward with a spring mailer and campaign. “Too many people have been worried about the basics — their health and livelihood,” said outgoing PBF President Patty Siskind. “We just felt we needed to respect everyone’s frame of mind.”
“And with parks being closed (and only recently opened) — and play structures still off limits, we have postponed the ceremonial presentation of the $100,000 committed thus far to the City for the development of the Tot Lot and Playscape.”
“We are forever hopeful that life will move forward with some semblance of normal soon enough — and that Piedmonters can fully enjoy our green spaces — and our children their playgrounds.”
Patty Siskind, Piedmont Beautification Foundation president (outgoing)
Evidence of PBF’s work can be found all over the city.
When the time is right, the organization will do a final round of fundraising for the Beach Tot Lot, which still needs support to finish the project.
Continued Siskind, “If this quarantine has shown us anything, it’s the value of our outdoor spaces and parks!”
In the absence of a full-fledged campaign, PBF is directing interested donors to PiedmontBeautificationFoundation.org/ways-to-give/ to support this and other projects around town.
In the meantime, Siskind is hopeful they can resume their usual schedule of activities in the fall — participating at the Piedmont Harvest Festival, and hosting the annual Piedmont tree lighting ceremony at the Piedmont Community Center, where a youth from the Make-a-Wish foundation will ring in the season by lighting up our town tree. “A hopeful gesture indeed,” she concludes.
Piedmont Beautification Foundation trustees, outgoing: Patty Siskind, President; Trustees: Gayle Lambert, Michelle Winchester, Lili Bassett, Pam McBain, and City Trustees: Robert McBain, Teddy Gray King, Betsy Goodman. The incoming President is Gayle Lambert, and incoming Trustees are Michelle Winchester, Jamie Totsubo, Lili Bassett, Mindy Scott, Pam McBain; and incoming City Trustees are Robert McBain, Teddy Gray King, Patty Dunlap.