Symphony looks to raise $600,000

The New West Symphony recently announced a $300,000 challenge gift.

The challenge is being made by three long-time supporters of the symphony: a leadership gift of $150,000 from Ventura residents and philanthropists Sandra and Jordan Laby, $100,000 from an anonymous donor, and $50,000 from New West Symphony President Len Linton and wife Judy of Thousand Oaks.

Under the terms of the challenge, the donors will match dollar for dollar funds raised by the symphony through July 2008, up to $300,000.

The campaign's goal is to raise $600,000.

This one-time campaign is named the Sandra and Jordan Laby Leadership Fund. The Labys contributed the largest annual fund gift in the organization's history.

The symphony raises approximately twothirds of its operating costs through contributions. Ticket sales only provide about a third of the needed revenue. The symphony's annual operating budget is $2.6 million.

The New West Symphony is the largest nonprofit performing arts organization in Ventura County and the resident orchestra at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, the Countrywide Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks and Barnum Hall in Santa Monica. The orchestra is led by internationally renowned conductor Boris Brott.