Friends of Mondavi Center

Images of special events put on by Friends of Mondavi Center

Friends of Mondavi Center is a dedicated donor based organization of arts loving volunteers whose purpose is to assist the Mondavi Center’s presenting program with education, outreach, fundraising, and audience development. Friends engage in a variety of activities that support these programs and annually contribute thousands of hours and raise thousands of dollars to benefit Mondavi Center Arts Education.

Friends provide an invaluable link to the Sacramento region as they represent the Mondavi Center, the region’s premier performing arts venue. When you join Friends of Mondavi Center, you choose the activities which you prefer and the commitment level that best suits you.  In addition, you work with other Friends who share your interests.

Friends’ volunteer opportunities are many.  To learn more about each one, click on its link below. For a more detailed description of these opportunities, click on A Guide to Friends Activities and Programs.

We welcome you to join Friends of Mondavi Center. Our support of the performing arts is made even more rewarding as Friends enjoy a unique relationship with the Mondavi Center.

Executive Board

  • Jo Anne Boorkman, President
  • Laura Baria, Vice President
  • Francie Lawyer, Secretary
  • Jim Coulter, Audience Enrichment
  • Martha Rehrman, Friends Events
  • Jacqueline Gray, Membership
  • Leslie Westergaard, Mondavi Center Tours
  • Sandy Chong, School Matinee Support
  • Phyllis Zerger, School Outreach
  • Eunice Adair Christensen, Gift Shop Manager, Ex Officio
  • Joyce Donaldson, Director of Arts Education, Ex Officio

For more information, please contact us at friendsofMC@ucdavis.edu or call the Arts Education Coordinator at 530-754-5431.

 

 

Spotlight Series
Friends organize a series of informal talks in members’ homes. These talks “put the spotlight” on selected performing arts topics.

School Matinee Ushering
Friends volunteer as ticket takers and ushers for the School Matinee Series at Mondavi Center.

Pre-Matinee Classroom Talks
Friends docents present 30-minute talks at area schools to prepare students who will attend a school matinee at Mondavi Center.  Find out more here.

Docent Guides for Classroom Talks
Friends Docent Guide writers research and produce written guides for docents to use in Pre-Matinee Classroom Talks.

School Matinee Ticket Program
Friends assist in the administration of this program that provides tickets for students who otherwise might not have an opportunity attend a school matinee at the Mondavi Center.

School Matinee Ticket Program Fundraising
Friends fundraising events raise monies to support the Friends School Matinee Ticket Program.

Artist Support
Friends drive visiting artists to their outreach activities, provide airport transportation, deliver information packets to their hotels and help them as needed to make their stay in Davis comfortable.

Area Schools Visitation
Friends visit area schools to raise awareness of arts education opportunities offered by the Mondavi Center.

Audience Enrichment
Members of the Audience Enrichment Committee will assist the Mondavi Center with outreach activities that occur on campus and throughout the greater community. These activities might involve disseminating materials or participating in community events as a representative of the Mondavi Center.

Gift Shop
The Friends of Mondavi Center manage and staff the Gift Shop in the southeast corner of the Yocha Dehe Grand Lobby.  Friends take great care to purchase unique, affordable merchandise for sale to Mondavi Center audiences.  The Gift Shop is open prior to performances, during intermission and for special sales events.  Profits from the Gift Shop, from $15,000-$25,000, are designed to support Mondavi Center Arts Education programs.

Special Events
The Special Events Committee plans and hosts events for the Friends throughout the year.  They provide opportunities for all Friends to get together and socialize. 

Mondavi Center Tours
Friends manage and lead public tours at the Mondavi Center throughout the year.  Friends provide tours to parents of incoming freshmen during UC Davis summer advising weeks.

Mondavi Center Events Support
Friends greet guests and assist with other day of event duties for Arts Education professional development workshops, conferences, and other special events.