2013 REPORT ANNUAL President’s Message Mission and History

For more than thirty years, Friends of Oakland Parks and The Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation was created in the fall of 1981 by a group of Oakland Recreation have worked to strengthen our diverse Oakland activists who believed that the quality of life for all of Oakland’s citizens included a healthy system of communities through helping kids and restoring our parkland. city parks and recreation centers. Their belief was that the City needed a nonprofit partner that could We are happy to say that, in the last year, significant strides generate funding and support to enhance Oakland’s parks and recreation centers. Friends’ founders were made to help us in our mission. knew that Oakland’s recreation At our 2013 Annual Meeting we were proud to announce the centers served as a vital linchpin, Thompson – Bliss Family Gift. The gift from Kim Thompson providing sports programs, art and former Friends President, John Bliss, is being given in programs, and other educational increments of $20,000 over five years. Approximately half of opportunities to children and the Gift funds are for youth swim scholarships, while the other adults in all of Oakland’s half of the funds are dedicated to funding a small grants program for Oakland’s Office of Parks and Recreation’s (OPR) facilities and programs. Our profound thanks go out to Kim and John for choosing neighborhoods. Friends Friends as the focus for their Oakland-based philanthropy. supports OPR’s programs through youth scholarships 2013 also saw the establishment of the Lewis P. May Fund. The Fund was set up to honor the memory of and recreation center grants. founding board member, Lewis P. May. Gifts of stock were made to Friends over the years by May and his In addition, Friends continues son (also a former board member), Pete May. The Fund serves as a source for community micro-grants, to support and raise funds which help to pay for materials to further the work of our many Community Partners. Our thanks to the May family for providing for the Fund. for many needed park and recreation center related As the year drew to a close, we were thrilled to partner capital improvements. with OPR to lay the groundwork for our first collaborative capital project: the renovation of the Curt Flood Sports Complex (formally Curt Flood Field). Located in the Fruitvale District, the Complex has long served as a home A Home for Community Partners for numerous baseball, softball and football teams. We For much of its history, Friends has provided a fiscal umbrella to community groups that are dedicated are excited to undertake a capital campaign to restore to pursuing mission-aligned goals. Our Community Partners work diligently to provide outdoor sports this historic sports field, with the hope that this is just and educational opportunities to Oakland’s children and help to restore and maintain parks and the start of campaigns that will enable Friends to restore sports-fields throughout the City. Friends is proud to support these groups, by providing strategic parks throughout Oakland. advice, and through the Community micro-grant program. Our thanks go out to three departing Board members: Charles Crowder, whose great enthusiasm for Friends and OPR lit a fire under many of us; Friends Treasurer, Maria Alderete, for championing the establishment of the May Fund, and working tirelessly on many budget related issues; and Howard Donors Like You Nathel. Howard is a tireless advocate for Oakland kids who come from some of the City’s most The Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation has always relied on the generosity of concerned citizens underserved neighborhoods and during his time on the Board, he helped to spearhead and support from all across Oakland through membership pledges and other donations, the annual A Taste of many initiatives and funds that will continue for years to come. We wish them all good luck and we will Spring gala, and other events. These funds support Friends’ operating budget and Youth Scholarship miss their leadership and guidance as board members. Fund, making it possible for the organization to carry out the mission of support for all of Oakland’s parks and recreation centers. The staff and Board of Friends are particularly proud of the Youth Sincerely, Scholarship program. Thanks to the generosity of donors, Oakland youth from low income families are able to take part in the many character building activities that the City’s recreation centers have to Jen Vedock offer. Please see our website at oaklandparks.org to become a member and to make a scholarship President, Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation donation today.

