Gulf Coast Oil Spill Results in Donation to Lakeside

Unfortunate circumstances resulted in a donation to a local foundation.

Last year's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico forced Beach CITE Studios, Inc, to close down its operations along the Alabama Gulf Coast and relocate a major portion of its assets to the area.

The announced that Beach CITE have made a major donation to its organization. The amount of the donation was not released.

According to Lakeside, various meetings regarding plans to incorporate the donation have resulted in a mutually successful plan between Beach CITE Studios, Inc. and the Lakeside Legacy Foundation.

“We are excited to have this opportunity present itself to us,” said Ron Russell, Board President of Lakeside. “Anytime that we can enhance the realization of our mission and goal — which has always been to provide a much needed and desired public service to the community — is a great day for all of us.”

Plans to remodel certain aspects at Lakeside to accommodate a performance space to be known as “The Listening Room” — in addition to enhancing the existing culinary center and improving technological areas of the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park — are already in the works, according to Lakeside.

“Of all the locations that we considered when making this donation, we were most impressed with the great sense of energy that already exists at Lakeside, along with their enthusiastic support for our ideas and concepts,” said Jim Coughlin, Executive Director for Beach CITE Studios, Inc.

“We believe this donation to our arts park will be a compliment to our existing tenants, members and guests,” said Terry Legare, Executive Director of Lakeside Legacy Foundation. “We will be an even better destination experience with the addition of this major gift from our friends at Beach CITE Studios.”

Lakeside Legacy Arts Park houses facilities that encompass teaching and learning areas for many of the arts; including music, painting, sculpture and culinary arts. Combined with the Historic Dole Mansion the facility space totals over 51,000 square feet and sits on 12.5 acres across from the main beach area of Crystal Lake.

The Lakeside Legacy Foundation was formed in October 2002, as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization to provide an opportunity to preserve a historic treasure and enrich the lives of the residents and guests of the , along with the surrounding area.

More information is available by visiting www.lakesidelegacy.org.