News
November 16, 2016Wright Family Foundation Extends $20K Matching Grant to Music Haven
Mona Golub (right), producing artistic director of Music Haven, announces the matching grant from the Wright Family Foundation. She is joined by Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy (left) and Wright Family Foundation Board Chair Heather Ward (center).
The Wright Family Foundation is extending a post season standing ovation to Music Haven’s community-building efforts in the form of a $20,000 matching grant. The locally-based family foundation would like its gift to encourage the dedication of new seats at the popular summer venue — in response to the “House and Hill” campaign — which was launched publicly in July 2016.
The House & Hill campaign supplements a State Municipal Facilities Program Grant through the NYS Assembly designed to improve the comfort and security of the venue with 400 permanent, stadium-quality front of house seats atop a new, evenly paved surface; a terraced hill offering improved seating to those who prefer lawn chairs and blankets; a security gate to maintain the integrity of the performance space when not in use; and a permanent front-of-house audio booth.
Heather Ward, chair of the Wright Family Foundation, tries out a prototype Music Haven’s new chairs.
“The Wright Family Foundation understands the importance of community and gathering spaces that are open to everyone. Music Haven is a very special place that combines top notch music with a beautiful nature setting in Central Park. We are pleased to support the House and Hill campaign to make it an even more inviting place to get together with friends and family. ” said Heather Ward, Chairman of the Wright Family Foundation.”
“This boost to our House and Hill campaign comes at the most wonderful time of the year for those seeking to give truly unique gifts for the holidays,” said Mona Golub, longtime volunteer producing artistic director of the Music Haven Concert Series. ”We are so grateful to The Wright Family Foundation for leveraging their gift to encourage the dedication of new stadium-quality seats by others, as the result will elevate the Music Haven experience for all.”
“Music Haven’s rich history of welcoming community from around the region and artists from around the world makes our Central Park a unique and treasured destination for many,” said Mayor Gary McCarthy. “This matching grant is a wonderful tribute to the volunteers who lead Music Haven’s charge, and provides incentive to those enriched by its offerings who want to permanently honor or memorialize a special person or occasion.”
A prototype of the new chairs to be installed at Music Haven.
A rendering of the improvements, designed by Mary Moore Wallinger of LAndArt Studio, and an online system for dedicating seats, bricks and blocks, is available at www.musichavenstage.org. Printed copies of the House & Hill brochure are available at Schenectady’s City Hall. Questions may be directed through the website or by calling Betsy Sandberg, volunteer coordinator, at (518) 280-5635.
All dedications made by May 1, 2017 will be acknowledged and celebrated at a public ceremony at Music Haven during the 2017 summer season.
