Alliance for the Arts board chair Bob Lewis brought good news to the city council at its June 24 meeting.

The alliance will help fund theater operations at the Civic Arts Plaza with a $300,000 donation.

"We join to celebrate at the success of the joint- and I emphasize joint- fundraising venture between the City Council and the Alliance for the Arts," said Lewis, a former Thousand Oaks mayor.

For 14 years the city and the fundraising organization have worked as a team to provide tremendous support to the theaters and to be a model to other communities, Lewis said.

About a decade and a half ago a group of citizens appeared before the City Council and pledged to raise what seemed like a lot of money- $3 million- to give $250,000 a year in financial support to the facility, Lewis said.

Currently, the alliance holds more than $4.5 million, and the interest from the endowment fund spins off most of the $300,000, he said. What is not interest comes from fundraising. Cash donations over the 14 years total more than $3.5 million, he said.

In addition, in-kind non-cash donations of media advertising, communications, printing, travel and other services amounts to more than $4.4 million, Lewis said.

Those contributions represent real money because it would come from city funds or fewer people would be attending theaters, he said.

A second endowment dedicated to assist with arts programs totaled $10.4 million last year, Lewis said.

Because of the hard work of volunteers, the second endowment provides crucial funds for performing artists and performing arts groups, he said. This money subsidizes theater rent to allow local cultural groups to perform.

Alliance for the Arts also provides educational experiences for children. More than 220,600 children have been bused from area schools to see performances they otherwise would not have been able to, Lewis noted.

In addition, the alliance has agreed to provide $200,000 toward refurbishing the Kavli Theatre's Founders Room and Green Room and pays $50,000 rent for alliance space in the Civic Arts Plaza.