2 3 Community Partners Board of Directors 40th St. Median Project OAKLAND PARKS & RECREATION Jen Vedock, President Barry Weiss, Vice President Ace Arts Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center Alameda County – Oakland Community Action Bench and Naming Fund Karen Krolewski, Secretary Maria Alderete, Treasurer Partnership Bushrod Recreation Center Artemis Rowing Carmen Flores Recreation Center Jill Broadhurst Erik Ludwig Brett Park Fund Community Gardening Program Leah Casey, Immediate Past Lori McKee Burnham Bench Fund DeFremery Recreation Center Sponsor*A*Child Community Arts President Digital Arts and Culinary Academy Howard Nathel, Past President Dimond Improvement Association John Coppinger, Past President Friends of Cleveland Cascade Dimond Recreation Center Daniel Swafford Friends of Glen Echo Creek Director of OPR / Anniversary / Events / Inti- Charles Crowder Paul Vidican Friends of Joaquin Miller Park mate Evening / Sundays in the Redwoods Emily Gordon Liz Westbrook Friends of Lake Merritt Japanese Garden Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate Friends of Maxwell Park East Oakland Sports Complex Michael Hammock Audree Jones-Taylor, ex officio Friends of Oak Glen Park FM Smith Recreation Center Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt Franklin Recreation Center Friends of the Grove – Dimond Park Ira Jinkins Recreation Center Advisory Board Garber Park Stewards Lake Merritt Boating Center Glenview Median Strip Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts John Bliss, Past President Pete May Greening of Oakland / PG&E Manzanita Recreation Center Ray Bobbitt, Past President Howard Neal, Past President I Heart Mama Montclair Rec. Center (Bernice Ratto Fund) John Brown, Past President Bill Patterson Jobs and Housing Coalition Mosswood Recreation Center Ces Butner Jacqueline Phillips, Past President Junior Chef Society Oakland Discovery Center Dave Cannon, Past President Ken Pries Keep Oakland Beautiful Kim Duff John Protopappas John and Mittie Phillips Scholarship Fund Redwood Recreation Center Lake Merritt Pollinator Posse Rotary Rec. Center & Duck Pond Fund Perry Graham Ann Richter Lakeshore Homes Association Sheffield Park and Recreation Center Larry Gremillion David Stein, Past President Morcom Rose Garden Fund Sheffield Village Preschool Tom Guarino, Past President John Sutter NEWT (Native Environment Watershed Transfor- Studio One Pat Hardy, Past President Phil Tagami mation Project) Tassafaronga Recreation Center Ethel Howze Miye Takagi Oakland Block Party Teen Leadership Matthew Inadomi Sedrick Tydus Oakland (Northern Hills) Landscape Cmte. Judith Johnson Midge Walterhouse Oakland Civic Orchestra OAKLAND PARKS AND RECREATION: SPORTS Sean Marx Anne Woodell, Founding Member Oakland Community Orchestra AND AQUATICS Oakland Parks Coalition ACE Kids Golf Program ODOG (Oakland Dog Owners Group) Rockridge Phase 2 Adult Sports Shepherd Canyon Homeowners Davie Tennis Staff Splash Pad Neighborhood Forum Girls’ Sports Today’s Future Sound Young American Little League Ken Lupoff, Town Park Oakland Pools Executive Director Wonderarium Castlemont Swim Team City Of Oakland Pools Melinda Morris, MEMORIALS City Swim Team Finance Manager Kristin Anderson Bench Fremont Pool Delores M. Duffy Memorial Fund Gator Sharks (Fremont/Castlemount) Shirley Green Memorial Fund Lion’s Swim Team Dr. Sabra Jones Memorial Fund Live Oaks Swim Team Betty Price Recreation Center Fund Temescal Tidal Waves Simon Richardson Bench Marcelle Weed Memorial Fund West Side Swim Team

