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Phoenix Unites to Support Music in Community by Completing $3 million Herberger Challenge for The Phoenix Symphony
Community responds to philanthropists Gary and Jeanne Herberger's challenge to support Symphony endowment.
PHOENIX - The Phoenix Symphony announced today that it has reached the $3 million goal for its Herberger Challenge, exhibiting the tremendous support and good will the community has for the Orchestra.
The Herberger Challenge, conceived in December 2006 by Gary and Jeanne Herberger, is an initiative to build The Phoenix Symphony's Endowment Fund. The cornerstone of the Challenge was a $1 million pledge made by the Herbergers, to be contributed to the Phoenix Symphony's Endowment Fund upon the community's matching support of $3 million in contributions. As of Friday, June 6, 2008, with over three hundred and thirty donations from individuals, corporations and foundations, the $3 million goal was reached making the Challenge an unprecedented success. Inspired by the generosity and leadership of the Herberger family, the Valley has shown an overwhelming support for the Symphony by coming together in a spirit of giving throughout the duration of the Challenge.
With this achievement, the Symphony's endowment is now over $10 million and marks the completion of the first step of a four-step transformation towards enduring fiscal solvency for the Symphony. Previously, The Phoenix Symphony had one of the lowest endowment funds of any full-time orchestra in the United States but by completing the Herberger Challenge the community has taken a step towards positioning the Valley as one of the great American cities. This challenge and future philanthropic investments leveraged from the Endowment will provide vital resources needed for The Phoenix Symphony to achieve its ambitious goals and artistic greatness.
"We congratulate the Board of Directors and the Staff for their part in making this challenge a reality. Financial stability for The Phoenix Symphony is paramount for this vital and vibrant cultural institution. We were so encouraged by the widespread support for the symphony; it demonstrates that although we are a young state, the community cares tremendously about symphonic music and ensuring it is always a part of our cultural heritage. The completion of this challenge paves the way for raising a $60M endowment for The Phoenix Symphony."
- Gary and Jeanne Herberger
"A massive thank you and deep appreciation to Gary and Jeanne Herberger who have the leadership, passion, and vision in our symphony and who inspired us to take some important and strategic steps to ensure our community has great orchestra music making."
- Maryellen Gleason President and CEO, The Phoenix Symphony
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About The Phoenix Symphony: The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.
Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman Ed Wolf.
The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, as well as concerts in Scottsdale, Mesa, Prescott and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.
--------------------------------------------------------- The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Media Sponsors are The Arizona Republic and KAET.
