Friday, September 01, 2000
Corbett pledge for arts school campus: $2.6 million
Donation is 10 percent of fund-raising goal
By Andrea Tortora
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati's planned arts school campus struck a major financial chord Thursday when it announced the Corbett Foundation pledged $2.6 million to the building's fund-raising drive.
That's 10 percent of the $26 million the Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center promised Cincinnati Public Schools it would raise for the kindergarten to high school complex.
The arts group and the school district plan to build a $52 million building next to Music Hall that will replace Schiel Elementary and the School for Creative and Per forming Arts.
Karen McKim, the foundation's executive director, said the Corbetts were involved with SCPA from the start and wanted to continue that support.
“This seemed to be the perfect opportunity to make a difference in a program that has wide-ranging consequences in the arts,” Ms. McKim said. “We wanted to take the first step and step up to the plate and encourage others to support this project.”
The Corbett donation was promised earlier this summer. The arts group used that donation to show Cincinnati Board of Education members it was serious, said Norma Petersen, executive director.
The school board unanimously approved the public-private partnership two weeks ago.
Thursday's announcement kicks off the arts group's fund-raising campaign.
Just over $3 million is in hand. Under an agreement with the school district, the arts group has a year to meet its $26 million goal.
Cincinnati Pops conductor Erich Kunzel, who first pushed for the arts campus in 1996, called Patricia Corbett “the living embodiment of arts patronage, and her generosity at this early stage of our project is of immense importance.”
Stanley Aronoff, arts group board president, said the early pledge will be instrumental in attracting donors.
Jan Leslie, Cincinnati schools spokeswoman, said Mrs. Corbett's donation is a good example of a public-private partnership in action.
“We're grateful to Mrs. Corbett for stepping up to be the first to take the lead to support our schools.”
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