4 5 Donor Acknowledgement List

$10,000 and Over Naomi Ling Artemis Rowing Teresa Maura Eade & Stephen Carole Levenson Alan Sauer Pacific Gas and Electric Pete May & Diana Biondo Dick Austin John Lautze Lake Merritt Sailing Club Barbara Schaaf & Robert Thompson - Bliss Family Gift Howard Nathel Hoang Le Bahn Audrey F. Elbert Lakeshore Homes Association Schock William “Bill” Patterson Steven & Carolyn Balling Debra Farris Melvin Landry Frederik Schodt $5,000 and $9,999 Mary Ann & Patrick Piette Gordon Baranco Martin Fassler Sung Wook Lee Karen Schroeder Coca-Cola Refreshments Jacqueline Phillips Susanne Baum Joshua Feldman Gaye Lenahan Liane & Eric Scott Kaiser Permanente Sam Roberts Heinz E. Battermann Barbara “Bobbi” Feyerabend John & Nancy Lenahan Debra Wood Schwartz & Robert Kirby Foundation – East Bay SCI Consulting Group Joseph Berzok Barbara Mitchell-Finlayson & Alan Lessik Schwartz Community Foundation Touchstone Golf LLC Jose & Melinda Blackorby Ron Finlayson Thomas and Sharon Lipping Michael Sears Sandra M. Venning Carolyn Bliss E. Linda Fogel Tina & Jerry Lowden Gordon Seligson $1,000 – $4,999 Richard Bolecek Ruben Flores (A-1 Spring Marta Lozoya Jane & Marc Seleznow Delta Dental $250 – $499 Vinzuela Bolden Service) Monica & John Marcone Robert Selna Donahue Gallagher Woods LLP Ronald & Nancy Blackman Daniel & Anne Bookin Elizabeth Garfinkle Redge & Carole Martin Michael Sherwood & Kathryn Elizabeth Harris & John David Barron & Jean McClellan Diane Boyd William H. Gavelis Frances & Francis Matarrese Keeran Coppinger Shelagh & Robert Broderson Roland Breaux Winnifred Gen Fredrika May Wade & Virginia Sherwood Ethel Howze Terry D. Buller Frits Brevet Jennie Gerard & Steven Gregory McConnell Jeffrey & Denise Shields Kazan, McClain, Abrams, Catherine Burns Erica Brevet-Stott Steinhour Dennis & Eloise Middleton Douglas Siden Fernandez Anne Campbell-Washington Jil Broadhurst Alan & Barbara Goldenberg Mario & Sharon Millan Melvin Silverman McGuire & Hester Foundation Raymond T. Chester James L. Buhler Gilbert & Kay Gong Barry J. Miller Marion Sims Susan Molloy Sarah Connick Joanne Brown Reka Goode Alex & Christopher Miller-Cole Vernal “Hap” Smith Oakland Police Officers Assn. Celeste Davis Linda Brown Dale Hagen Aileen Moffitt Shelby & Vicki Solomon Oakland Running Festival Donald & Catherine De Coss Ross & Lillian Cadenasso Douglas Hammer & Patricia Susan T. Montauk Elizabeth Spander (Corrigan Sports Ent., Inc) Kim & Malcolm Duff Kathryn & James Carroll Durham Ann Morales Linda Spencer Susan Rasmussen Arleen Feng John Chalik David Harris Patrick Morrin & Janice Jagelski Mario Starc Rachel Richman Patricia Hardy Christine Chapon Harry Hasegawa Melinda Morris Thor Start Safeway Foundation Michael & Pamela Hammock Cristina Ciolfi John & Tamra Hege Barbara Morrissette David Stein & CJ Hirschfield Shorenstein Realty Services Brent Hennefer Leila Clark - Riddell Paul Herzmark & Sheila Cormick Janet & Dennis Mulshine James C. Steele Carmen & Michael Smith Matthew Inadomi Steven Cobbledick Carolyn & Robert Heywood Reva & Charles Murphy M. B. Strauss Miye Takagi Alan & Carol Koch Ann & Ken Cohn Adrienne Hillebrandt Patricia Muscatelli Daniel Swafford Torrey Pines Bank Phyllis Lynn Lun Deborah Cooper Hillside Gardeners of Montclair John & Barbara Nagle Paul & Susan Sugarman Donald & Bonnie Walls Douglas MacLellan Maribel Corral Yin Peh F. Hsu Edina Nelson Paul & Bonnie Swinderman Jen & Tod Vedock Jameison Martin Richard Cowan & Kathleen Gerald Huff & Judith Bliss Sujata Neurgaonkar Gregory Tiede Walmart Foundation Thomas McCoy Collins Kent & Debra Hughes Helene Frances Neville C. E. Toland Barry & Ann Weiss John & Margaret Mooney Katherine Creighton Kathy Hull David & Patricia Newhouse Alison Townley George T. Nobori Helen Crothers Gina Hunt Roberta O’Grady Michael & Gail Udkow $500 – $999 Shanna O’Hare Gerald & Carol Cullinane Robert & Jean Huston Jason Patton & Diana Downton Susan & C. Henry Veit Maria Alderete Gael Pardi Michael Darby Martin & Ellen Jaffe Kimberly Penney Paul Vidican John Brown & Laranda Marr Christine G. Pattillo & Dianne Robert Davila Douglas Jensen Gordon & Susan Piper Eileen & James Vohs California Bank and Trust Sierra Linda Davis Dean & Nancy Johnson Richard Quiroz F. Delvin Washington Susan Casentini PGA Design Inc. Linda Dobson Kate Johnson Ruth Poole Jonelyn K. Weed Leah Casey & Kevin Ingersoll Jean Quan & Floyd Huen Pamela Dernham & Gregory Leslie Ann Jones Joanne Rankin Steven Weinberg Vickii Collins Emily Rosenberg Linden Peter & Rachel Kahn Deborah Rego Stanley James Weisner Sally & Mike Fitzhugh John & Eloise Sutter Michelle Dong Valarie & Daniel Kalb Crystal Reiss & Ken Lupoff Jimmie & Evelyn Wesley Jane Funk Kim Thompson & John Bliss Roberta Dooley Kaplan & MacLellan Law Office Harlan & Ann Richter Bruce Williams Larry Gremillion Joe Tuman & Kirsten Weisser Robert Dorsey Roy Kaplan Mary Lou & Straty Righellis Jennifer Webber Peter Grube Gordon Vinther Lew Douglas Muigai & Nancy Karigaca Drew & Margaret Robarts Liz Westbrook Mariko Highsmith Douglas Drummond Ken Katz Ross Recreation Equipment Linda Williams Linda H. Huber $35 – $249 Marjorie Duggins & Susan Patricia Kernighan & Paul Steven & Kirsten Ritchie Anne Woodell Audree Jones-Taylor Anonymous (5) Sunderland Gordon Patricia Russ Gerald Jay Wolfe Lake Merritt Joggers and Annalee & James Allen Ken Dupee & Nancy Scanlon Bonnie Killip Courtney Ruby Ellen Wyrick-Parkinson Striders Rodger P. Allen Kate Klingensmith James Ryugo Jovita Zarate Karen Krolewski Marcelina Sanchez Michael Zittel & Tiffany Edwards Terry Kulka Joel Sanders

