Near the Top on Cahuenga Peak

Fernanda Kellogg of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, Barry Sanders of the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners, Sam Smith of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board and Will Rogers of the Trust for Public Land joined Councilmember LaBonge at Cahuenga Peak today.

Councilmember LaBonge and officials from the Trust for Public Land (TPL) announced a 16-day extension to raise the final $1 million needed to save the view of the famous Hollywood sign by preserving the 138 acres of pristine hillside just to the west of the sign.
Philanthropist Aileen Getty and the Tiffany & Co. Foundation President Fernanda Kellogg announced they will each donate $250,000 more as a challenge grant, meaning TPL will receive the money only if it raises an additional $1 million. Ms. Getty and the Tiffany Foundation had each previously donated $1 million.
Councilmember LaBonge set aside $4.3 million in public park funding over the past eight years to purchase the hillside property called Cahuenga Peak. Last year, he partnered with TPL, which made an agreement with the owners to buy the land for $12.5 million to expand Griffith Park.
"We're looking for people who want to be big stars in Hollywood by helping to Save the Peak," the Councilmember said. "Thank you to everyone who is helping us preserve this natural hillside for the future of Los Angeles. We're almost at the top and I know we'll get there." Added Will Rogers, TPL President: "We need to raise a total of $12.5 million and today, we're at $11.5 million, including the money from the challenge grants. Our deadline was originally set for today, April 14, but we have just secured an extension of that deadline to April 30."
The new total of $11 million raised includes gifts, pledges and intentions. There has been a groundswell of support for the effort in the Los Angeles area, including local residents who have held bake sales, rallies, and a fund-raising concert on the Sunset Strip. For more information or to donate to this effort, please click here. Also on hand for today's announcement were Barry Sanders, president of the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners; Leron Gubler, President of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Sam Smith, Chairperson of the Board of the Hollywood chamber.