Gathering for the Grand Gala to Honor Pat and James Brown & Support the Grand Vision Foundation

On July 24, Grand Vision Foundation will hold its 14th Annual Gathering for the Grand Gala at the Palos Verdes Golf Course. Pat Brown of Rolling Hills Estates and her son James Brown, along with his restaurant the San Pedro Brewing Company, are this year’s honorees. The event supports both the ongoing restoration of the Warner Grand Theatre and the Meet The Music Program.

I asked Liz Schindler Johnson, the executive director of Grand Vision Foundation, to share a little about this year’s honorees. She explained that Pat Brown, as well as her late husband Frank, has been a bridge between the Peninsula and San Pedro since as far back as the early 2000s when Grand Vision Foundation began a campaign to raise money to restore the historic Warner Grand Theatre. As San Pedro’s art district has grown, Pat has been at the forefront of encouraging people to come to San Pedro to enjoy the arts. Pat has also been instrumental in building new supporters of Grand Vision Foundation and new audiences at the Warner Grand Theatre and the Grand Annex Music Hall. Liz said, “Pat is the glue, bringing people together. For me personally, she has been a friend, mentor and guide.”

Her son James has followed in his parents’ footsteps. Liz shared that James has the same outgoing, warm and positive nature as his parents and that he brings people together. He has played an important part in building an audience base and generously supported Grand Vision’s special events.

To learn more about the Meet The Music Program, I spoke with Tony Rasmussen, the director of education for Grand Vision. He explained that most musical education is held after school and is not available to all students, only students that show promise. What sets Meet The Music apart is that it is dedicated to being all-inclusive. Every Meet The Music student will get an opportunity to participate because it takes place during school hours. While some students will continue their musical journeys, others will continue to benefit from learning to collaborate with other students, set and achieve goals and gain social and emotional skills. The program’s Recorders in Schools offers fifth graders weekly musical skill building and culminates in a school recital.

The Roots of Music Program (RoMP) provides fourth graders a program with three interactive world music concerts at the Grand Annex along with in-school lessons on history, culture and music fundamentals. Most participants would have no other access to arts education or performing arts exposure without this program.

Each year, the Gathering for the Grand Gala chooses a classic movie to tie in with their annual event theme. The theme of this year’s Gala, “An American in Paris-The Black & White Ball,” was chosen as a fun nod to Pat and Frank Brown’s early years together when Frank was stationed in France. The Black and White Ball is inspired from the art student’s ball scene in the “An American In Paris” movie, which adds a vintage inspiration for attire this year.

If you are interested in attending this year’s July 24 Gathering for the Grand Gala or supporting Grand Vision Foundation, visit grandvision.org.