6 7 And Thanks to the 2013 A Taste of Spring In-Kind Providers: A Taste of Spring 17 Jewel’s Salon & Spa Lake Chabot Golf Course Bacheeso’s Landmark Theatres Friends’ tenth annual A Taste of Spring was held on the evening of May 2, 2013 at Oakland’s Bay Area Children’s Theatre Lindsay Wildlife Museum Lakeside Park Garden Center. Kim Thompson and John Bliss were honored with the Anne Woodell Bay Area Discovery Museum Community Award. Kim and John both spoke passionately about the need for Oakland’s residents Beach Blanket Babylon to invest their philanthropic dollars in the town they live in. The couple also stressed the critical Bellevue Club importance of insuring that all of Oakland’s children are able to take advantage of swim lessons Berkeley Bowl offered by the Office of Parks and Recreation. Berkeley Ironworks Berkeley Symphony The proceeds from A Taste of Spring were used to support Friends’ work in the community, and Buddy Club attendees also generously donated directly to Friends’ Youth Scholarship Fund. California Canoe and Kayak California Shakespeare Theater Many thanks to the staff of Oakland’s Office of Parks and Recreation and to our A Taste of Spring California’s Great America chairs, Maria Alderete and Jill Broadhurst. Chabot Space & Science Center Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center Cheese Steak Shop A Special Thank You to the 2013 A Taste of Spring Sponsors City of Oakland, Davie Tennis Stadium Commonwealth Cub of California Cotton Patch Kaiser Permanente Crogan’s Restaurant & Bar Crown Liquors Cyclesports Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Dailey Method Luka’s Taproom & Lounge Elements of Being Monkey Business Camp Donahue Gallagher Woods LLP Farley’s East Montclair Veterinary Hospital Farmstead Cheeses & Wines Namaste McGuire & Hester Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse New Parkway Theater Golden Skate Oakland A’s Community Fund Torrey Pines Bank Gymboree Play & Music Oakland Hills Tennis Club Hearst Castle Oakland Ice Center/Sharks Ice Oakland Running Festival/ Holistic Veterinary Care Oakland Zoo Hula Boutique Oaktoberfest Corrigan Sports Italian Colors Ozumo - Oakland Jack Hyde Soccer Camp Paramount Theatre of the Arts Delta Dental Kinetic Arts Center, LLC Pave Fine Jewelry Design La Farine Bakery Piedmont Spa Kazan, McClain, Abrams, La Note Piedmont Yarn Fernandez, Lyons, Greenwood, Polish on Piedmont Harley & Oberman Foundation Renaissance Rialto Management Rick & Ann’s Scott’s Restaurant Oakland Police Officers’ Association The New Parkway Theater Transport Safeway Foundation Treehouse Green Gifts UC Botanical Garden Shorenstein Realty Services Viewpoint Village Chiropractic & Wellness Center Ross Recreation Equipment Village Market Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf Western Railway Museum Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

