National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant

Each year The National Endowment for the Humanities provides a Challenge Grant for a limited number of cultural institutions that they believe have the capacity to provide outstanding and comprehensive humanities programs.  We are proud to announce that the Morikami has been judged worthy of their support and, if we can raise $1.5 million for a Humanities Endowment by the July 2010, N.E.H. will contribute an additional $500,000. 

Thanks to the generosity of Morikami supporters like Mrs. Martha Gudelsky, the Aratani Foundation and many others, we have already raised $551,000 for a humanities endowment fund, which has been matched by N.E.H. with an additional $248,000.  These generous and outstanding donors gave the campaign a wonderful start, but we must still meet the N.E.H. challenge to receive full funding.  We must raise an additional $949,000 by July 2010. This is a challenge indeed, but one that we are confident we can meet.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens provides for significant recognition of our major donors in the form of naming opportunities. Options include the theater, main gallery, lobby, specific gardens - including our newly completed front entrance garden, bridges, gates, lanterns and benches.  As part of the Morikami's goal to raise funds for the National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant, a special theatre chair naming campaign is also underway.

Take your seat in The Morikami's Theatre
Naming a theatre seat - with an inscribed plaque on the armrest - offers a meaningful way to honor a loved one, or for a unique family gift, name a whole row or block of seats.  This program is also open to corporations. 

The cost is $500 per seat, and for multiple seats it is possible to make a pledge and pay over a two-year period.  Please note that the named seats are not designated seating.  Unless advance ticket purchase allows you to select your particular seat, it is more likely that someone else will become aware of your generosity at each performance.

Call Tara McDonnell at 561-495-0233 x208 or email tmcdonnell@pbcgov.org for additional information on all support for the N.E.H. Challenge Grant.