As 2023 comes to a close we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support of the Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation. This year marks the organization’s 10-year anniversary and we’d like to celebrate the impact we’ve made together during the past decade. 

 Your generosity, and that of our community, has made significant restoration possible. We have completed foundation work, added an entry patio, a new front door and stairs to the mechanical room, as well as installed a hand-forged iron fence to secure access from the roadside. We have also put in trellising around the chimes and repaired the tower roof, including improving its drainage, restoring its Catalina tiles and adding lighting. Finally, we have secured and beautified the perimeter walls.    

 With the exterior projects almost finished, we have turned our attention to the interior of the tower. In the past 18 months we have formulated a plan to restore the chimes and mechanism. This phase addresses all the elements of the instrument itself-- from a full restoration of the strikers, tubular bells and dampers to the installation of a new relay board and refurbishment of the supporting structure. We are ready to get underway with this exciting, intricate work and anticipate completion in 2024. 

Equally exciting is the approach of another significant milestone—the Chimes Tower’s centennial anniversary in 2025! Once the interior renovations are completed, we plan to continue our landscaping improvements and add enhancements for on-site guests such as new history signage and the ability to easily scan to donate while visiting. Also on the agenda is the creation of an endowment to support the ongoing maintenance of the tower and chimes in the years to come.

This year’s Chimes Club Membership fees and annual fundraiser, Bats in the Belfry, raised $75,000—a small part of what we need to accomplish our current and next phases of restoration. We hope you will consider helping us to reach our year-end fundraising goal of $285,000 and continue the momentum we have established. Please see below * for details on how to contribute.   

We are eager to move forward and have the Chimes Tower completely restored in time for its 100th birthday. Thank you in advance for your continued support.     

Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season!  Monetary donations may be made by credit card or PayPal by clicking the 'Give Now' button or by check to P.O. Box 677, Avalon, CA 90704. Please include your mailing address and we will provide a receipt for your contribution. Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization. Our EIN is 46-4347448.