8 9 Income and Assets Lewis P. May Fund Income Program Fundraising The Lewis P. May Fund was established to honor the memory of Curt Flood Sports Complex $4,050 Lewis P. May. The Fund serves as a source for community micro-grants, Lewis P. May Fund $2,500 to help to pay for materials Thompson – Bliss Family Gift $20,000 needed to further the work Youth Scholarship $21,050 of our many Community General Fundraising $88,402 Partners. Some of the items Program Mgmt Income $4,124 that May Fund micro-grants Fiscal Account Mgmt Income $33,073 All other Income $1,341 helped to pay for included, a Bee Hotel (located in the Total Income $174,540 Gardens by Lake Merritt), new bricks for the Montclair Expenses Park Amphitheater, Program Costs landscape work at Maxwell Curt Flood Sports Complex $ --- Lewis P. May Fund $1,500 Park and music classes provide by Today’s Future Sound to kids at Thompson – Bliss Family Gift $15,798 deFremery Recreation Center Youth Scholarship $19,532 and the East Oakland Sports General Administration $120,208 Complex. Our thanks Development, Marketing and Events $25,776 go to Pete May and his family for providing the assets for Total Expenses $182,814 the Fund. Net Income ($8,274)

Fiscal Accounts Assets To find out how you can Fiscal Account Income $617,515 donate to the Lewis P. May Fiscal Account Expenses $526,575 Fund, or set up your own specialized fund, please Change in Fiscal Account Assets $90,940 visit oaklandparks.org, or Total Change in Assets $82,666 call 510.465.1850.

10 11 Thompson – Bliss Family Gift

The Thompson – Bliss Family Gift was established by Kim Thompson and former Friends President, John Bliss. Half of the funds from the Gift are set aside youth swim scholarships, while the other half is dedicated to funding a small grants program for OPR facilities and programs. 2013 gift funds enabled 63 kids to enroll in swim lessons at the East Oakland Sports Center in East Oakland, and deFermery Pool in West Oakland.

In 2013, Thompson – Bliss funds were used to award thirteen grants to OPR recreation centers and programs. These grants helped to pay for items such as an automated external defibrillator for the aquatics program, helmets and bicycles for the Bicycle Safety Adventure program offered at Manzanita Recreation Center, gardening equipment for the edible schoolyard program, and much more. Thompson – Bliss funds were also used in conjunction with donations from other foundations to pay for the installation of new basketball courts at deFremery Park in West Oakland.

To find out how you can set up your own specialized fund, please visit oaklandparks.org, or call 510.465.1850.

PO Box 13267, Oakland, CA 94661 www.oaklandparks.org | Email: [email protected] | Facebook.com/FriendsOPR