Press Releases
San Clemente, CA – Orange County-based philanthropists and medical industry entrepreneurs Ed and Maggie Chang have made a major gift to support Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens’ endowment.
Their $90,000 gift is the first gift made as part of Casa Romantica’s forthcoming 20th Anniversary endowment campaign, and is given in honor of Board President Ruth DeNault, a founding member of the nonprofit organization. DeNault, who has led efforts to preserve the historic destination and build a robust cultural center since the late 1990s, celebrated her 90th birthday in December.
The gift is in addition to the significant annual support that Ed and Maggie Chang provide for Casa Romantica’s Wellness & Arts Education programming, along with support for Casa Romantica’s fundraisers and capital projects. Maggie Chang also provides current leadership and governance support as a member and past officer of Casa Romantica’s Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled to continue to support Casa Romantica’s vision of becoming a premier cultural center,” says Maggie Chang. “Their artistic and educational programs, as well as their stewardship of the historic site itself, have made a proven and profound impact on the children and adults in our community for two decades. Our investment is meant to support the continuation and growth of these programs for the next generations.”
Ed and Maggie Chang first toured Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens around the year 2000, when the first capital campaign to restore the historic site for use as a cultural center was in its infancy. Enchanted by its history and potential, the Changs decided to dedicate the formal dining room to honor their immigrant parents, providing major support for the renovation. A few years later, when the public gardens were being developed, the Changs underwrote the development of the Spanky Chang Children’s Garden, chosen in honor of their son Jared and named in honor of their beloved family rescue dog. In their ongoing support, the Changs dedicated a bench in the beautiful Butterfly Garden to honor their dear friend and son’s godfather, Jay Amestoy, who passed away in 2017. To ensure that the vision of Casa Romantica to be a premier cultural center is met, Maggie joined the Board of Directors in 2010, providing critical governance support for the development of the organization.
“Eddie and Maggie Chang have truly made a gift to the future, bringing people together, enriching their lives and building a community. We are greatly thankful to them for helping to build this vitally needed endowment for Casa Romantica, and I am so honored that they have done so in my name,” says Casa Romantica Board President Ruth DeNault.
Ed Chang is the co-founder, Director and CMO of Avenu Medical, a medical device company that developed the groundbreaking Ellipsys Vascular Access System for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients requiring hemodialysis to survive. The company was acquired in November 2020 by Medtronic, the world’s largest medical device manufacturer. Both Ed and Maggie Chang have backgrounds as medical industry executives in Orange County.
Casa Romantica’s forthcoming 20th Anniversary endowment campaign will develop the nonprofit’s endowment fund, which is managed by Orange County Community Foundation and includes a matching opportunity with $250,000 available to be matched from an anonymous donor who made a special bequest to Casa Romantica in her will.
“We are grateful and inspired by the impact the Ed and Maggie Chang have made on Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, and indeed on the people of all ages and backgrounds that benefit from their philanthropy and leadership in southern California,” says Executive Director Amy Behrens. “This major gift to Casa Romantica’s endowment will ensure the continuation of our mission-centered programs and preservation for future generations to benefit.”
Along with Casa Romantica, Ed and Maggie’s philanthropy and leadership within San Clemente touches the senior community where they served as founding members of the capital campaign committee to build the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, and where they remain active as benefactors. Outside of the area, their philanthropic interest in education and life sciences supports the University of California, Irvine , where they first met as students. Ed currently serves as a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council for the School of Biological Sciences and is a past Foundation Trustee. Maggie is the Co-President of UCI Research Associates, the community outreach arm for the Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences.
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Classic: La Serva Padrona (2020; classical music), Casa Coastal: Murals of Levi Ponce (2019; visual art), Casa Theater: The Odd-Essy (2019; theater), Casa Kinetic: Culture Shock LA Hip Hop (2019; dance); Casa Coastal: The Art of Baja California (2018; visual art), Casa Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018; theater), Casa Kinetic: Celebrating Tap Dance Legends (2018; dance), Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), The Beauty of the Butterfly (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Carrie Lee Riggins (2016; contemporary dance), Casa Drama: Slings & Arrows (2015; theater), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2020-21 Casa Captivating season includes an expanded dance (Casa Kinetic), theater (Casa Theater), and concert series (Casa Vibes), visual and performing arts commissions, and an expanded Casa Kids education program.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy has received critical praise for its comprehensive two-week music studies program in cello, piano, viola, and violin. Casa Romantica also offers a Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 6,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
Mission Statement: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is the historic home of the founder of the City of San Clemente. Casa Romantica provides programs for all ages in arts, music, history, and horticulture and is a premier Southern California cultural center.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is located at 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours: Tuesday—Thursday 10 AM—4 PM; Friday—Sunday 10 AM — 2 PM; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members, active duty military with ID, and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org
