PRICE CENTER MARKS 20 YEARS AS A VITAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT
Members, volunteers, donors, and friends and staff of the Price Center gathered on the evening of December 12th to celebrate 20 years of serving the greater San Marcos community. The anniversary marked the exact day in 2002 the city of San Marcos granted the Greater San Marcos Area Seniors Assoc. (GSMASA), the operators of the Price Center, a Certificate of Occupancy to begin serving the public. Since then, the Price Center has become a hub for many of the community’s ongoing arts and cultural activities as well as private and public celebrations in downtown San Marcos.
“I am pleased with how well the Price Center has grown and is flourishing," said Joan Nagel, board chair. "Its great energy is the best ever, thanks to its creative and dedicated leadership, supported by a caring and encouraging board, along with numerous highly-engaged volunteers," she added.
Citing two decades of service that began with the $900,000+ rehab and repurposing of the former First Christian Church that created the Price Center over a four year period, and the additional community benefit contributions by the Center of an estimated $20,000-$50,000 annually, Mayor Hughson declared “. . . the Price Center & Garden a true community benefit, and I happily celebrate their 20 years of service with a wish that it remains in the hearts and minds of San Marcans for many more years to come!”
Guests of the celebration enjoyed live music by Tracy Weinberg and Friends, food and drink, door prizes that included $25 gift certificates to the Center’s Shop 1893, and a live reading of a Proclamation by San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson. Activities also included an interactive photo booth and custom caricatures by local artists Gav Sears.
The Price Center’s creation story began with a donation of the building by H.Y. Price, Jr. in 1993 to the city of San Marcos with the desire for it to be used as a community center for youth, seniors, or both. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Price passed away and in 1998, after creating the GSMASA, Ron and Marie Jager took up the mantle of creating the Price Center. After 4 years of rehabbing and reimagining the former church complex into a community center that now boasted a theater stage, multiple venues and meeting spaces, and a part-time restaurant, the Price Center opened its doors in December 2002.
(Pictured above l-r) Clay DeStefano, Mayor Jane Hughson, Joan Nagel.
For more information about the Price Center please call 512-392-2900, stop by the Center at 222 W. San Antonio St, downtown San Marcos or visit price-center.org
