(top) Santa Monica Mayor, Ken Genser, decorates a commemorative carousel horse on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, in celebration of a new educational curriculum released in honor of the Santa Monica Pier's centennial celebration. The new curriculum, made possible by the Sempra Energy Foundation, will educate students on ways they can become environmentally responsible.
Santa Monica Pier to Provide New Educational Resources to the Community with Help of $50,000 Donation from Sempra Energy Foundation
Education Grant to Support a New School Curriculum That Will Feature the Iconic Pier in a Wide Array of Subjects
The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation announced today that, in celebration of the Pier’s upcoming centennial birthday on Sept. 9, the organization has received a $50,000 educational grant from Sempra Energy Foundation. The grant will support a new integrated school curriculum that will educate students on ways they can become responsible environmental stewards while learning about the iconic Southern California landmark.
One hundred area students were present at an announcement event today and were invited to decorate a new symbolic carousel horse with their thumbprints. The specially built carousel horse was a copy of the same famous design of the horses that are part of the legendary carousel located in the Pier’s historic Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome. The horse is earmarked to be installed into a fixture which will then travel to be showcased to those schools that adopt the curriculum.
Ben Franz-Knight, executive director of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, said: “The Santa Monica Pier has stood the test of time earning itself the honor of being one of the nation’s most delightful and integral attractions. The generosity and vision of the Sempra Energy Foundation has helped create a ground-breaking curriculum for learning that will transport students out of the classroom and into the rich and exciting environment of the Pier for years to come.”
“We are pleased to partner with the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation on the youth guide and Pier curriculum,” said Francisco J. Urtasun, executive director of the Sempra Energy Foundation and director of corporate community partnerships for Sempra Energy. “The new curriculum will provide future generations with an understanding of its storied legacy and the key role it has played, and continues to play, in the surrounding communities as a center of entertainment, culture and environmental awareness.” The Sempra Energy Foundation is the 501(c)(3) private foundation of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2008 revenues of nearly $11 billion. The Sempra Energy companies’ 13,600 employees serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.
Another member of the community, 9:Fish Surfboards, created a specially designed surfboard for the announcement event, as their way of showing support for the Pier’s ongoing commitment to education and the fostering a healthy ocean environment.
About the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation
The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation (SMPRC), established in 1983, is a non-profit, public benefit corporation made up of business and community leaders who represent the full range of community interests. It was created by the Santa Monica City Council to preserve and enhance the pleasure pier experience for people of all ages and for future generations and is funded by the City of Santa Monica. For more information, visit, http://www.santamonicapier.org.