(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.

(above) California Public Interest Research Group CALPIRG organizers Jordan Siegel (left) and Zoe Bennett (right) pull out the red tape which 'Health Care Harry' was choking on during a press conference at Santa Monica City Hall's front lawn on Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009. "Health Care Harry" is a eight-foot tall interactive character designed to illustrate what it will take to fix our health care. He is based on the Operation game’s “Cavity Sam” created by CALPIRG to show what’s behind rising health care costs.

"Health Care Harry" may look like a toy, but rising health care cost are no game," said Siegel, "and without reform, these problems will cause our premium to double by 2016." "He's being choked by paperwork and red tape, drug companies are trying to pull the wool over his eyes and give him pills he doesn’t need. And if he isn’t careful, insurers might just pull the rug out from under him by dropping his coverage, or slam a door in his face because he’s got a pre-existing condition!"

CALPIRG will be sending Health Care Harry across the nation to promote health care reform from Maine to California and build momentum for fixing what’s ailing him—and our health care system. Participants will use Health Care Harry to demonstrate the urgent need for health care reform by using giant tweezers to discover what is ailing him and our whole health care system. CALPIRG is calling on Congress to support legislation that will rein in health care costs. Speakers discussed how the current health care system is costing American families and small businesses more each year. CALPIRG is calling on Congress to support legislation that will rein in health care costs.

About CALPIRG: CALPIRG takes on powerful interests on behalf of Californians, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being. With researchers, advocates, organizers and students, they stand up to powerful special interests to stop identity theft, fight political corruption, provide safe and affordable prescription drugs, strengthen voting rights and more.

Owner of Lather Loft, Michael Okin, styles Kat Thomas' hair on Sunday, July 26, 2009.

Chris Lowery, 30, (left) from the hip-hop jazz group 'Supa Lowery Bros' jams on his trumpet at the Third Street Promenade on Saturday, July 25, 2009.

Zimbabwean artist Ronnie Daliyo, from Masanga Marimba dances during the 18th annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Juan Alcala, AKA 'The Dollhouse Dude' dances  to the sounds of Masanga Marimba while holding a  hand puppet at  Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sunday, June 31, 2009. Alcala has been promoting his message that its everyone's human right to own a home. Alcala is a graduate from Cal State and has a Bachelors degree in Bilingual education.

A man walks past an abandoned sandcastle at Santa Monica beach on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009.

The Idan Raichel Project (from Isreal) performs at the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, during the 25th Anniversary Twilight Dance Series.