Couple donates $60,000 to Alliance
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Bob and Patty Biery were honored by the Alliance for the Arts of Thousand Oaks, the official nonprofit funding arm of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and inducted into the New Millenium Founders Circle for their $60,000 pledge to the organization.

The Founders Circle consists of 120 members who've donated between $60,000 and $5 million to the Alliance for the Arts, said Patricia Jones, Alliance president and executive director.

Charles Young, former chancellor of UCLA, is also a member of the circle as are Boeing Co., Wellpoint and Annette and Ron Plotkin of Monster Worldwide, she said.

Bob Biery was reappointed to the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center Board of Governors by the City Council on March 5.

Councilmember Claudia Bill-de la Peña had nominated 20-year Thousand Oaks resident Thomas Horan, who, she said, would be a new face on the board. Councilmember Jacqui Irwin had nominated Biery, who's served the city of Thousand Oaks in many capacities for a number of years. The vote was 4-1 in favor of Biery, with Bill-de la Peña dissenting.

The retired city of Thousand Oaks finance officer is now the city of Westlake Village's finance officer. He is a past president of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers.

Bob and Patty Biery came to Thousand Oaks in 1981 when Bob was appointed by Grant Brimhall as finance director and city treasurer for the city of Thousand Oaks. Bob is originally from Pasadena and Patty grew up in Monterey Park. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

They've considered becoming Founders for years and have made other notable contributions, Jones said.

"They believe that supporting the arts makes for a stronger, more balanced community," Jones said.

Because of his former position as finance director of Thousand Oaks, Biery has been involved with the Civic Arts Plaza since it began. He has watched over the planning, design, financing, building, programming and maintenance, Jones noted. He was the first treasurer of the Civic Arts Plaza Foundation.

Bob and Patty grew up with an appreciation for music and dance: His mother played the piano, her father played the drums. He sang in church choirs, she took ballet lessons.

Together, beginning with the opening of the theater when Bernadette Peters performed, the couple regularly attends performances at the Civic Arts Plaza, Jones said.