W W W. D A L L A S P E R F O R M I N G A R T S . O R G
BEHIND THE SCENES
DEVELOPMENT M I LLION DOLL A R DONOR S / S H A N N O N A N D T E D S K O K O S / S K O K O S F O U N D AT I O N CONTRIBUTE $10 MILLION TO CENTER In April, the Center announced $10 million in new contributions from Shannon and Ted Skokos and the Ted and
A
s the Center’s 2008 fiscal year draws to a close,
Shannon Skokos Foundation. In recognition of these generous gifts, the Center will name two performance spaces
and with the Center’s grand opening but 17
in honor of the couple:
months away, the final phase of the campaign to
build the Center has begun. At this momentous time
it is appropriate to pause to remember some of the campaign’s benchmark achievements this year, which are reflections of the work of a legion of volunteers and
THE SHANNON AND TED SKOKOS STAGE IN THE MARGOT AND BILL WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE AND THE
SHANNON AND TED SKOKOS PAVILION AT ANNETTE STRAUSS ARTIST SQUARE.
the generosity of the Dallas community. Never until now in America’s history has a capital
“The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts will fill the void that has existed in our city for world-class performing
campaign to build cultural facilities raised 100 gifts of
arts facilities. When the Center opens, it will complete the Dallas Arts District and anchor downtown for the next 100
$1 million and more. To date, 120 Dallas families and
years,” said Shannon Skokos. “This is an incredible project with amazing people behind it, and we are thrilled to be a
organizations have made such gifts increasing total
part of it.”
funding to more than $298 million.
An attorney, Mrs. Skokos currently serves on the boards of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts and the
The Center has purchased more than 96 percent of
Gateway for Cancer Research. She is also the founder and former executive director of the Miss Virgin Islands
the materials required to construct the venues, reducing
Scholarship Organization, a non-profit
significantly the potential for cost overruns during the
that funds college scholarships for
remainder of construction. In July, the Center will
women. She developed this project
complete its eighth fiscal year with a balanced budget,
through her ties to the Miss America
and campaign expenses continue to be contained to
Organization, which began after she
only five cents of each donor dollar.
was crowned Miss Arkansas in 1992. Ted
Skokos
practiced
law
in
Arkansas for 21 years. He is the founder of multiple telecommunications companies,
NEVER UNTIL NOW IN AMERICA’S HISTORY
including Aloha Partners LP, which
HAS A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO BUILD CULTURAL
aggregated the largest amount of 700
FACILITIES RAISED 100 GIFTS OF
MHz spectrum in the U.S. In February
$1 MILLION AND MORE. TO DATE,
2008, AT&T acquired all of the assets Photo: Ray Bryant
120 DALLAS FAMILIES AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MADE SUCH GIFTS INCREASING TOTAL FUNDING TO MORE THAN $298 MILLION.
of Aloha. Mr. Skokos is also a founder of 3F Therapeutics, Inc., a maker of heart valves, which merged in 2006 with ATS Medical, Inc., a publicly
Shannon and Ted Skokos at an April dinner at the Nasher Sculpture Center celebrating their gifts.
traded company on which he serves on
the board. He has served on several corporate and philanthropic boards and is a member of the Center’s President’s Nearly 1,500 season subscriptions have been sold to the 2008-2009 inaugural season of the Brinker International Forum. In April, the Center executed
Advisory Council. Relatively new to Dallas, Mr. and Mrs. Skokos work together on many of their current philanthropic endeavors, including the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts.
a contract with Shorenstein Hays Nederlander as a consultant for its Broadway series, with Lexus as title sponsor. This summer, the Center will activate a plan designed to transition from the capital campaign to managing and operating the facilities. The Center’s staff will relocate to offices downtown, near the Arts District, the business plan will be incrementally implemented and a new governance structure will be
“WE WERE DRAWN TO THE DALLAS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS BECAUSE OF THE THOROUGH PLANNING THAT HAS OCCURRED FROM THE OUTSET OF THE PROJECT. THE RESULTS OF THOSE PLANNING EFFORTS ARE NOW BECOMING APPARENT AS THE BUILDINGS TAKE SHAPE AND THE OPENING OF THE CENTER DRAWS NEARER,”
“THIS CENTER WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THE PERFORMANCES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CENTER’S VENUES.” SAID TED SKOKOS.
formalized. The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts 2008 fiscal year has been one of the most productive in
P I L L A R P RO G R A M / C A M P A I G N T O P S $ 2 M I L L I O N
the campaign’s operation. More than 20 new gifts of $1 million and above were committed during the year, including $10 million gifts from Nancy Hamon and
PILLAR ACTION TEAM MEMBERS, INCLUDING
Shannon and Ted Skokos/the Skokos Foundation.
BARBARA AND JON PAGE (PICTURED LEFT),
The Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theatre were
HOSTED 14 EVENTS IN THE PREVIEW CENTER SINCE
topped out, title sponsors were confirmed for the
THE PROGRAM LAUNCH IN OCTOBER. THE PILLAR
Brinker International Forum and the Lexus Broadway
PROGRAM HAS RAISED MORE THAN $2.1 MILLION
operation will begin with a solid foundation.
IN GIFTS AND PLEDGES SINCE ITS INCEPTION. Photo: Kristina Bowman
series and the final fiscal year in the campaign’s
Bill Lively President and CEO
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