Waste Management of North County

Contact: Sarah Huoh, Public Relations Manager
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Waste Management of North County Donates $10,000 to Oceanside Museum of Art for Expansion, Future Development

Waste Management of North County presents two checks, for $5,000 each, to the Oceanside Museum of Art. Left to right: Waste Management's John Lusignan and his wife, Sandy; Skip Pahl, OMA’s executive director; and Suzy with husband, Ken Ryan, district manager for WM of North County.

OCEANSIDE, July 17, 2006 - Waste Management of North County, which operates in and provides waste and recycling service to the City of Oceanside, has donated $10,000 to the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) for the expansion of the museum.

Two checks in the amount of $5,000 each, from Waste Management’s WM Charitable Foundation and also the local Waste Management of North County hauling operation, were delivered to the museum’s directors at the Honorary Committee Party on June 24. Ken Ryan, district manager of Waste Management of North County, and John Lusignan, who last year retired after 17 years as district manager and continues to remain active in the Oceanside community, presented the checks.

“With this gift and recent pledges, the museum is now within $70,000 of its total goal of $5.35 million. Construction on Phase One of the museum’s expansion is scheduled for September of this year,” said Skip Pahl, OMA’s executive director. “This gift moves us closer to groundbreaking now planned for early fall of this year. Waste Management values the museum as a partner in the renaissance of Oceanside and its support is evident over the years as sponsors of the museum’s many special event fundraisers.”

Phase One of the museum’s expansion consists of a two-story building designed by modernist architect Frederick Fisher on what is now the parking lot next to the present museum. It will house a gallery for rotating exhibitions, a gallery for the museum’s permanent collection and an intimate gallery space selected by OMA’s executive director to showcase the art of the region’s diverse community. It will also contain a conference room and the museum’s research library. A plaza leading into the lobby of the new building will direct visitors to the main entrance of the museum.

“Waste Management is proud to be an active supporter of the communities we serve,” said Ryan. “We believe that with this contribution to the Oceanside Museum of Art, we will help to further develop this cultural center in Oceanside, providing not only an educational resource for local residents and visitors, but also an outlet for our artistic community. We are excited to be a part of the museum’s growth.”

For additional information about the museum’s expansion plans or the upcoming Museum Ball, the museum’s largest annual fundraiser, contact Skip Pahl at (760) 721-2787.

Waste Management is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. For more information about the company’s community involvement, log onto www.wm.com.