 |
Giesen Trust
The Gayle Gibbs Giesen Trust was established in memory of Gayle Giesen in 1972. The objective was to encourage the personal and emotional development of disadvantaged Pasadena children and youth through an experience in the visual arts. The emphasis was on encouraging unique forms of self expression and was inspired by the innovative teaching concepts of professional artists at the Pasadena Art Museum. In 1982, the name of the Trust was changed to be a tribute to Rowe and Gayle.
In its first year, the Trust gave scholarships to a few students to attend the childrens education program at the Pasadena Art Museum. Then, because of the generosity of Peggy and Siegfried Engl and their son Michael Engl, the Trust expanded dramatically and has been able to support more organizations and programs in the community. The Trust now reaches several thousand students each year. Since its inception, the Trust has distributed almost $2 million dollars to arts organizations in Pasadena.
The Giesen Trust played a critical role in the creation of the Pasadena Art Workshops, a nationally recognized arts organization in Pasadena. As Giesen Trust President Susan Caldwell remembers: In 1974, Norton Simon assumed control of the Pasadena Art Museum and closed the childrens education department. Rowe gathered friends together in the abandoned school yard of Lincoln School. We sat on broken benches, amidst dirt, leaves, and shattered glass, and explored how the Trust could be the catalyst for the creation of a new childrens art institution. Rowe had a vision, and the Pasadena Art Workshops was born. The Pasadena Art Workshops evolved into the Armory Center for the Arts in 1989. Today the Armory Center has over 60,000 visitors per year.
The Giesen Trust Board of Trustees is a combination of individuals from the Trusts early days as well as new Trustees who are active in the arts and with young people in Pasadena. The Board has recently added three individuals well known in the Pasadena community; Stan Kong, Elisa Callow and Dr. Drew Pinsky.
2007 is the 35th anniversary of the Trust. We hope you will consider supporting our efforts. We face increasing demand every year for our grants, and it is through your generosity that we continue to expand the ways we bring creativity into the lives of Pasadenas youth.
Giesentrust.com ~
Site Info
Whois
Trace Route
RBL Check
|
|
|
|
Site Info
