SANTA MONICA MIRROR

Santa Monica History Museum Receives $5K Grant From Boeing Nonprofit

POSTED NOV. 13. 2012, 8:45AM

MITCH JAMES I MIRROR CONTRIBUTOR

The Santa Monica History Museum has received a $5,000 grant from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing CA, an employee-owned and operated nonprofit organization that requires an employee recommendation for its community grants program.

Robert Acherman, a contributor to the fund, and a Systems Analyst for Boeing, said he saw a perfect fit for the Museum. The extraordinary legacy of the Douglas Aircraft Company, one of Boeing’s heritage companies, is showcased at the Museum in a fascinating interactive exhibit in the permanent gallery and complemented with the research library’s outstanding Douglas collection of artifacts, documents and photographs.

Acherman’s interest in the Douglas Aircraft Company’s legacy in Santa Monica is a personal one. His father, Anton Acherman, was living in Santa Monica when he was hired by McDonnell Douglas for the Skylab project and had the pleasure of working with Donald Douglas Jr. Now living in Torrance, Robert maintains strong ties locally, having served as President of the Santa Monica Jaycees in 2007.

Robert presented the ECF grant award of $5,000 in person to the Museum’s Board of Directors, with Chair Eddie Guerboian and President Louise Gabriel very pleased to accept the generous donation. Board members and Operations Manager, Mary Pat Cooney, enjoyed hearing about the Skylab and missile projects from Anton who attended the presentation along with Robert’s wife, Chris. Afterwards, the Acherman family toured the Museum’s galleries and research library.