In the second week of October 2001, Gamble launched his Web site, www.unitedinmemory.net, announcing his plan to construct a quilt designed like the AIDS quilt.
"Almost immediately people started asking how they could help," said Gamble, who quit his job as a television commercial set designer to work full time to build the quilt.
Individual quilt blocks were sent to Gamble's home from around the world and from thousands of volunteers. Blocks came from 18 different countries and celebrities such as country music star Dolly Parton. In May 2002 Gamble began constructing the more than 15,000 square feet of quilt by holding weekly sewing workshops, attended by about 450 people every Saturday in Long Beach. After an estimated 80,000 man-hours and 11 months, the quilt was completed in August 2002.
Nowadays, when the quilt makes stops around the country, between 5,000 and 15,000 people attend the exhibit. Gamble is expecting 12,000 visitors to the Smith Center while the quilt is on display there.
While Gamble initially personally funded the project, donations to United in Memory Inc. are what make showing the quilt possible.
"It's funded by the people because it is for the people," said Gamble, who decided not to pursue a corporate sponsor for the quilt and rely solely on public donations.
Donations to support the quilt's travels can be made on Gamble's Web site, www.unitedinmemory.net, or at sites where the quilt is on display.
"Almost immediately people started asking how they could help," said Gamble, who quit his job as a television commercial set designer to work full time to build the quilt.
Individual quilt blocks were sent to Gamble's home from around the world and from thousands of volunteers. Blocks came from 18 different countries and celebrities such as country music star Dolly Parton. In May 2002 Gamble began constructing the more than 15,000 square feet of quilt by holding weekly sewing workshops, attended by about 450 people every Saturday in Long Beach. After an estimated 80,000 man-hours and 11 months, the quilt was completed in August 2002.
Nowadays, when the quilt makes stops around the country, between 5,000 and 15,000 people attend the exhibit. Gamble is expecting 12,000 visitors to the Smith Center while the quilt is on display there.
While Gamble initially personally funded the project, donations to United in Memory Inc. are what make showing the quilt possible.
"It's funded by the people because it is for the people," said Gamble, who decided not to pursue a corporate sponsor for the quilt and rely solely on public donations.
Donations to support the quilt's travels can be made on Gamble's Web site, www.unitedinmemory.net, or at sites where the quilt is on display.
