Press Releases
San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, is proud to announce its eighth annual Mary Colby Tea fundraiser, postponed from its usual May date due to COVID-19 to July 18, 2020.
The 2020 Honorary Chairperson for the event is Ms. Bonnie Koch, a well-known San Clemente retired businesswoman and philanthropist who helped make the city the destination it has become today.
The fundraiser, which is named in honor of late San Clemente businesswoman and philanthropist Mary Colby, secures critical support for arts education programs for children and for people of all ages at Casa Romantica.
All funds raised through ticket sales and via proceeds from the event’s raffle drawings and paddle raise will benefit programs and operational support for Casa Romantica’s Music Academy, Dance Workshop, Spring Break Arts Week program, several arts education workshops for children and adults, and structured field trips serving all of Capistrano Unified School District. The majority of Casa Romantica’s programs for children include free tuition/admission, free supplies, and no administration fees.
“Casa Romantica’s mission as a premier cultural center is deeply connected with Mary Colby’s quest to discover and share the beauty of artistic expression from cultures all over the world with her community,” says Executive Director Amy Behrens. “Her namesake event supports arts education programs that inspire our children and people of all ages, and we are delighted to honor her friend and fellow transformative businesswoman, and longtime Casa Romantica supporter, Bonnie Koch as Honorary Chairperson.”
Event overview
In accordance to current state health guidelines, the Mary Colby Tea capacity is limited this year and will be held outdoors in our open-air courtyard with socially distanced seating arrangements. Attendees will be greeted with champagne cocktails in the historic Casa Courtyard upon arrival and will be escorted to their table.
For the fourth year in a row, Casa Romantica is offering ‘Hostess-designed tables.’ Hostesses may reserve tables of four seats to fill with their friends and decorate the table on the morning of the event for the competitive opportunity to win a prize.
Raffle prizes will be shown in an area adjacent to the Courtyard, where groups will be excused at specified times to view the prizes and participate. Raffle tickets will be available to purchase online prior to the event and in-person at check-in.
Tea service begins at 3:30 PM with traditional English cream teas, canapes, scones with clotted cream, fresh fruit and miniature fruit tarts, catered by an exclusive British vendor. Champagne is also served at the table.
At 4:30 PM, Casa Romantica Board President Ruth DeNault will deliver welcome remarks and introduce the Honorary Chairperson, Bonnie Koch. Then, Executive Director Amy Behrens will introduce alumni of Casa Romantica’s summer academies to share with the audience how arts education at Casa Romantica has impacted them. Afterward, Behrens will lead a paddle raise fundraiser.
Honorary Chairperson Bonnie Koch
Bonnie Koch, a dear friend of Mary Colby, has had a long history and influence in San Clemente.
Bonnie, along with her mother and father, opened San Clemente’s premier travel agency El Camino Travel in 1952. Bonnie’s late husband Ralph Koch (d. 2018) joined the family business in 1956. Her family’s business is the reason that the train stations exist in San Clemente; El Camino Travel successfully lobbied the railroads for the development of the train station at North Beach and sold tickets at the stop multiple times every day in the station’s early years. Leading in innovation, they were one of the first to adopt computer airline scheduling and ticketing. In the early 1970s, they handled the flight arrangements for President Richard Nixon and the Secret Service when they were at the “Western White House” in South San Clemente. In addition to scheduling trips for others, they also took many groups of fellow adventurers from San Clemente around the world and back several times, exploring Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe extensively. Were it not for the efforts of El Camino Travel, San Clemente would not be the destination it is today.
Bonnie is a longtime supporter of Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. Bonnie and Ralph’s first recorded donation to Casa Romantica was in 2003 when the doors first opened to the public. They underwrote the development of a garden on the West Terrace, which is named for them. Bonnie continues to support Casa Romantica by serving on the Board of Directors. She has served as Secretary since 2015 and has been the underwriter for the annual Summer Dance Workshop since its inception in 2016.
Bonnie and her late husband Ralph have three daughters (Karen Koch, Kristianne Koch Riddle, and Kathleen Hensel) and multiple grandchildren.
The Legacy of Mary Colby
Mary Elizabeth Colby (1914-2008) was the first female buyer for the Robinson’s department stores during WWII. She founded “Ports of Call” stores in Pasadena and in Beverly Hills, and then settled permanently in San Clemente. Her San Clemente-based Mary Colby Antiques stores were some of the largest antique galleries on the West Coast. Mary hosted an annual Tea each year for the community, and bequeathed her private china collection to Casa Romantica to educate young people in the beauty and value of their heritage. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is proud to honor her tradition, her contributions, and her goals.
Tickets and general information: https://www.casaromantica.org
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Coastal: Murals of Levi Ponce (2019; visual art), Casa Theater: The Odd-Essy (2019; theater), Casa Kinetic: Culture Shock LA Hip Hop (2019; dance); Casa Coastal: The Art of Baja California (2018; visual art), Casa Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018; theater), Casa Kinetic: Celebrating Tap Dance Legends (2018; dance), Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), The Beauty of the Butterfly (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Carrie Lee Riggins (2016; contemporary dance), Casa Drama: Slings & Arrows (2015; theater), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2019-20 Casa Captivating season includes a new music program (Casa Vibes), visual and performing arts commissions, and an expanded Casa Kids education program.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy has received critical praise for its comprehensive two-week music studies program in cello, piano, viola,
and violin. Casa Romantica also offers a Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 6,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
Mission Statement: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is the historic home of the founder of the City of San Clemente. Casa Romantica provides programs for all ages in arts, music, history, and horticulture and is a premier Southern California cultural center.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is located at 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours: Tuesday—Sunday 10 am—4 pm; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members, active military with ID, and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org
