Press Releases
San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, is pleased to announce that the institution has received a $3,000 donation from Coral Thrift Shop, an all-volunteer-run thrift shop located in San Clemente, CA. The donation will support Casa Kids educational programming for youth ages 0-18 in the 2020 season at Casa Romantica, and secure a commemorative seat in Casa Romantica’s Amphitheater by the Sea.
Coral Thrift Shop Board members Jamie Kalama and Maxine Augusta presented two checks in person on Wednesday, November 20 to Casa Romantica Executive Director Amy Behrens and Board of Directors President Ruth DeNault.
Casa Romantica Executive Director Amy Behrens said of the donation: “Coral Thrift Shop’s humble purpose has given impressive opportunities to the youth of San Clemente for over 50 years. Casa Romantica is very fortunate to have the friendship of these remarkable volunteers to help us make arts education accessible for every child who walks through our keyhole door.”
Casa Romantica’s Casa Kids series consists of regularly scheduled arts and cultural events for children. These include free arts and crafts activities every first Sunday (D. Yoder Family Sundays), an annual tuition-free Music Festival & Academy and annual tuition free Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Workshop, art, garden, and cinema events, field trips for all children in the Capistrano Unified School District and beyond, and a $1 ticket program for musical concerts and liberal arts lectures.
Casa Romantica’s Amphitheater by the Sea, which is expected to receive new stadium seating with commemorative donor plaques in early 2020, will host theater and music performances as well as community offerings. Coral Thrift Shop has been in business since 1964, where they have operated as an all-volunteer-run organization since its inception. Since their opening, they have donated over $3 million toward youth programs and scholarships for college and vocational careers. This past summer, they donated $67,000 in college scholarships to local high school seniors.
About Coral Thrift Shop
Coral Thrift Shop is an all volunteer run, non-profit thrift shop since 1964. Over the years, they have donated over $3 million for youth programs and scholarships. They have received awards and accollades from local government, as well as from Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger and President George W. Bush.
Coral Thrift Shop is located at 534 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day except Sunday. For more information, email [email protected].
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. The award-winning cultural institution has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works in the recent past, 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 non-profit 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—Thursday 11 am—4 pm; Friday—Sunday 10am—2pm; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org
