SF Mayor Ed Lee Visits Causes to Promote The Bay Lights Project

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, along with tech heavyweights from throughout the Bay area, dropped by the Causes.com’s office last week to talk about The Bay Lights project, a fine arts installation spearheaded by Illuminate the Arts and the City of San Francisco. The artwork — envisioned by Ben Davis and executed by world renowned light artist Leo Villareal — would feature over 25,000 energy-efficient LED lights used to illuminate the Bay Bridge’s West Span. The lights would be up for two years, including throughout 2013 when San Francisco hosts “The Year of the Bay,” which includes events like the 150th anniversary of San Francisco, the America’s Cup, and the opening of a new Exploratorium location.

Mr. Davis and social entrepreneur Dorka Keehn were also on hand to unveil details for the next steps in fundraising: The Bay Lights Tech Challenge. Eight million dollars is necessary for the creation, implementation, and removal of the project and five million has already been raised by The Bay Lights’ team with three million left to go; it’s an investment toward creativity that TBL explains will return 50 to 100 million dollars in revenue for local San Francisco businesses.

The challenge is open to individual and group donors, and will launch May 14. One way to participate is by starting your own fundraising campaign and inviting your network. Top individual fundraisers will be given access to walk the highest point of the Bay Bridge (a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience) and the top fundraising team will participate in a night out with TBL artist Leo Villareal, and VIP access to the “Grand Lighting” ceremony in late 2012!

Mayor Lee described the project as the unity between technical innovation and artistic vision that blossoms abundantly throughout the region. With your help, The Bay Lights could eventually become a permanent work of fine art in San Francisco. As Ms. Keehn noted, “The lights currently atop the Bay Bridge were installed temporarily for the 50 year anniversary, so you never know.”

Causes has helped The Bay Lights create a successful fundraising campaign. Right now, your donation will be doubled by The Bay Lights Matching Grant, which will match every penny you give!

For more information, watch the video below and tell us what you think.