Articles

Donations allow SLO Children's Museum to open this summer

The Tribune, Melanie Cleveland
08/28/2007

Recent gifts from local philanthropists are giving the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum a boost it needs to reopen its doors this summer. The museum has been closed for a major rebuilding since 2004.

Executive director Roy Mueller received a $55,000 challenge grant from Greg and Jane Hind of the Hind Foundation to complete the museum’s centerpiece — a two story interactive clock exhibit — in the new museum. Within a week, a donor, who has asked to remain anonymous, stepped forward to provide the money to match the Hinds’ grant.

“This is truly a wonderful thing for us — particularly in our present economic climate,” said Mueller.

The 20-foot-tall clock is a kinetic sculpture, complete with moving gears, and a pendulum for children to swing on, Mueller said. About $600,000 needs to be collected by the end of 2008 to finish that phase of the museum, Mueller said. That money is expected to be raised by the end of this year, he added.

The new museum, at the corner of Nipomo and Monterey streets, is planned to open by the beginning of June.

Growing Grounds Farm in SLO Awarded Grant to Expand Program Capacity

March 2008

Thanks to a generous award of $38,000 from the local Hind Foundation, Growing Grounds Farm, San Luis Obispo will expand its current plant propagation efforts in order to lower the costs of purchased plant materials, provide a specialized area of training for client employees, and become a new source in the county for locally collected native starts. The Hind Foundation award will allow the farm to refurbish two greenhouses, convert a hoop house to a bench heat greenhouse, refurbish a potting shed, and purchase the necessary tools and equipment.

Historic Cambria home gets a boost

The Tribune, By Kathe Tanner
08/28/2007

Work on restoring the historic Guthrie-Bianchini House in Cambria is expected to resume next week after the Hind Foundation of San Luis Obispo agreed to give more than $100,000 to the Cambria Historical Society.

The Victorian-era house at Burton Drive and Center Street dates to the 1880s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Heirs wrangled over the property for decades while community members tried to preserve it.

The society was able to use donations and a loan to buy the property in 2001 after a court-ordered sale.

After going on for years, restoration work to turn the house into a museum, community center and historic garden stopped in October because of dwindling funds.

Then, a society member happened to hear about Greg and Jane Hind’s foundation. Once society President John Ruml sent a two-page letter to the Hind Foundation on Jan. 15, the process went on fast-forward.

Ruml indicated more than $150,000 was needed to complete work on the house and grounds.

Greg Hind, a San Luis Obispo businessman and philanthropist, toured the site Jan. 23. Saying he wanted the community to continue its strong support of the project, he asked Ruml to request the amount needed to complete work on the house, leaving out the funds for the garden. Ruml submitted a request for $105,160 on Jan. 29, and Hind approved the grant Friday.

“I immediately got good feelings about the project and the people,” Hind said Monday. “There were so many elements that just made it right.”

Hind cited the amount of work done by volunteers, their passion for the project, and the number of contributions made as showing a high level of community support.

Another plus, he said, is that the Guthrie-Bianchini House can be a central point for the town. Long-range plans call for the house, the Greenspace Creekside Reserve across Center Street and other properties to be part of a historic park.

According to the Hind Foundation Web site at www.hindfoundation.org, its purpose is “the preservation of our cultural heritage with emphasis in music and visual arts, plant and wildlife preservation and historical restoration projects,” especially “community-based projects that inspire members to work together and build an enduring legacy for future generations.”

The historical society still needs to raise about $57,000 in money and labor to complete the project, including a brick pathway and replanting of heritage roses. Money is also needed to pay off the mortgage on the house.

The society hopes to have work done before its annual Heritage Day celebration June 27 to 29.

Equine Alliance Newsletter

A special thank you to the Hind Foundation

The Hind foundation has generously provided funding to build a quarantine shelter and pen for sick and injured rescue horses. Thank you Greg & Jane for your support!

Mission floss silk tree will likely be moved

New Times SLO, By Patrick Howe
08/28/2007

Forces are marshalling to save the decades-old floss silk tree outside of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

After the local Hind Foundation came forward with an offer to pay the cost of moving the tree, city officials began orchestrating a major effort to trim, move, and replant it at the entrance to Mission Plaza on Chorro Street.

"Everyone's agreeing in concept to move the tree," said Urban Forest Manager Keith Pellemeier.

The Catholic Monterey Diocese must still approve the decision, but spokesman Kevin Drabinski said he expects no opposition: "We're delighted by the idea that the shade from this magnificent tree will continue to fall on or around the Mission."

The tree is believed to have been planted in the early 1960s, but it has since grown to encroach on the Mission's walls, sidewalk, and steps.

The tree has been named one of the city's "heritage" trees: "It's an outstanding tree of size," Pellemeier said.

If the move goes forward, a series of logistical challenges will have to be worked out, and Pellemeier said it won't likely be moved until winter, when it would be dormant.

New Grant Awarded

06/27/2007

Pacific Wildlife Care is very excited to announce that we have been awarded a grant for $10,954 from the Hind Foundation to purchase a fiberglass pool with filtration system, a microscope and various medical equipment for our treatment room. We will now be able to rehabilitate pelagic birds unlike we've ever been able to do before with this 12' dia.x 5' deep pool.