December 13, 2007---

Over the past eight months, the Sunnybrook Foundation has completed extensive mechanical updates to the facility and the ballroom. To date, more then half a million dollars have been spent on the facility restoration. The foundation wishes to thank all its contributors who have helped to fund the project to date.

The Foundation also wishes to thank its many supporters and especially the great volunteers who have been there throughout and during the season. Working alongside these wonderful people, the foundation has made much progress at the facility. Together, we are working to create something special and we can be proud of our accomplishments. Together we are all making history!

As we prepare for 2008, we are happy to announce that our target date for re-opening the facility will be April 2008. Already, we have reserved more than 75 events for the 2008 calendar year. We wish to welcome back many of those organizations who have waited so long for the return of Sunnybrook.

In January 2008, we will begin our Capital Campaign and will announce special fundraising events throughout the season. In order to fulfill the restoration and help fund the scholarship endowment, we are seeking the continued support of the community and those who have a love of Sunnybrook. We need YOUR help to continue this great endeavor. In order to raise the $5.5 million necessary to complete this three year project we need everyone’s help and support.

Within the next month we will also be announcing certain events and programs that are being held at the grand ballroom. Yes, we are going to be announcing our “Grand Opening Celebration” very soon. Details will be posted soon on this site. The grand opening celebration will indeed be a memorable event. Dates and times will be posted as will information on how to obtain these special tickets. We hope you will come and be part of this wonderful event.

Please continue to visit this website for important updates on the progress and news about coming events….

June 20th, 2007---

The SunnyBrook Foundation and its managing partners have announced intentions to book events and allow rental use of the Sunnybrook Pavilion. Information about booking an event can be received from our business offices. The Sunnybrook Pavilion offers a tranquil setting next to Sprogel’s Run Creek in a lightly shaded area. The pavilion can accommodate corporate, business, school, and family functions for up to 250 people. The pavilions offers a covered shelter, two volleyball courts, a basketball court, an open fire pit, all in a peaceful setting. Adequate parking is available.

June 10th 2007---

Sunnybrook Basket Bingo event was a huge success. With over 70 people in attendance our first charity bingo event was outstanding. People enjoyed the fundraiser and prizes. With more than 20 games, people listened as Mark Pollock and John Giese from the Sunnybrook board called out the numbers. “The credit goes to the Sunnybrook volunteer committee, Meghan Carlisle, and everyone else who helped out that day,” said Tom Sephakis, Chairman of the foundation who also helped MC the event.

People are already inquiring as to the next charity bingo date and the volunteer committee will advertise any new events. We would also like to sincerely thank Cole Tobacco Company and The Sunnybrook Foundation for co-sponsoring the prizes for the event. Proceeds from the event will help with the restoration of the grand ballroom and the foundation’s scholarship funding. Future events will be posted on the Sunnybrook website.

Philadelphia Inquirer April 5, 2007

A place of joy returns to life
A new owner vows to reopen the Sunnybrook Ballroom.
By Lea Sitton Stanley
For The Inquirer

LAURENCE KESTERSON / Inquirer Staff Photographer
Examining the ballroom dance floor are (from left) Bruce Weeber, cochairman of the Sunnybrook Foundation; State Rep. Tim Hennessey; and foundation cochairman Thomas Sephakis.

Ursula the theater organ stood just inside the entrance to the Sunnybrook Ballroom, her pipes silent. A pair of brooms rested against her hulking frame, its insides ravaged by rodents.

George Batman, who knows her ivories intimately, instead fingered a portable keyboard at the far end of the ballroom.

Between them lay the dance floor, slender boards of Norwegian maple, "miles and miles of beautiful," as one recent visitor described it.

"I tell you, God saved this floor," John Giese said, joining in the sounds of salvation ringing across the Lower Pottsgrove site on Saturday. His eyes moved out across the 18,000 square feet of smooth, honey-blonde surface as the Yamaha strained to fill the cavernous ballroom. Ursula had done that with ease, and without amplification, under the hand of Batman, house organist for 27 years before the Sunnybrook closed in summer 2004.

Batman returned Saturday to help herald the new ownership of the historic entertainment spot, roughly 14 acres that spill slightly into Pottstown, across the Schuylkill from Chester County. The Sunnybrook Foundation, of which Giese is a board member, assumed control last month. The nonprofit foundation is the property's third owner since 1996.

Known for its legendary ballroom, a stop on the Big Band circuit for such luminaries as Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller, the Sunnybrook sustained itself through the latter 20th century with weddings, high school proms, and wildly popular Sunday brunches.

