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2017 White Elephant Sale Raises Over $2 Million

(OAKLAND, CA) March 21, 2017—The 58th annual White Elephant Sale raised over $2 Million on behalf of the Oakland Museum of California, proving another successful year for the Sale held on March 4 and 5, 2017. Over the past three years, the Sale—presented and organized by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board—raised over $2 Million each year to support the Museum.

“It has been a joy seeing this event continue to garner outstanding results year after year, and the 58th Annual White Elephant Sale did not disappoint,” said President of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board Joan Gale. “We could not hold this event without the help of our extraordinary volunteers—more than 1,000 individuals put in thousands of hours preparing for this Oakland tradition.”

“We are incredibly thankful for the Oakland Museum Women’s Board’s commitment to this legendary event each year. The White Elephant Sale is the single largest source of private support for the Museum,” said OMCA Director and CEO Lori Fogarty. “We thank the generous volunteers who help organize the event, the many donors, and the shoppers who not only show their love and enthusiasm for this tradition, but also help make the Museum a great resource for the entire Bay Area community. The success of this year’s fantastic event is no surprise, thanks to the hard work of everyone involved. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Women’s Board.”

The annual White Elephant Sale is scheduled to return to the Bay Area the first weekend in March next year. Made possible by donations from the public, the Sale accepts donations of gently used, good quality items year-round. To donate, a van is available for free pick up by calling 510-839-5919. For more information—including a list of items that cannot be accepted—visit WhiteElephantSale.org.

ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM WOMEN’S BOARD
The sole purpose of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board (OMWB), a dedicated group with 114 year-round members, has been to raise money to support the Oakland Museum of California acquisitions, exhibitions, educational programs, capital improvements, and more. Since 1959, the OMWB has contributed over $22 million to the Museum. With the help of a thousand dedicated volunteers, they work year round to organize and present the White Elephant Sale held annually during the first weekend in March, which attracts shoppers from the Bay Area and beyond.

ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings together collections of art, history and natural science under one roof to tell the extraordinary stories of California and its people. OMCA’s groundbreaking exhibits tell the many stories that comprise California with many voices, often drawing on first-person accounts by people who have shaped California’s cultural heritage. Visitors are invited to actively participate in the Museum as they learn about the natural, artistic and social forces that affect the state and investigate their own role in both its history and its future. With more than 1.9 million objects, OMCA is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California’s dynamic cultural and environmental heritage.

 

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