Barbara Kinoshita (center) is honored with the Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year Award for 2018 at the group’s annual meeting. Shown with her are 2016 winners Terry and Diana Kurr.
Photo courtesy

$50,000 in honor of 50 years

On May 26, the Associates turned Nelson Dining Hall on the Idyllwild Arts campus into a festive scene to celebrate their 50th anniversary. More than 100 guests attended the event.

As part of the evening, four chairs from the Chairs for Charity event were auctioned off, a silent auction offered everyone a chance to take home a memory and the online bidding on Chairs for Charity was preparing to come to a close.

Emcee for the night Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz kept the evening flowing. Local DJ Billy Shepard provided lively tunes. Janice Lyle auctioned for the live Chairs for Charity auction.

The Chairs for Charity event helped the Associates make new community supporters, including Middle Ridge Winery Tasting Gallery, La Quinta Museum and Thomas Kluzak’s photography. 

“We doubled our net revenue goal, and everyone had fun doing it,” said Associates President Michael Slocum.

In the end, all the available Chairs for Charity pieces were sold; one was won by an excited raffle-ticket holder. The silent auction performed better than expected with all items selling.

At the beginning of the fiscal year in July 2017, Slocum set a reach goal to donate $50,000 in honor of the 50th anniversary: $50,000 for 50 years. That goal was met with ease, said Slocum. The final $50,000 donation check was presented to Idyllwild Arts President and Head of School Pamela Jordan on Sunday, June 10.

All the donations given by the Associates support the Scholarship Fund of the Idyllwild Arts Academy and Summer Program with a small portion given to the smARTS program at Idyllwild School.