Committee makes special plea to donors of $1,000
Palo Alto Centennial organizers say they have collected $450,000 for the Centennial Endowment Fund and predict that the final figure will be $500,000 before the end of the campaign.
But those who want to have their named included on a special commemorative wall located across from City Hall must donate $100 or more before June 15.
The Centennial Board increased the initial goal of $450,000 because "the community has been so generous," said Centennial Director Mary Davey.
If all goes according to plan, the city of Palo Alto will get to see the Centennial Wall in time for the Oct. 16 Centennial Closing Ceremony. Located in the alley next to University Art Center on Hamilton Avenue, the reddish granite wall will be etched with the names of all those who gave $100 or more to the Centennial Endowment Fund, which will help local non-profit organizations.
Bronze plaques on the wall will list the names of the more than 2,000 donors to date. The 55 honorees of the Creators of the Legacy also will be included, as well as a special area for those who donate $1,000 to the campaign. So far, 86 donors have made these contributions. But the Centennial Committee has put out a plea for 14 more donors of $1,000 to bring the number of these special contributors to 100 in honor of the city's 100th birthday.
The wall along the alley, now named Centennial Walk, will match the tile roofs of the buildings around it and will complement the Birge Clark architecture of the building behind it, Davey said.
Six historic photographs of Palo Alto will be etched in bronze on the wall. The names of the major campaign donors including William Hewlett will be listed in large lettering.
Those interested in making donations to have their names or names of family members, friends or organizations included on the wall should contact the Centennial office at (415) 322-1994.
--Elizabeth Darling
Back up to the Table of Contents Page