Broadway Concert Series Established by Donnell Family

Through the generosity of Thomas and Kathleen Donnell and in conjunction with the Give Voice to Your Values campaign, The University of Findlay has established the Thomas and Kathleen Donnell Broadway Concert Series Endowment Fund, announced Sunday during a dinner and concert at the University.

“The Donnells have made our shared vision of a Broadway concert series a reality, ensuring that our students and Findlay residents will have access to some of the finest talent in the country on a regular basis,” said University president Dr. Katherine Fell. “We greatly appreciate their commitment to the arts and to the enrichment of our community.”

The Donnell Fund, along with the recently established James H. Brannigan Musical Theatre Guest Artist Endowment Fund, complement the long-established Mary Snyder Kirk Musical Theatre Guest Artist Chair Endowment Fund to bring artists such as Karen Mason, who performed on campus Jan. 22, and other accomplished performers including Phil Reno, Sutton Foster, Liz Callaway, Hugh Panaro and others.

The concert series will bring two visiting Broadway artists to Findlay each year, providing entertainment for community members and opportunities for UF students to learn from accomplished professionals.

The Kirk endowment fund was established with proceeds from the Mrs. Mary Snyder Kirk Charitable Remainder Trust in tribute to Mrs. Kirk’s love and support of music making and her devotion to the encouragement of young musical artists.

Peggy McGinty Brannigan established the Brannigan endowment fund to honor the memory of her late husband, Jim, and his lifelong support of the arts and musical theater, both at The University of Findlay and elsewhere. While her gift honors her husband, Peggy Brannigan has been very active in and supportive of the arts. She has performed both on the UF stage and at the Fort Findlay Playhouse, where a historical play she wrote, “Back Street,” was performed last fall.

The University continues to raise funds for students through its Give Voice to Your Values campaign, which has a goal of $40 million and was publicly launched in September of 2010. To date, more than $28.3 million has been secured toward the goal. For more information, or to support the Give Voice to Your Values campaign, call 419-434-5334 or visit www.findlay.edu, Keyword: Voice.