On Wednesday, April 30, 2008, the Foundation Board will be unveiling its first Super Star, with San Joaquin Community Hospital donating the first ever $50,000 Star to the Walk of Stars program. This unveiling, an invitation-only event will be attended by all major donors and sponsors of the Fox Theater Foundation. A reception will be held with a formal unveiling. Our community is fortunate to have a hospital whose community foundation is willing to give so generously back to the citizens. As their Foundation staff so succinctly stated, "Community" is our middle name. Kudos to San Joaquin community Hospital for their generosity in helping to restore and preserve one of the downtown's architectural jewels.
In 1994, when the City had positioned a wrecking ball to demolish the Fox Theater, a small group of concerned citizens formed the Fox Theater Foundation. Assisted by the Downtown Business Association, their first titem of business was to raise funds for a down payment to purchase this historic landmark.
After that initial hurdle was circumvented, a variety of programs were created to allow for donations to renovate and repair the building. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours have been invested in bringing the Fox Theater back to its former glory. One of these special donation programs is the Walk of Stars recognition plaques, which are cemented into the pavement on both 20th and H Streets on either side of the theater entrance.
To date, there are eighteen stars in the Majestic Fox Theater Walk of Fame. Most of these donations have been either $5,000 or $10,000 stars. In 2006, Bill Destefani and Janyth Short donated the largest contribution to date, a $25,000 star.
