Friends of Friendly Center and the Arts

The first Friends of Friendly Center event of the year took place in early March at the Hillbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. The museum displays an extensive collection of exclusively California-centric art belonging to Mark and Janet Hillbert of Newport Beach. Mr. Hillbert himself made an appearance at the event, giving attendees an exclusive tour of his collection. The museum was a great backdrop for one of the inaugural events of Friendly Center’s ninety-fifth year: both serving as a testament to what is possible with enough dedication toward a common purpose.

Friends of Friendly Center events provide a space for Friendly Center supporters who donate $1,000 or more annually to interact with like minded people who believe in providing stability, opportunity, and hope to children and families in poverty. The biannual gatherings also serve as a space to share Friendly Center program updates and upcoming events. Those impacted by Friendly Center programs sometimes attend and share their stories too – in keeping with the location, students from the The Power of Me after-school tutoring program presented their own recently completed works of art.

The Friends of Friendly Center began in the late 1960s as a group of one hundred community members who each played a role in establishing Friendly Center as an independent, community supported non-profit corporation. Members today continue the tradition of pulling individual resources toward a shared goal of ensuring every child and family has the chance to build a better life. To learn more about becoming a Friend of Friendly Center visit friendlycenter.org/friends or call (714) 769-8869.