San Clemente Times
San Clemente Home Tour Aims to Bridge the Funding Gap for Local Schools
San Clemente will soon join the ranks of cities like Newport Beach in hosting a large-scale, community-driven home tour—but with a uniquely local purpose: raising critical funds for the city’s 11 public schools. Spearheaded by local photographer and single mom Sharon Williams, the first-ever San Clemente Home Tour is set to launch as a full-day event that blends design inspiration, community connection, and charitable impact.
Williams, who serves as president of the San Clemente Home Tour, said the idea came out of her brief tenure on the board of the Forster Ranch Educational Foundation. During her time there, she learned firsthand how wide the gap is between what schools receive from the district and what they actually need to thrive.
“These foundations and PTAs are funding things like STEM programs, teacher training, and even security upgrades,” she said. “There’s a huge gap that the district doesn’t cover.”
With a background in interiors and fine art photography, Williams saw a unique opportunity to leverage her industry knowledge to benefit local students. Inspired by successful home tours in Newport Beach—where two annual events collectively raise about $500,000 for public schools—she began floating the idea among friends and fellow parents.
“The more I talked about it, the more people said, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ And now we have a team of 20 to 25 women volunteering to make it happen.”
The event, scheduled for this fall, will include breakfast, a curated marketplace, a self-guided home tour, and lunch at Casino San Clemente, which is providing its venue as an in-kind sponsor. Each home on the tour will have a host and docents to guide visitors and answer questions, creating what Williams calls “a museum-style experience.”
The team’s goal is to raise $250,000 in the first year, with every dollar—minus operational costs—going back to San Clemente schools.
“We’ll divide the funds per student, so every kid benefits,” Williams said. “That even includes San Onofre Elementary, which is technically on base but falls under the San Clemente address.”
The exact use of funds will vary by school but could include classroom enrichment, campus improvements, or technology upgrades, depending on each school’s needs.
While the location of all homes has not been finalized, Williams said the selection committee, which she chairs, is aiming for architectural and design diversity.
“We’d love a historical home, a modern coastal space, maybe even a mid-century gem,” she said. “It’s about personality and inspiration, whether it’s a small beach shack or a sprawling estate.”
The curated marketplace—open to the public without a ticket—will feature local artisans, small business owners, and makers offering everything from fine art to handmade body products. “We want it to feel like a neighborhood art fair where people can meet the makers behind the work,” she added.
The project has already drawn strong interest from the community, including from local businesses. Shannon Kate Designs, a San Clemente-based interior design firm, signed on early as the event’s presenting sponsor.
“Shannon’s been a big supporter of my work and is just as invested in the community and public schools as I am,” Williams said. “She immediately said yes when I shared the idea with her.”
Organizers are still looking for a second presenting sponsor and additional support at various levels, with sponsorship packages ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Benefits include ad placements in the event magazine, VIP tickets, and social media exposure. “The sponsors are critical—they’re what allow us to launch the event and sell tickets,” Williams said.
Volunteers are also essential to the event’s success. Williams encourages those interested to attend a general meeting to get involved, whether they want to help behind the scenes or serve as a docent on tour day. “We’ll need six to eight docents per home, working in shifts—that’s a lot of people,” she noted.
Ultimately, Williams hopes attendees walk away feeling not only inspired by beautiful homes and local makers, but also proud to be part of a community coming together to support its schools.
“It’s an excuse to hang out with friends, eat good food, and tour amazing houses—but it’s also about doing something that directly helps our kids,” she said. “If we can build something better than cities around us, and it benefits our schools, that would be the dream.”
“This isn’t just my project—it’s taken so much work from so many people to even get to this point,” she added. “I want it to last long after I’m gone.”
By Angélica Escobar, Jul 17, 2025