United Irish Cultural Center Inc

TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE IRISH CULTURE AND HERITAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND TO CARRY ON THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PURPOSE.

THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE IRISH CULTURE AND HERITAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO CARRY ON THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PURPOSE.DURING 2021, THE CENTER CONTINUED UTILIZING ITS OUTDOOR SPACE IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC BUT WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY MOVE ACTIVITIES INDOORS AS RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED. AS A RESULT, THE CENTER WAS ABLE TO HOST COMMUNITY EVENTS, LEVERAGING BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES, ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO SAFELY ASSEMBLE, SOCIALIZE AND ENJOY ART, CULTURE, FOOD AND MUSIC.THE CENTER CONTINUES TO SPONSOR ITS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA COMMUNITY HEADED TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. THE CENTER SOLICITS SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THEN MATCHES THOSE DONATIONS TO SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. IN 2021, THE CENTER AWARDED $47,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 52 YOUNG ADULTS MATRICULATING TO 29 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE.WITHIN THE CENTER IS THE PATRICK J. DOWLING LIBRARY DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATIONS OF BOOKS AND OTHER ARTIFACTS DOCUMENTING IRISH CULTURE AND HISTORY. THE LIBRARY, LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE UICC, CONTAINS MORE THAN 3,000 TITLES ON A NUMBER OF SUBJECTS REGARDING IRELAND AND IRISH AMERICA: ARCHEOLOGY, ARCHITECTURE, ART, BIOGRAPHY, COOKING, CRAFTS, GENEALOGY, HISTORY (ANCIENT AND MODERN), IMMIGRATION, LITERATURE (NOVELS, POETRY, PLAYS AND SHORT STORIES), MUSIC (INCLUDING MUSIC SCORES), MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE, RELIGION, SPORTS, AND TRAVEL. THE LIBRARY ALSO HAS BOOKS WRITTEN IN THE IRISH LANGUAGE. IN 2021, THE COST TO MAINTAIN AND STAFF THE LIBRARY WAS $24,898.DURING 2021, THE CENTER LAUNCHED AN EFFORT TO REBUILD ITS LANDMARK DESTINATION BUILDING IN SAN FRANCISCOS SUNSET DISTRICT. THE CENTER ENGAGED ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS TO PREPARE PRELIMINARY PLANS. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER BEGAN RAISING FUNDS TO PAY INITIAL DESIGN COSTS AND BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION FEES. AS OF 12/31/21, THE CENTER RECEIVED PLEDGES TOTALING $1,562,158 FROM 74 DONORS, OF WHICH $837,924 WAS FUNDED IN 2021, WITH THE BALANCE PLEDGED FOR THE FUTURE. COSTS INCURRED IN 2021 FOR NEW BUILDING DESIGN TOTALED $292,317.