United Irish Cultural Center Inc

DURING 2023, THE CENTER CONTINUED UTILIZING ITS OUTDOOR SPACE IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC BUT WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY MOVE ACTIVITIES INDOORS AS RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED. AS A RESULT, THE CENTER WAS ABLE TO RESTART OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING AND HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS LEVERAGING BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES, THUS ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO SAFELY ASSEMBLE, SOCIALIZE, AND ENJOY ART, CULTURE, FOOD AND MUSIC. WE WELCOMED EIGHTY-ONE LOCAL KIDS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR CHILDRENS PROGRAMMING: UICCS ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP AND OUR YOUTH MUSIC PROGRAM. WE CONTINUED TO OFFER A MUSIC FESTIVAL IN AUGUST 2023. THE UICC CONTINUES TO OFFER IRISH CULTUAL PROGRAMMING. THE CENTER CONTINUES TO SPONSOR ITS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA COMMUNITY HEADED TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. THE CENTER SOLICITS SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEN MATCHES THOSE DONATIONS TO SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. IN 2023, THE CENTER AWARDED $56,250 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 63 YOUNG ADULTS MATRICULATING TO VARIOUS SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE. WITHIN THE CENTER IS THE PATRICK J. DOWLING LIBRARY DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATIONS OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTIFACTS DOCUMENTING CULTURE AND HISTORY. THE LIBRARY, LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE UICC, CONTAINS MORE THAN 3,000 TITLES ON A NUMBER OF SUBJECTS REGARDING IRELAND AND IRISH AMERICA: ARCHEOLOGY, ARCHITECTURE, ART, BIOGRAPHY, COOKING, CRAFTS, GENEALOGY, HISTORY (ANCIENT AND MODERN), IMMIGRATION, LITERATURE (NOVELS, POETRY, PLAYS AND SHORT STORIES), MUSIC (INCLUDING MUSIC SCORES), MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE, RELIGION, SPORTS, AND TRAVEL. THE LIBRARY ALSO HAS BOOKS WRITTEN IN THE IRISH LANGUAGE. IN 2023, THE COST TO MAINTAIN AND STAFF THE LIBRARY WAS $39K. A LARGE PORTION OF THIS AMOUNT IS DUE TO AN ONLGOING EFFORT TO DIGITIZE LIBRARY MATERIALS. BEGINNING IN 2021, THE CENTER LAUNCHED AN EFFORT TO REBUILD ITS LANDMARK DESTINATION BUILDING IN SAN FRANCISCOS SUNSET DISTRICT. THE CENTER ENGAGED ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS TO PREPARE PRELIMINARY PLANS. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER BEGAN RAISING FUNDS TO PAY INITIAL DESIGN COSTS AND BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FEES. AS OF 12/31/23, THE CENTER RECEIVED PLEDGES TOTALING $1,900,000 FROM 95 DONORS, OF WHICH $1,700,000 WAS FUNDED BY 12/31/23, THE REMAINING $200,000 BALANCE WILL BE FUNDED BY YEAR END 2025. TOTAL COSTS INCURRED IN 2021-2023 FOR NEW BUILDING DESIGN WAS JUST OVER $1,000,000.