Museum sets fundraising record

The 35th annual High Desert Rendezvous — one of Central Oregon’s longest-running charitable events — set a new fundraising record on August 24, 2024, grossing more than $630,000 to support the programs and exhibitions of the High Desert Museum.

The record was set with help from the 2024 High Desert Rendezvous Honoree, The Bend Foundation. Founded in 1947 by Brooks Scanlon, Brooks Resources, and its shareholders, The Bend Foundation has continuously invested in the health and vitality of Central Oregon. And The Bend Foundation has championed the Museum and the educational opportunities it brings to the region, from the initial idea for a museum to its grand opening in 1982 to today.

The Bend Foundation’s community support focuses on adding to the legacy of providing public art in Bend, promoting cultural, educational, and intellectual enrichment programs, and enhancing or preserving our physical environment. 

“It is our pleasure to continue to support nonprofit and public organizations that work to enhance the cultural and intellectual experiences in our community,” said Romy Mortensen, Bend Foundation Trustee. “The High Desert Museum is a shining example of one of these organizations that is consistently providing opportunities for growth, discovery, and enlightenment and we are proud to support it.”

“We are extraordinarily grateful to the generosity of Rendezvous attendees and this community in supporting the work of the Museum,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D.

“The Bend Foundation in particular has provided continued leadership and commitment to the Museum throughout its 42 years, which is all the more vital as we consider what the next four decades will look like.”

Funds from Rendezvous support the Museum’s exhibitions, wildlife encounters, and educational programs that inspire wonder and learning about the High Desert region.

The Museum every year opens up to nine new temporary exhibitions, cares for more than 120 animals, and welcomes thousands of school children for field trips. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, nearly 225,000 people visited the Museum.