It seemed a natural progression for the site, which began as a picnic grove in 1902 and evolved into a swimming club in 1926 before the ballroom rose in 1931. A restaurant was added in 1964 to bolster the sagging ballroom business.

But the operation teetered into the 21st century with the addition of a brew pub. Loyalists saw the move as a perilous slight to the ballroom by owner Erwin K. Wenner and his successor, Henry Ortlieb. Both Wenner and Ortlieb's estate lost the place to debt. The Sunnybrook closed after Ortlieb's death in 2004.

Thomas Sephakis, foundation chairman, vows to reopen the ballroom within six months and the restaurant in January or February. Beyond that, the plans become more elaborate, the timeline less clear.

A 4,000-square-foot area proposed for meetings and private parties needs to be gutted because of water damage, Giese said. And the old swimming pool is to be filled in and turned into an outdoor amphitheater.

"This is a big endeavor," Sephakis said of the estimated $3.5 million project. He declined to give financing specifics, but a banner strung across the old Sunnybrook sign rising alongside High Street urges passersby to "Donate Today." A grid, with a $3.5 million goal, appears considerably less than a third filled in.

The site has long been a draw for Chester County and Montgomery County residents, and Sephakis aims to entice Philadelphians and their New Jersey neighbors with what he envisions as a large dance and banquet venue, as well as a conference and community center.

He believes that the foundation will succeed where the previous owners failed.

"They approached this from a business angle," he said. "This is a nonprofit."

Volunteers have been showing up for cleanups every other weekend, 60 to 70 people at a time, Sephakis said. On Saturday, township firefighters drained the swimming pool.

Even Batman appeared free of charge, playing Big Band music from the '40s and '50s.

"I did a lot of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey. . . . I wanted the atmosphere to reflect how it would have been to walk into the ballroom and hear the sounds of that era," he said.

Oh, yes, and Ursula, built in 1928 to provide sound for the silent movies, is being restored too. Someday, she and Batman may be an item again.

Mercury Artical

March 31st 2007--- Breaking News from SunnyBrook!

Today was a great day with plenty of volunteers and great weather. The turn out was overwhelming! This Saturday we had more than 75 people, all hard working volunteers, dedicating another full day to the cleanup event.

The morning began as local fire trucks arrived at 9 am. Several members of the fire company hung the massive foundation banners on the SunnyBrook billboard and then they went to work in a big way. One fire team worked throughout the day to drain the pool, while a second crew helped clear brush and debris as well as cut down a few unsightly trees. Others watched as their trusted public servants worked side by side to help save SunnyBrook. The Friends of SunnyBrook- nearly 100 volunteers to date- have been instrumental in helping to revitalize the historic site.

As volunteers arrived they were greeted at the pavilion where they were registered and assigned to a work crew. At the registration desks, people had a chance to get shirts and learn more about the history book which has been written about SunnyBrook. Assigned to specific areas, most of the day's work took place outside. As the construction and demolition phases have been planned for certain areas of the building, contractors and construction crews would now handle the heavy work.

Inside the massive ballroom, tours were granted to members of the press and local dignitaries from all areas. Several local politicians and commissioners from around the region showed to give their support for this exciting project, as well as special guests from local organizations and even the Pottstown Symphony Orchestra. While the tours progressed, the volunteers and others were serenaded by the wonderful music of George Batman, the SunnyBrook organist, who visited for the day to play in the magnificent ballroom. With the sounds of the Big Bands echoing inside, it brought back memories of the past.

The list of the supporters for the clean up event included- Diehl & Sons Construction, Fred'K Wallace & Son Roofing, PCTV, Waste Management, Pepsi, Divine Springs Water, Bravo Pizza of Limerick and Royersford, National Penn Insurance, Swing Kat Entertainment, Pat's Beverage, William Fosnocht & Son, and of course the Sanatoga Fire Company.

"The people here today worked so hard and we thank them all for their efforts. Moving forward the focus now is on creating a timeline of construction. Now is when the heavy work begins. Still, we are always looking for more volunteers, and especially corporate sponsors to help. This project will mean a lot to this area and the cultural and economic development of this region as a whole." said Tom Sephakis, Chairman of the Foundation.

Today's event was a chance for the local media and dignitaries to meet with the foundation's board of directors and to tour the facility and learn more about the revitalization project. Several local papers and a few TV stations were present to learn more about the project and help create more public awareness. The foundation is trying to create a public interest in the events and the revitalization project. As work progresses, more corporate and public sponsors are needed. Every penny counts!

