The Piedmont Beautification Foundation (PBF) is proud to celebrate its 60th year of service to the community, a milestone that concludes on May 13th. Earlier this year, the Foundation was honored with a Proclamation from the City and Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen which acknowledged PBF’s decades of commitment to the City and civicimprovement. More recently, stories of some of its most important projects to enhance the City of Piedmont were published as a commemorative booklet for all to enjoy. In the coming weeks, PBF will conclude its 60th celebration by launching its annual Spring Fundraising Campaign with brochures and return envelopes being mailed to all Piedmont homes.
Said PBF President and former Park Commission Chair Patty Dunlap: “Here is the opportunity for all Piedmonters to thank PBF and move forward with exciting new projects that will further enhance our beloved city.”
PBF Spring Campaign: Sidney Dearing Family Memorial
A new focus for funding will be the memorial to the Sidney Dearing Family, a space that is being designed by renowned architect Walter Hood. It has been one hundred years since the Dearing Family was driven from their home on Wildwood Avenue solely because of their race. Over the last several years, much study, thought, and work has been done to determine the best way to acknowledge and move forward from this painful blemish on Piedmont’s history.
The memorial will be located in the Redwood Tree grove in the triangle near the former Dearing home on Wildwood Avenue. Work will begin when the swimming pool project has been completed. “We are honored to lead this effort and hope to see a record number of donors participate,” said Dunlap.
Additional Giving Opportunities
In keeping with tradition, PBF’s Spring Brochure will offer donors several other choices to direct their contributions.
- Reforest Piedmont, Neighborhood by Neighborhood – this campaign supports the replanting efforts throughout parks, streets, and public spaces. Contributions can be made toward trees in particular locations to the extent it is feasible to do so. To date, several dozen new trees have been planted in support of this campaign.
- The Sports Facilities Endowment Fund – this growing fund will provide a permanent funding source for the maintenance of Piedmont’s city-owned athletic facilities.
- The Endowment Fund – this fund supports any PBF undertaking, regardless of current contributions, ensuring the Foundations long-term ability to act. Any expenditure comes from the income generated by the Fund. Contributions can also be made to support the ongoing general activities of PBF. Donors who would like to suggest a specific project for consideration are welcome to indicate so via the PBF website or by using the return envelope. Finally, PBF maintains two memorial programs on a permanent basis, one for trees and one for bench tributes.
Contributions can also be made to support the ongoing general activities of PBF. Donors who would like to suggest a specific project for consideration are welcome to indicate so via the PBF website or by using the return envelope. Finally, PBF maintains two memorial programs on a permanent basis, one for trees and one for bench tributes.
“PBF can only undertake projects to the extent that donors provide the necessary funding to do so,” Dunlap added. “We rely on our generous community to make these enhancements a reality.” Anyone interested in any of these programs, or in more information about the goals of the current campaign should contact PBF directly at pbf.piedmont@gmail.com or via USPS at Piedmont City Hall/PBF, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA. 94611.
