$100,000 in Pumpkin Festival money awarded to local groups

The Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee announced $100,000 in grants and donations to Coastside non-profit groups, educational organizations and city agencies. Funding comes from proceeds from the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, which has been operated and managed by the Beautification Committee since 1971.

In its 35-year history, the Beautification Committee has contributed more than 2.2 million dollars to coastside non-profit organizations and civic causes. "The Beautification Committee’s mission is rooted in our partnership with community-based organizations and initiatives," said Cameron Palmer, President of the Beautification Committee Board of Directors.  "Today’s grant awards support the efforts of organizations and agencies that help to build and strengthen our community."

The largest single contribution ($26,500) went to the on-going maintenance and beautification of the Main Street downtown core. Among the efforts are seasonal planting of flowers, installation and repair of old-fashioned wooden benches, litter removal, cleaning, and year-round maintenance of Main Street. "When we started the festival in 1971, the idea was to raise money to refurbish Main Street," said Bev Ashcraft, member of the committee. "Many people don’t know it, but for 35 years now, the Pumpkin Festival has been funding the little things that give Main Street its unique character and charm," she said.

Additionally, $5,000 in college scholarship money will be awarded to Half Moon Bay High School students. The scholarships are named in memory of founding festival members Dolores Mullin, Patsy Dutra and, for the first time this year, Melvin Mello.

Click below to see the full list of recipients.

Coastal Repertory Theater ($11,500)

I.D.E.S. ($6,700)

Coastside Community Fund ($5,000 for Highway 1 median beautification project)

Coastside Adult Day Health Center ($5,000 for Alzheimers program)

San Mateo County Sheriff Explorers Program ($4,800)

Senior Coastsiders ($3,000 for nutrition program)

Coastal Arts League ($2,500 for Pumpkin Festival art contest)

San Mateo County Historical Association ($2,500 for Sesquicentennial traveling exhibit at Spanishtown Historical Society)

Coastside RotaCare Clinic ($2,500 for medical supplies and services)

Half Moon Bay High School Grad Night ($2,500)

Coastside Medical and Dental Clinic ($2,500 for dental video equipment)

City of Half Moon Bay Parks and Rec Department ($2,200 for recreation programs)

Young Actors Workshop ($2,000 for fumigation of historic barn)

Seton Medical Center Coastside ($2000 for physical therapy equipment)

No Strings Attached Breakfast ($1,675)

Coastside Family Medical Center ($1,630 for hemoglobin machine and supplies)

Agricultural Clean Water Initiative Foundation ($1,500)

Half Moon Bay High School Photo Club ($1,500)

El Granada Education Fund ($1,250)

Clean and Sober ($1,000)

North Coast Hockey League ($750 for materials for new rink)

Coastside Infant Toddler Center ($700 for refrigerators)

4th of July Parade Committee ($600)

Coastside Children’s Programs ($500 for summer programs)

El Granada Elementary School PTA ($500)

Cub Scout Pack 263 ($500 for pinewood derby track)

Coastside Parents Nursery School ($500 for nutrition program)

Spanishtown Historical Society ($500)

Half Moon Bay Vaulters ($500)

Kings Mountain Education Fund ($500)

Additionally, $5,000 in college scholarship money will be awarded to Half Moon Bay High School students. The scholarships are named in memory of founding festival members Dolores Mullin, Patsy Dutra and, for the first time this year, Melvin Mello.

This year’s 36th annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival will be held October 14-15, 2006. For information, call 650-726-9652 or visit www.miramarevents.com

THE HALF MOON BAY BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE

In 1970, the Main Street Committee for Beautification was appointed by the Half Moon Bay City Council to launch a massive "paint-in" and tree-planting program as part of an extensive downtown restoration program. The committee consisted of a group of civic-minded citizens who wanted to make a lasting contribution to the preservation and beautification of the town’s historic Main Street. 

In order to raise funds for their projects, they inaugurated what became the Art & Pumpkin Festival.  Since the festival’s inception 35 years ago, the committee has contributed more than 2.2 million dollars to various civic projects and community service organizations.

Some of the Main Street projects funded by the committee at no cost to the city have included:  the renovation of City Hall, the painting of historic buildings, the installation of old-fashioned street lights and wooden benches, the underground wiring of Main Street, the planting of trees and flower beds, the construction of Mac Dutra and Kitty Fernandez Parks, and the purchase of garbage receptacles and Christmas lights.

Additionally, the committee spends more than $25,000 every year in the on-going maintenance and beautification of the city’s historic and charming Main Street.
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL A BOON FOR NON-PROFITS
The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is a huge civic effort. More than thirty non-profit and community service groups participate in the festival by operating food and game booths and parking lots. For most, the festival is their most lucrative fund-raising event of the year, enabling them to raise a substantial portion of their annual budget from the two-day festival.

By providing this opportunity to the non-profit sector, the Pumpkin Festival serves as an "economic engine" helping to perpetuate "giving" in the community, no small feat for a town without a base of large corporate donors.

April 18, 2006                                                 
Media Contact:  Tim Beeman 650-726-3491                                            

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