Grants Help Theaters, Churches

The campaigns to build new stages for Orange County’s two leading performing arts organizations reaped some of the largest rewards among $1.6 million in grants being given to 166 charitable groups by the Pacific Life Foundation.

The grants announced Wednesday also will assist construction of a new cathedral in Los Angeles and help preserve one of the state’s oldest churches, Mission San Juan Capistrano.

A flagging economy, however, will reduce overall giving this year by the foundation set up by Pacific Life, a privately held insurance company based in Newport Beach.

The grants are about half the $3 million the foundation expects to disburse this year; that is down 13.3% from the record $3.4 million in donations in 2001, a foundation spokesman said.

South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa was awarded $110,000. Of that, $100,000 was an installment payment on a five-year, $500,000 grant to help the theater add a stage.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa received $53,000, including a $50,000 installment on a five-year, $250,000 grant for its $200-million campaign to build a new symphony hall.

The preservation of Mission San Juan Capistrano, built in 1777, received $50,000, the first installment of a two-year, $100,000 pledge.

A $25,000 grant will help underwrite construction of the new Roman Catholic cathedral in Los Angeles.