Senior management of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation has announced the award of a 3-year grant to the Bardavon 1869 Opera House toward final stages of its Capital Campaign for the Millennium. This $40,000 gift will assist the Bardavon in meeting the requirements of a major challenge grant pledged to the Bardavon in June by The Kresge Foundation.
Central Hudson’s Chairman of the Board and CEO, Paul J. Ganci, commented, "The Bardavon is a remarkable resource. It combines the best of a cultural center with economic development, tourism, and the revitalization of the center city of Poughkeepsie. For that, we are greatly indebted and appreciative for everything the Bardavon does." Central Hudson has contributed generously to the Bardavon for nearly two decades, making continued annual grants for community service projects and a major award to the theater’s earlier capital campaign of 1980-83. In recent years, Central Hudson funding has provided free bus service for senior citizens from nearby and outlying areas of Dutchess County, enabling many without transportation of their own to attend the theater’s Matinees & Music concerts. The corporation has also been a leading sponsor of Bardavon productions, such as the 1998 Gala starring Harry Belafonte. Under the leadership of chairs Paul and Pat Ganci, this benefit event brought in record results in support of the theater’s programs and activities.
The Capital Campaign for the Millennium is providing funds to implement a series of renovation and restoration priorities on the long list of the theater building’s needs. These projects range from massive structural reinforcements of the stagehouse and dome areas, to expanding the women’s rest room facilities to improve audience comfort. Last year’s restoration of the auditorium ceiling dome called for replacing the 22-K gold stars that embellished its skyscape, inspiring the Buy-A-Star/Be-A-Star program, which gives supporters a special opportunity to help the Bardavon meet the Kresge challenge.
Bardavon Executive Director Chris Silva adds, "This kind of generosity from our corporate community is, literally, the glue that holds the theater together. We are thrilled."
