Recognizing the Impact

Picture 250 smiling children’s faces, each wide-eyed, as most of them were seeing the Santa Monica Pier, the beach, and the ocean for the first time ever in their young lives. Each of their chaperones, equally eager to enjoy this free trip of a day at the Pier, had smiles and wide eyes almost as stunning as the children’s. Our October 11th Youth Day on the Pier fully defined the word “joy.”

As we head into the month of November, in which we are all reminded to be thankful, I am most thankful for this recent Youth Day – our first one ever. Much like our first-ever fundraiser, A PIERfect Benefit back in early September, the entire affair was a glaring reminder of purpose and power, and the perfect reminder as to who the Santa Monica Pier Corporation really is – an organization driven by heart.

We have always been known for producing free public events on the Pier, and I think that sometimes it is easy for people to take what we do for granted. For 35 fun-filled summers we produced the Twilight concerts, something that people revered so much and still yearn for today. We also produce events specifically targeted for locals to enjoy as well as events which give a loving nod to Santa Monica’s history and heritage.

We offer free wellness programs, history presentations, and share the Pier worldwide through our social media.

All of these have great impact, of course, but the impact of each of those long-beloved events – or even the impact of all of them combined – has never been as obvious as what we have witnessed with A PIERfect Benefit and Youth Day. These events both fully displayed our purpose as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; they emphasized the heart of our charity.

As the nationwide annual Giving Tuesday approaches on December 2, I hope that people realize who we are, what we do, and the fact that we are indeed a charity worth contributing to. Donating is easy. If you wish, simply visit our website: santamonicapier.org/support

By Jim Harris