The SunnyBrook Foundation is seeking to raise more than $3.5 Million for the renovation project and its scholarship fund. Throughout the year, SunnyBrook will be hosting various fundraising events such as small concerts, basket bingo events, a couple car cruises and even several fairs, to help support its project and to help give back to the community as well as the police and fire departments which have been instrumental in providing support. The SunnyBrook Foundation is also holding open discussions with the Pottstown Symphony to develop fundraising events for this coming summer to help bring back music to the ballroom.

The SunnyBrook Foundation is planning another Volunteer Day in about four weeks. Information and times will be posted on the website a they are formalized.

We thank everyone for their continued support!

Sunday March 18, 2007

On Sunday we had about nine workers on site in the restaurant and
ballroom. We worked to shine and lean up some of the woodwork and remove some of the other debris for the dumpsters. Was a short day about five hours. But we still got some things done...

Saturday March 17, 2007

Breaking News from Sunnybrook!

Today was a great day despite the weather. As expected The Friends of
SunnyBrook, a volunteer group helping with the revitalization of the
Famed ballroom worked throughout the day alongside the Sisters of SunnyBrook, the woman's auxiliary of the volunteer group. With a parade of local fire trucks to open the morning, work inside the ballroom and restaurant began at around 11 am on Saturday 17th.

Although, the planned media event day for the press and local
Dignitaries had been rescheduled due to the inclimate weather on the night before, the troop of hard working volunteers still dedicated a full day to the cleanup event.

With the aid of the local fire company and about ten members of the
Fire crew, the volunteers watched in amazement as their trusted public
Servants aided with the demolition and removal of debris from the inner rooms. Inside, work crews were divided into seven teams, each lead by a member Of the SunnyBrook Foundation Board of Directors.

As the people entered the magnificent ballroom they were registered and
assigned to a work crew. Throughout the day, more than forty
volunteers were on hand for this event. Thomas Sephakis, Chairman of the SunnyBrook Foundation said, "It was a great day. For the first time in years, there has been some positive activity at the site. We are looking to the future and thank our many supporters and volunteers for their help and hard work."

The list of the supporters for the clean up event included- Waste
Management, Pepsi, Divine Springs Water, Bravo Pizza of Limerick and
Royersford, National Penn Insurance, The Philly Pretzel Factory, Klein
Transportation, Swing Kat Entertainment, Pat's Beverage, William
Fosnocht & Son, Lower Pottsgrove Police, PCTV, and of course the Sanatoga Fire Company.

"Even with the poor weather the night before, we had an excellent turn
out for the day's event. The people here today worked so hard. It shows that there is a definite interest in seeing this historical site saved. There is a lot of work that needs to be done as we move along through our phases of renovation. We are always looking for more volunteers, and corporate sponsors. This project will mean a lot to this area and the cultural and economic development of this region."

Coming up on March 31st, The SunnyBrook Foundation is hosting another
cleanup event at the site and will have a Media Day Event at 1 pm that
Saturday.

The event is a chance for the local media and dignitaries to tour the
facility and learn more about the revitalization project. "We are
seeking to raise more awareness about this project and what it will mean to this area and the surrounding region," said Tom Sephakis. "As we move forward with our capital campaign, we will be looking forward to more corporate and official support for our efforts. This is a historic landmark and must be saved. We have laid the groundwork, now we are hoping that the community will help us in our endeavor."

The SunnyBrook Foundation is seeking to raise more than $3.5 Million
for the renovation project and its scholarship fund. Throughout the year, SunnyBrook will be hosting various fundraising events such as small concerts and even fairs, to help supports its project and to help give back to the community as well as the police and fire departments which have been instrumental in providing support. SunnyBrook is also holding open discussions with the Pottstown Symphony to develop fundraising events that will jointly aid both groups in the future.

"Sunnybrook was a great facility at one time under the original owners.
The last two operators of this establishment really let it fail. That is where we are hoping to make a difference," said Chairman Tom
Sephakis. "We are looking to make Sunnybrook great again and create lasting memories for new generations to come. As a vital project, this will help support the cultural community and our performing arts scholarship fund."

The Sunnybrook project consists of five phases of work. It is the aim
Of the foundation to have the ballroom re-opened for fundraising events
And small gatherings within six months. It is a piece of American history and will provide some great opportunities for this region. If you wish to
Help support the efforts or learn more, please contact the SunnyBrook
Foundation at 513 East High Street in Pottstown PA or visit them on the web at
www.sunnybrookfoundation.org.

 

Tuesday March 6th, 2007

Today is the date we signed an agreement and The SunnyBrook Foundaton took possession of SunnyBrook!!