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AN EXCITING CHANGE PLANNED
FOR MOUNT DIABLO

 

 

        Updating a well-loved, familiar place, Mount Diablo State Park is pleased to announce the planned renovation of the Summit Visitors Center.  Scheduled for this fall, this renovation will introduce many new visitor exhibits and facility upgrades.  It will be the first update of the Center since the Center opened in 1993.

       To complete the work, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $30,000 towards the renovation.  The majority of the renovation is being funded by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  However, additional money is needed to complete the new visitor experience.  Individual and corporate donors are invited to join in the effort.

       Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1942 from fossil-laden sandstone quarried in the park, the Visitor Center building is a very historic structure.   It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1949.  The navigation beacon on top of the Center dates from 1928 when it was installed on top of the mountain to assist with the early days of commercial air travel to San Francisco.  The Mount Diablo summit was the starting point for the first survey of California and Nevada in 1851.

       “We are pleased to partner with State Parks to assist with this renovation,” said Jim Mitchell, President of MDIA.  “The Summit Visitor Center hosts many thousands of visitors from all over the world.  With all this use, it has become a little worn and needs a renewal.”

        “We are excited to offer this renovation to our visitors, said Roland Gaebert, Park Superintendent.  “The people of the Bay Area have a long history of developing and supporting Mount Diablo State Park.”  The initial build out of the Summit Visitors Center was a joint effort between MDIA, the California State Parks Foundation and the State of California.  Much of the land in the Park has been donated by citizen owners or purchased by public donations via the group, Save Mount Diablo.

       Donations to assist with this renovation project can be sent to MDIA, PO Box 346, Walnut Creek, California 94597.  All donations are tax deductible since MDIA is an IRS recognized non-profit organization.  All donations will be acknowledged.  Donations of $2,000 or more will be recognized on a new donor display in the renovated facility.  For more information, please contact Leslie Dawson, Fundraising Chairperson, at leslie@forensiccpa.com.

 


Summit Renovation News
We have some really exciting news! Suddenly, we are a lot closer to meeting our goal of $30,000 for the Summit Renovation Project - but, we need your help and we need it now. We have received an offer of up to $10,000 in matching grant funds from members, Dinesh and Joy Desai.  They have challenged us to raise $10,000 from other donations by November 30th to receive this matching grant.

Thanks to this generous offer, your $500 donation will turn into $1,000 and a $100 donation into $200.

The Desais have been members of MDIA for less than two years but have been very impressed with all the projects we have successfully completed. They want to do their part to make the Summit Visitor Center Renovation project a similar success.

So, won’t you do your part? Please send your tax-deductible contribution today to:   
MDIA - P.O. Box 346, Walnut Creek, CA 94597-0346

 There is more good news. Scott Hein has generously donated two 16” x 24” unframed photographs of our beautiful Mount Diablo.

  

Beginning September 14, you can bid on them by logging onto www.ebay.com. Additional details about the bidding will follow as we get closer to the date. The top bidder(s) will not only acquire one of these photos, but will also have the satisfaction of knowing that all the proceeds will benefit the Summit Renovation Project. 

  If you have any fundraising questions, please contact Leslie Dawson at Leslie@forensiccpa.com

 

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