Cartoon Art MuseumMedia Release -- Dear Friends of the Cartoon Art Museum,

Thanks to our many generous supporters, CAM is wrapping up its 25th year of providing innovative exhibitions of original cartoon art, entertaining and educational family programs, and continued opportunities for scholars.

As we look toward a new year, I'm once again reminded of the challenges the museum has overcome to get this far. While the economy has begun to recover from the recession, grants and foundations have cut back their funding significantly and postponed fulfilling new request this year. Funding from these sources has accounted for 1/3 of CAM's revenue. This fiscal year, revenue from these sources is down more than 50%. We are working diligently to identify other sources of revenue to make sure that we can continue to offer our programs and exhibitions. And while we're grateful to all those who've contributed to our growth and success, we still need your help to foster our unique programming.

Our cutting-edge literacy program, The Comic Book Project, has been put on hold until new sources of funding can be secured; however, our high school animation program, Talking Points, continues with help from the San Francisco Foundation. Our regular programs—drop-in Saturday classes, weekend workshops, after-school programs, and private lessons—remain in high demand year-round.

We've hosted a number of special presentations and book signings by artists such as Chip Kidd (Bat-Manga!), Nicole Hollander (Sylvia), Rob Reger and Buzz Parker (Emily the Strange), Dave Cooper (Bent), Ted Rall (The Anti-American Manifesto) and Paul Pope (Batman: Year 100). We also hosted our two signature fundraisers: Comics for Comix with comedian Dana Gould, and a day at Pixar Animation Studios, our most successful benefit to date.

CAM's galleries have been buzzing over the last 12 months with a steady stream of notable shows, including Drawing the Sword: Samurai in Manga and Anime, Batman: Yesterday and Tomorrow and Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages. We saluted six decades of Beetle Bailey with 60 Years of Beetle Bailey: A Tribute to Mort Walker and presented a special Sparky Award to Walker at this year's New York Comic Con. The works of Ed Hannigan, Nina Paley and legendary underground cartoonist Spain Rodriguez were also featured in our galleries.

If you've ever considered making a donation to the museum, now is the time. Our need has never been greater and the next generation of aspiring cartoonists deserves your support. Your kind response to our Annual Fund drive is essential to helping ensure that our programming will continue on for another 25 years.

Thank you in advance for your 100% tax-deductible gift. To make your contribution, please mail checks to the address below, call us at (415) CAR-TOON (227-8666) ext. 300, or donate through our website. And remember that the museum is still the best place in San Francisco to hold that special event you're hosting. Call us at the number above for more details.

Many thanks for your support. We hope to see you here soon!

Ron Evans

Chair, Board of Trustees

CARTOON ART MUSEUM
655 Mission Street
San Francisco, Ca 94105
415-CAR-TOON
www.cartoonart.org
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHAIR
Ron Evans

SECRETARY
Michael B. Johnson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Summerlea Kashar

VICE CHAIR &
TREASURER
Peter Westley

BOARD MEMBERS
Michelle Hlubinka
Blake Lawit
Michael Todasco
Anthony Yun

FOUNDER &
CHAIR EMERITUS
Malcolm Whyte

STAFF
Andrew Farago
Amy Horton
David Mann
Heather Plunkett
Diane Shapiro-Sommerfield

INTERN
Salomé Nicaise

IMAGE CREDITS
The Spirit by Will Eisner
Steve Roper by William Overgard
Winnie the Pooh by Walt Disney Productions
The Yellow Kid by R.F. Outcault