Consider gifting someone a membership to the Historical Society and join (left to right) Patrick Healy, Donna Vaccarino and Bill Bruns in exploring the town’s history.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
As many people starts to downsize, and others realize they don’t really feel like they need or want anything for Christmas or Hanukkah, consider giving them a gift to a local Palisades Organizations. Memberships are generally cheap and tax-deductible, and serve as a way to socialize with others.
Membership for the year is usually incredibly cheap, for example one can join the Palisades Historical Society for a mere $35 (a student is $15). Dues and contributions are tax deductible and by giving the gift of a membership, members receive notices and invitations to lectures, tours, historic walks and the annul Lunch and Holiday Party. click here.
For the person who loves plants, there are two great choices, and both are nonprofits: the Malibu Orchid Society or the Garden Club. The Orchid Society meets monthly at the Palisades Methodist Church on Via and features a speaker and beautiful demonstrations. The members are delightful and passionate about the plants. Membership is $3 click here.
The Palisades Garden Club also meets monthly at the Woman’s Club and this editor was upset she had to miss their last speaker, a rose expert. Membership is $35 and includes the monthly meetings and field trips and tours to private and public gardens as well as special pricing at some California and National Gardens.click here.
If you were already a member of the Friends of the Library, you would be able to gain early Friday admission to the book sale, which is being held for the general public on Saturday. Dues are tax-deductible and an individual membership is $25. The Friends support the library with programs, such as the Library Film Festival and classes like mindfulness, Bridge, CPR and knitting programs click here.
If one has an environmental lover on their gift list, consider Temescal Canyon Association https://temcanyon.org. The TCA has a long-time partnership with CA State Parks to help maintain and protect current hiking trails for the public: funds services and supplies to local state parks beyond what is included in the State Parks budget and helps support the groups 32-year-hiking program. Dues are $20.
Theatre Palisades offers several memberships. For $40, a person agrees to work in some capacity at three of the five shows this community theatre produces annually (great way to socialize) and in return they receive a free ticket to each of the five shows in the season (Ticket prices for one show is $22). Members receive all newsletters and invitations to social events.click here.
Membership to the nonprofit Woman’s Club is $125 a year, but includes monthly meetings, book club, social events and fundraising for its grants program that support more than 30 local community clubs. Annually a flu clinic is held and also the 90th Birthday Party. One of the oldest clubs in Pacific Palisades, founded in 1925, it’s club house was built in 1950 and serves as a meeting place for numerous organizations click here.
The Palisades Newcomers group is a social organization of women. Dues are $25 a year and there is a myriad of activities to choose from including hiking, knitting, volunteering, speakers, Mah Jongg and ladies night out click here.
If the person you’re buying a president for already has everything on their list, consider gifting a membership to a local club/service organization.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT/CTN
DONATE IN SOMEONE’S NAME:
And if you would like to support local organizations, consider making a donation in someone’s name to Palisades Symphony click here or Chamber Music Palisades. click here. Both offer free concerts during the year.
The Will Rogers Ranch Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring the legacy of Will Rogers and the Will Rogers State Historic Park, also welcomes donations click here.
Resilient Palisades, a nonprofit that has several volunteer teams that are responding to the climate and ecological crisis click here.
Also clubs to consider gifting a membership are the Palisades Rotary Club and the Palisades Optimist Club. Optimists meet at Janes Hall at the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church on the first and third Tuesday of each month (contact Rich Wilken richwilken@mac.com). Effective January 2025, the Rotary will meet on the second and third Tuesday of the month at the Draycott at noon. Phone: (310) 459-8551 or email pacificpalisadesrotaryclub@gmail.com.