Welcome to GBC Forward
LOOKING FORWARD
PREPARING FOR OUR FUTURE
2026 SOCIAL HALL RENOVATION PROJECT
In preparation for the 2026 100th Anniversary and the future, we have initiated a major renovation of the Social Hall. The current GBC Social Hall was completed nearly 50 years ago in 1978. This remodel will include an updated kitchen to obtain LA County Health Department certification and full compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) in our main hall, restrooms, and parking area.
The goal of this project is to not only comply with current health and safety regulations but to provide a safe and healthy environment for all those who use this facility – our Sangha and beyond – for the next 50 years.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
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3 YEAR GOAL: $2 MILLION
In order to fund this renovation project, we are establishing a $2.0 million capital campaign called ‘GBC Forward!’. This campaign will extend to the end of 2027.
Won’t you please consider a donation to this vitally needed project?
Donate towards GBC Forward!
Donations can occur on a one time basis or set to reoccur on a monthly or annual basis. For donations >$5000, please send an email message to GBCForward@gardenabuddhistchurch.org.
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If you have any questions, please contact the GBC Forward! Committee at the following email address: gbcforward@gardenabuddhistchurch.org
Back to November 1978 Gardena Buddhist Church was bustling. We enjoyed four Sunday services that filled our parking lots each week. Our Dharma School (DS) and Japanese Language School (JLS) students numbered in the hundreds. We not only had a Daily and Saturday division of JLS, but we had weekly Calligraphy (Shodo), Tea Ceremony (Chado), Abacus (Soroban), Flower Arranging (Kado) and Judo classes. Our Social Hall was built to house the activities of that era.
Our Social Hall is still used constantly for a myriad of gatherings. While the Hall continues to serve us well, the nearly 50 years of wear and tear are quite noticeable: the building and parking lot could use a comprehensive spruce up. Obviously, the main hall needs a comprehensive lighting/wall/flooring remodel. In addition, many aspects of the facility are in serious need of modernization, to call out a few:
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ADA compliant parking lot and social hall restrooms (i.e. Americans with Disabilities Act instituted in 1990).
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LA County health codes have changed significantly, so we must update our main kitchen with upgraded work areas, plumbing and ventilation.
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Safe and Sustainability Focused – As all of our refrigerators are decades old, they should be replaced with energy efficient models. Water bottle filling stations with filtration and safer coffee/tea dispensers are also being planned.
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Integrated A/V system with a ceiling mounted projector.
These repairs are ‘must do’ and not just ‘nice to have’.
Our goal is to complete an extensive remodel ahead of our 100th anniversary in October 2026. Our refreshed Social Hall will be a symbolic representation of our temple’s renewed mission: Hands together, hearts together, for the benefit of all. It will be a perfect illustration of what many hands and hearts working together can do to provide a pleasant and safe environment for our Sangha and strengthen our Dharma Sharing ability into the future.
