Foundation Gives Reason to Cheer

The article regarding the Homeland Foundation’s giving to local and national environmental causes (“Tollway Foes Find Ally in Foundation,” Dec. 27) describes the San Joaquin tollway proponents as displeased that anyone would assist a “David” against a “Goliath.” Even with assistance from Getty/Earhart’s Homeland Foundation, the battle remains lopsided. Aren’t our own public funds being used to finance tollway studies and legal costs?

During the mid-1980s, when I was president of the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, the group was doing battle in Sacramento and before the Coastal Commission against Signal Cos.’ proposed marina development in the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. We too, received a check from Ann Getty. It was for $500, and it was so overwhelming, coming from someone whom we hadn’t any contact with, that I asked that the bank be called to be sure the check was good before spending it. The Amigos in intervening years has continued to receive grants from the Homeland Foundation, and they are always welcome as they allow us to undertake many educational projects that would be impossible without such annual funding, but this does not change the nature of our organization. We will always have to depend upon our grass-roots funding and volunteers to accomplish our goals of preservation and restoration of the wetlands.

Even if they do not seek it, Getty/Earhart and their Homeland Foundation deserve applause for extending support to effective nonprofit environmental organizations. I say boo to their detractors.

LORRAINE FABER

Huntington Beach