William Kolender-San Diego County Sheriff’s Museum 10 Year Anniversary (Old West Gala Fundraiser)

Event:  William Kolender-San Diego County Sheriff’s Museum 10 Yr. Anniv. (Old West Gala Fundraiser)
Date of Event:  Thursday, November 17, 2011
Time of Event: 5:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Location of Event: Best Western Hacienda Hotel, 4041 Harney St., San Diego, CA 92110 (Old Town San Diego)

SYNOPSIS: The William Kolender-San Diego County Sheriff’s Museum is proud to announce their 10 year anniversary in Old Town San Diego.  On Nov. 17, 2001 the museum opened their doors to the public in “wild west” tradition.  Instead of cutting a ribbon, VIP’s unlocked handcuffs linked together.  In the past decade the museum has had more than a quarter of a million visitors of which 150,000 were grade school students.  The students tour the museum to learn not only about early San Diego and California history, but about early San Diego County Sheriff history.  When the museum opened their doors it was the intent to not have to charge an admission, but to be FREE.  Today it remains FREE to tour the museum.

The museum receives no annual public funding and relies solely on donations.  The goal was set 10 years ago to have the mortgage paid off by the 10th anniversary to eliminate a large part of the museum’s expenses.  As most other non-profit groups have experienced, the museum has seen a sharp decline in donations over the past few years.  The museum may not make their goal, but they are close and need your help.

This year for the museum’s annual Gala, they are going back to their roots, way back, to the Wild Wild West.  Attending the Gala will be like going back in time to “a night in the Old West.”  The Best Western Hacienda in Old Town will be transformed into a saloon/dance hall/theater where cowboys, saloon girls, Sheriffs and townfolks can come listen to the twang of the bluegrass group “Virtual Strangers”, interact with the saloon girls from the “Grand Ladies of the Old West”, cowboys from the “Alpine Outlaws” and see “World Famous Gun Spinner Joey Dillon” on stage.  If that isn’t enough there will be hot grub, cool prizes, lots of silent auction items to bid on and a few “live auction” items as well. 

The event is open to the public and tickets are only $85 per person in advance, or $95 at the door.  So come join the William Kolender-San Diego County Sheriff’s Museum to help celebrate it’s 10th anniversary, have some fun “old west style” and maybe learn a few things you didn’t know about the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s 161 years of history.  You never know, you might just see some VIP’s!

For TICKETS or DONATIONS, contact Museum Director Dorothy Strout:

Sheriff’s Museum, 2384 San Diego Ave., San Diego, CA 92110
Phone:  619-260-1850
e-mail:  msdstrout@msn.com

For MEDIA/PRESS/ON-AIR INTERVIEWS/LIVE SHOTS or further information regarding the Old West Gala event contact Museum Special Events Coordinator Matt Pocklington:

Cell:      619-672-0154
e-mail:  matt.pocklington@cox.net

Thank you,

MATT POCKLINGTON

William Kolender-San Diego County Sheriff’s Museum