• $3 Million Gift to Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Mary & Richard Carpenter donate $3 million to Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Photograph by Dana R. Bowler, Ventura Star Staff

The Carpenters were honored for their contribution at a gala celebration October 23, 2004 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza (nicknamed “TOCAP”), the recipient of the gift. “We feel fortunate we can contribute to a community we love,” Richard said. He has a long-standing history of support for the arts, the most notable project being the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at CSU Long Beach, Richard’s and Karen’s alma mater. Richard embraced the arts community when he moved from Downey to Thousand Oaks four years ago. Last year he donated a Yamaha concert grand piano to TOCAP. As a member of the TOCAP fund raising group, Alliance For The Arts, Richard participates in its Celebrity Ambassador Program.

"It's a worthwhile cause," Richard said of the fund raising group. "I have an education now in how difficult it can be to keep these places running smoothly."

In recognition of the gift, the park located in front of TOCAP facing Thousand Oaks Boulevard will be named “Mary and Richard Carpenter Plaza Park.”

Other naming opportunities included the lobby inside the Fred Kavli Theatre or the circular driveway outside for $1 million each. The Carpenters, however, settled on the park which represents the largest donation.

"We really weren't thinking about the price when we first considered a donation to the Civic Arts Plaza," Richard said.  "We like the look of where the name will go and the fact that this particular donation includes a scholarship program."

Two million dollars of the donation will support the general program at TOCAP, and the remaining one million dollars will be used to establish the Richard Carpenter Scholarship program. Details of the scholarship program have not yet been determined.

Yet to be decided is how big the Carpenters’ name will appear.  “The size of the lettering depends on the size of the donation,” Jones said. She explained that a $1 million donation will be represented with 6 inch letters in the area of the building designated to that donor; a $2 million donation will be represented with 12 inch lettering. The Carpenters’ lettering for the park will be architecturally designed and sized for the location, and appropriately will be the largest lettering recognizing donors throughout the complex. 

Last Updated June 4, 2008

May 2004  © Richard Carpenter

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