EAST LANSING, Mich. In an unprecedented spree of gift-giving, Michigan State University FCU announced a $1 million endowment this morning for the University’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts, the credit union’s third $1 million charitable donation to an MSU affiliate so far in 2013.
The latest $1 million gift will ensure the continuation of the credit union-sponsored Broadway at Wharton Center Series, which brings touring shows to campus. The $2.4 billion credit union has made one previous major gift to the Wharton Center, donating $2.25 million in 2008 to create the MSU Federal Credit Union Institute for Arts and Creativity.
Wharton Center Executive Director Mike Brand says the gift will be "the economic engine for the center." Part of the income will be available for spending each year, and the remainder will be reinvested to increase the fund.
The credit union made a $1 million donation in March to the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum for a new residency program that will bring nationally and internationally known artists to the East Lansing campus; and a $1 million donation in January $1 million to the MSU College of Music to establish a jazz artist-in-residence program.
The College of Music residency program will bring established musicians such as Branford Marsalis, as well as rising figures in the jazz world to East Lansing for a week at a time. They'll work with students and perform. The school says the guest artists and its own jazz groups also will perform around Michigan, with special focus on Detroit.
