ABOUT US

Our Mission

Partners of Parks supports the City of Long Beach's Parks, Recreation and Marine programs by managing strategic partnerships and seeking development opportunities that support PRM activities especially benefiting Long Beach teens, seniors, and economically disadvantaged youth.

Partners of Parks is the Long Beach non-profit that helps subsidize park programming and activities, and supports neighborhood groups who fund and host events in Long Beach parks. The organization supports the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by working with donors to fund new tree plantings, new amenities, and new programming benefitting teens, seniors and families-in-need. Since 2014, the Partners of Parks Youth Scholarship Program has awarded more than $50,000 to enable qualified LBUSD students to attend fee-based recreation classes and camps at no charge. Since May 2020, Partners of Parks has raised and distributed more than $25,000 of $50 grocery gift cards through the Donna Helsley Senior Food Fund to more than 450 seniors who would otherwise have gone hungry at the end of the month when their limited income was depleted.

Program support includes recreation classes and camps including swimming lessons, Animal Care Services and the Nature Center. PoP also serves as a fiscal agent for a variety of community organizations affiliated with a particular park or activity, such as the Friends groups who raise money for a particular park, the Long Beach Municipal Band, memorials (Benches, Lone Sailor, Rosie the Riveter Park Memorial Wall, Tree Planting), and community organizations.

PoP does not receive any direct government funding and is governed by a board of seven community members who volunteer their time. Funding is solicited from foundations, corporations, associations and individuals to support a variety of programs for all Long Beach residents and their four-legged companions. Recreation classes, educational programs and community-wide programs are participant-funded with scholarships provided by PoP to youth and senior residents who meet income requirements.

With caring community members continuing to donate dollars to ensure park access to everyone in the community, Partners of Parks hosts fundraising events, outreaches to community members for support and solicits sponsorships. PoP staffs information tables at events and community activities to raise community awareness of its mission.

Strategic Plan

In January 2018,Partners of Parks adopted a new Stragegic Plan, "Bringing People to Parks Programs".

Strategic Plan

History

Founded in 1985, Partners of Parks (PoP) was established by a group of Long Beach residents who were concerned that clean, open park space be kept available to all residents at a time when large cuts were being made to civic budgets and park services. The original mission was to raise funds to preserve, protect and maintain parks and open spaces.

PoP is a public/private partnership with the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine through an agreement formed in 1989 with the City and approved by the City Council.

PoP is an IRS designated 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization operating under tax ID #33-0104238 and receives donations specifically designated for park programs within the City.

BOARD MEMBERS

Board members are volunteers representing all areas of the community.

Ron Antonette

President

Ron is a 25-year veteran of the public relations industry and currently serves as Chief Program Officer of the USC Center for Public Relations at the Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism. Ron has previously worked with global brands Mattel, Nestle, Amazon, Disney, and LEGO.

Lillian Parker

Vice President

Lillian Parker is a 22-year civilian employee of LAPD. She is an active community volunteer having served on the Citizen Police Complaint Commission, Central Project Area Committee, Central Neighborhood Advisory Committee; as well as serving on the Youth Gang Violence Task Force.

Kathy Fishkin

Treasurer

Kathy holds a MBA and a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and Marketing and is a CPA. Her accounting experience reveals more than 30 years’ experience. Kathy is currently the Treasurer of Pop and a member of the 1997 class of Leadership Long Beach.

Mark Hardison

Secretary

Mark is the retired Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Hawthorne and is active in Kiwanis and the Poly HS Cross Country and Track Booster Clubs. Mark oversees the board of a non-profit that raises money for Hawthorne’s Recreation Department. He is a resident of Bixby Knolls.

Trina Schoonmaker

Member

Trina Schoonmaker is a Cruise & Vacation Specialist with Expedia CruiseShipCenters, the travel agent division of the powerful worldwide Expedia brand.Trina has 40 years experience in the travel industry, primarily in travel publishing for market-leading publishers.

David Zannata

Member

Dave is a member of JCA Resources Team, a real estate development, international trade and marketing company serving Japan, China, and the Americas. In addition to his corporate experience, David serves on the Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission and has served on a number of boards providing community support.

Alexandra Rothwell

Member

Alexandra is Community Relations Manager at Signal Hill Petroleum (SHP) and holds a BA in Communications, with an emphasis in Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton. She serves on the board of directors for several nonprofits including the Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce, Signal Hill Police Foundation and Signal Hill Community Foundation.