AMANDA LOMAN
philanthropy
Arts enabled: More than 350 donors, some of whom joined President Charles W. Steger at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, pledged their support for the construction of an elegant new home for the arts at Virginia Tech.
Motivated by the
by ALBERT RABOTEAU
T
Arts
he role of philanthropy in the completion of Virginia Tech’s $100 million Moss Arts Center was overwhelmingly evident at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility on Nov. 1.
Speaking to a crowd of 300 seated people and many others standing, Ruth Waalkes, the university’s associate provost for the arts, who also oversees the center, described the building as “a unique combination of facilities made possible by a community of philanthropists.” She then asked all donors in the audience to stand. Dozens did, including many whose names now grace prominent spaces within the center. But the total community of philanthropists that helped make the building a reality is broader still. In all, more than 350 people donated toward the center project during a fundraising effort that started in 2004. With more than $31 million received or pledged, the university surpassed its $28 million private fundraising goal for the center’s construction. www.vtmag.vt.edu
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