Museum of Ventura County exhibit on immigrants, Rancho Camulos among groups receiving funds that will preserve Ventura County history
CAMARILLO — Eleven nonprofits committed to keeping alive the history and culture of Ventura County received a total of $58,883 at the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Heritage Fund Grant Awards Reception on Aug. 20 at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, the foundation reported in a media release.
A new video screened at the reception captured some of the foundation’s own heritage, with a focus on the civic leaders who founded VCCF 25 years ago.
The Heritage grants will allow nonprofits to focus on promoting a better understanding of Ventura County, especially among students, said Hugh J. Ralston, VCCF president and CEO.
“History helps us understand how our community came to be, and it shows us how we can shape the future while remaining true to our core values,” Ralston said. “This is why the Heritage Fund puts such an emphasis on educating and sharing Ventura County history, especially with young people. In learning the story of who built this county, we see the threads for how best to address the challenges of today and the future.”
These programs received the 2013 grants:
- $5,000 to the Channel Islands Maritime Museum to present new curriculum on the history and development of the Port of Hueneme and the Channel Islands Harbor for junior and senior high school students.
- $9,600 to the Conejo Valley Historical Society-Stagecoach Inn Museum for equipment and software to digitally preserve historical news articles, photos and posters.
- $8,000 to Gull Wings Children’s Museum for “The StoryBook Project,” an interactive program to tell young people the stories of Ventura County’s founding families.
- $5,000 to the Museum of Ventura County for the interactive “Who’s Minding the Store?” exhibit focusing on Ventura County immigrants who found their American Dream in the grocery business.
- $5,000 to the Ojai Valley Museum of History and Art for the “Historic Ranching Families of the Ojai Valley” exhibit and educational video.
- $3,000 to the Oxnard Historic Farm Park Foundation to support the collection of local history as the Visitors Center and other projects at the Gottfried Maulhardt/Albert Pfeiler Farm site (Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 165).
- $2,000 to Pleasant Valley Historical Society to preserve artifacts in the society’s collection.
- $8,000 to the Rancho Camulos Museum for the “Rancho Camulos Interpretive Signage Project” to increase access and interpret key historical structures.
- $5,000 to the Santa Paula Art Museum to support the “Ag through Art: Educational Outreach,” which includes lesson plans, videos and outreach to enrich student understanding of Ventura County’s agricultural legacy.
- $6,283 to the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum for the preservation and digitization of historic materials including audio and video histories.
- $2,000 to the Ventura Botanical Gardens Inc. to develop the “Outdoor Education Tour App Technology for Ventura Heritage” project, which will provide mobile content about local history and culture
As part of VCCF’s 25th anniversary celebration, the video highlights the vision that inspired Alan Teague and the other founders to establish a community foundation in Ventura County.
“We owe these extraordinary people an enormous debt of gratitude,” Ralston said in his remarks at the reception. “Their vision and dedication set the stage for the impressive partnership between donors, nonprofits and the community that has seen over $57 million in grants and $9.7 million in scholarships distributed from funds established at VCCF. As we look to the next quarter century, we stand on the shoulders of their good work.”
The video can be viewed at http://www.vccf.org/25th_anniversary/video-series.shtml.
ABOUT THE HERITAGE FUND:
The Heritage Fund is a permanent endowment established at the community foundation to support nonprofits that preserve, protect and expand knowledge of Ventura County’s unique history and development. The fund has granted over $150,000 to local agencies, historical societies and nonprofits in its 14-year history. For more on the Heritage Fund grantmaking and the donors who have built this fund, visit www.vccf.org.
ABOUT VCCF:
Celebrating its 25th year, VCCF invests the charitable capital that drives the philanthropic engines of Ventura County. Its portfolio performance ranks in the top 11 of all community foundations in the United States for long-term growth. With total assets of more than $126 million, as of June 30, its mission is to promote and enable philanthropy to improve our community for good for ever, which it does through grantmaking, scholarships and training at its Center for Nonprofit Leadership. It owns the VCCF Nonprofit Center in Camarillo — a place where nonprofits and the community can come together to work together. Visit vccf.org or call 805-988-0196.