What fun we had, celebrating our second annual “Heart of the Park Celebration”. 
James Reber
Community members enjoyed the afternoon in the shade 
while listening to several speakers that included City of San Jose Councilmember Nancy Pyle, and San Jose Parks Foundation Executive Director James Reber.
They visited the different information booths, and then waiting anxiously to see if their number had been drawn in our Donor Drawing, at Jeffrey Fontana Park on Sunday, August 7th. The membership drive and fundraiser for our Martin-Fontana Parks Association drew nearly 100 participants, who celebrated our achievements made in preserving the existing trees and the planting of sixty new trees in our Jeffrey Fontana and T.J. Martin Parks with coffee and birthday cupcakes.
We had over thirty people renew their memberships, added ten more new members, and even had several people became $100 sponsors at the Crepe Myrtle level.
Donor Drawing Booth
Our Donor Drawing fundraiser, combined with membership donations, and sales of MFPA merchandise, brought in over $1800 during the two hour event.
Information tables were hosted by five nonprofit organizations that handed out information and talked with those interested about their organization’s work in Almaden Valley. We want to thank the Humane Society’s representative Bev Cannon, Audubon Society’s members Janna and Lee Pauser, Parks and Recreation’s Adopt-a-Park program representative, Mollie Tobias, and Our City Forest members, who provided information about free trees for the community along with bringing their mascot,
Tree-Na.
The Almaden Valley Women’s Club was well represented and brought along information about their 35th Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival to be held on September the 18th.
We had several people sign up to help with our next planting project to be held in Fontana Park on October 22, 2011. Our thanks to all the volunteers who are planning to come out and help us with these enhancement projects. We also want to thank our Members and Sponsors for their help in achieving our goal of protecting and enhancing our two neighbor parks.
See what the Almaden Times Weekly had to say about the event: “Heart of the Park II saves trees, stimulates community spirit“.
MARTIN-FONTANA PARKS ASSOCIATION 