As Western Illinois University prepares for the opening celebration for the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts (GCPA) on Tuesday, Sept. 15, a final push is underway to finish naming all of the seats in the Great Hall, the main performance facility in the new center. Chicago-area donor Ernie Wish has committed to a challenge gift of $25,000, which will be fulfilled when WIU donors make gifts to name 100 of the remaining seats in the GCPA’s Great Hall.
“I have championed the arts and higher education for decades,” Wish said. “I have worked with WIU’s assistant vice president Thad Dohrn for the last two decades and wanted to support his transition at WIU by making a gift that will provide a spark to ignite support for the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts and for WIU’s students.”
As of Monday, Aug. 31, 528 seats have been named through donor generosity.
Currently, 205 seats are available to be named by donors. The seats in the orchestra level have all been named, while 96 seats are available on the main level and 109 remain in the balcony.
“Adding an additional 100 named seats would be a great statement of support for WIU’s performing arts students and would speak volumes about the commitment to the arts from WIU alumni and the Macomb community,” Wish said.
