The Pasadena Art Alliance marked its 60th anniversary by giving away $285,000 to support contemporary visual arts in Southern California – the largest amount the group has ever issued in grants in a single year – at a garden reception of a member’s San Marino home Monday afternoon.

Since 1976, the Pasadena Art Alliance has awarded over $5 million in grants to artists, exhibitions, educational programs and art-oriented nonprofit institutions, making it one the most important supporters of the arts in Los Angeles County.

This year’s grants went to 29 organizations. On the list, Pasadena’s Armory Center for the Arts, the Art Center College of Design, the New Town Pasadena Foundation, the Pasadena City College Foundation, the Pasadena Museum of California Art, Side Street Projects and USC Pacific Asia Museum.

“None of this would have been possible without the inventiveness and enthusiasm of our 185-member group, the support of loyal patrons and the the generosity of many Los Angeles area artists,” Patsy Pinney, President of the Pasadena Art Alliance said in her remarks.

The job of actual handing out of the checks went to Grants Chair Scarlett Osterling and Gwen Robertson.

The group’s next major event is its legendary Treasure Sale benefit, known to members as the “Tiffany of garage sales.” That fundraiser will be held from April 16 to 19 on South Lake Avenue.

For more about the Pasadena Art Alliance visit www.pasadenaartalliance.org .