| Dear Friends,
I want to begin this quarterly update with what may be one of my favorite things I have ever had the opportunity to report.
Our longtime Facilities Manager, Miguel Aguiar, recently purchased a commemorative Museum tile, not for himself, but in honor of the people he has worked alongside throughout his years at MVC.
Miguel held a small unveiling ceremony with staff and volunteers to recognize four people he affectionately referred to as “my blessings”: Shanon Rice, David Bayer, Clyde Hofflund, and John Treuer. These are people who have worked alongside Miguel and the Museum over the years, giving their time and talents to help make so many of our events and gatherings possible.
Miguel chose to personally purchase the tile as a lasting tribute to the people who have made his own life richer through their work together.
It was an incredibly sweet moment, but it also represented something much bigger to me.
We talk often in Development about what it means to support the Museum. Usually, we are talking about donors, members, sponsors, and community partners. But seeing one of our own longtime staff members choose to give back to MVC as a way of honoring the people who have meant so much to him was a beautiful reminder that support for this Museum comes in many forms and from people who genuinely believe in this place.
Miguel, thank you for sharing your blessings with all of us. And to Shanon, David, Clyde, and John, thank you for the many years you have spent helping make MVC events so special. |
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A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS ONE ANOTHER
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| That spirit of reciprocity actually leads beautifully into another part of MVC that you may not know much about: our event rental program.
Our Downtown Ventura Pavilion and Plaza and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula are not only Museum spaces; they are community spaces. Throughout the year, they become the backdrop for weddings, nonprofit fundraisers, corporate gatherings, celebrations, and other events that bring people together from across Ventura County.
What I especially love about this program is the reciprocity behind it. We have made a conscious effort to keep our rental rates affordable so these spaces remain accessible to our community, including offering a 25% rental discount to nonprofit organizations. In return, every event held at MVC generates earned revenue that goes right back into supporting the Museum and the work we do.
It is a wonderful example of the kind of relationship we want to have with our community: you support the Museum simply by gathering here, and we get to provide beautiful, affordable spaces where our community can gather.
I also want to take a moment to publicly recognize Amy Huot and Kristy Rogers, who have done an extraordinary job growing this program and introducing more people throughout the county to these unique spaces.
Venue Rental Info |
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MEMBERSHIP IS GETTING EVEN MORE FUN
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| Interim Senior Development Associate Eddie Gutierrez, working alongside our Development team, has been bringing new energy and ideas to membership.
You may have noticed increased membership visibility at our events, including giveaways featuring artwork, photography, memberships, and other fun surprises. Eddie has been doing a wonderful job connecting with new members and helping us think creatively about what membership at MVC can be.
And we have much more coming.
New members can take advantage of complimentary behind-the-scenes tours, and membership provides free admission to many of our special events. On November 19, we are hosting a new singles event for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, an evening of music, a full bar, mixing and mingling, and a chance to meet interesting people at an interesting place. We will feature three men and three women throughout the evening, with plenty of opportunities to connect with singles from across Ventura County.
For more information: Meet Me at the Museum
Looking ahead to 2027, we are developing a new summer series that will be free for members, along with an art lecture series and several other special events that we cannot wait to announce.
If you haven’t become a member yet, membership is one of the best ways to support MVC because our members are truly our closest allies. And with the holidays approaching, don’t forget that a Museum membership also makes a wonderful gift.
Membership Info |
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SPONSORING THE STORIES OF VENTURA COUNTY
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| Our expanded sponsorship program continues to grow, and we are incredibly grateful to the businesses, foundations, and individuals throughout Ventura County who are helping us support education, arts and culture, agriculture, history, collections, and the preservation of our archives.
We are also grateful to our recent Admission Sponsors, whose generosity helps make the Museum accessible to our community:
JULY
Nancy and Spencer Garrett and California Resources Corporation (CRC)
AUGUST
Linda and John Zaruka and MVC Friends
SEPTEMBER
Amgen Foundation
Thank you for your continued support and for helping us welcome our community through our doors.
Sponsorship Info |
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This quarter, we remember and honor:
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A RECORD-BREAKING TASTE OF HISTORY
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| Of course, our biggest Development win of the quarter was Taste of History!
For the first time, we moved Taste of History off campus and into East County, bringing the event to Sherwood Country Club as part of our continued effort to represent and engage our entire county. MVC is a countywide museum, sharing and preserving the history of all ten of Ventura County’s cities, and we loved having the opportunity to celebrate in East County this year.
The location also had an extraordinary connection to our theme. Sherwood was the backdrop for the 1922 silent film Robin Hood, a history preserved within MVC’s collections—making it the perfect setting for this year’s celebration of Ventura County and the Silent Movie Era.
We were delighted to honor two East County legends, Chuck Cohen and Joanie Young, and welcomed nearly 250 guests for a record-breaking year for the Museum.
To everyone who sponsored, attended, donated, volunteered, and celebrated with us: thank you. You made this year’s Taste of History an incredible success.
And we are already looking ahead.
Taste of History 2027: The Golden Age — The 1910s will take place at the historic Camarillo Ranch House. Sponsorship opportunities will begin in January 2027, and we look forward to sharing more with you soon. |
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| Whether you are interested in membership, sponsoring a program, hosting an event at one of our venues, supporting an exhibit or educational initiative, or simply learning more about what we do, I would love to hear from you.
Please click here to learn more about supporting the Museum, or reach out to me personally at hwilliams@venturamuseum.org or 805-535-5371. I would be happy to talk about ways you can support the Museum in a way that is meaningful to you.
And, as always, if you’d simply like to have coffee or stop by for a tour and hear more about what is happening at MVC, please reach out to me or anyone on our team. We would love to see you.
With gratitude,
Heather Williams
Chief Development Officer
Museum of Ventura County
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