Future Performing Arts Center Receives Multiple Donations
Commitment to Performing Arts Demonstrated by Several Major Gift Donors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cheryl Engstrom, for PACE, 425.487.0682 or 
BELLEVUE, Wash. (Feb. 15, 2006) – Individual donors James L. (Len) Evans and David and Amy Fulton, along with corporate donor First Mutual Bank, have joined the ranks of major donors to the new Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE) with significant contributions.
The Fulton gift of $500,000 is the largest gift made to-date to build the 2000-seat performing arts center in downtown Bellevue from individual donors not affiliated with the PACE board. A former executive at Microsoft and a resident of Bellevue, David and Amy Fulton are renowned for their fine collection of historic violins and are passionate about the performing arts. They are both devoted to the Seattle Symphony and are involved in the search for a concertmaster.
The Evans donation of $100,000 is one of the first to the arts for the Bellevue native. President of The Evans Company, Len believes a new performing arts center will enhance downtown Bellevue and stimulate positive growth and expansion in the area both culturally and economically.
Corporate donor First Mutual Bank has set a new benchmark for corporate giving to PACE with its contribution of $250,000. President and CEO John Valaas of First Mutual Bank directs the company's strong vision for our community. "We are proud to join what we know will be a long list of corporate and individual donors to PACE," says Valaas. "Our community needs PACE if the Eastside is going to continue to grow into a world-class destination and place to live and work."
In addition to these individual and corporate donations, the volunteer fund-raising arm of PACE, the Act One Guild, raised nearly $135,000 from last fall's Candlelight Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. The efforts of the Act One Guild for the past two years have contributed $268,000 to PACE's coffers and drawn attention to the new center through members' hard work and dedication to seeing PACE become a reality. Co-Chairs Molly Sears and Judie O'Brien are the driving force behind the Guild's major fund raising event for 2006, Bucks For PACE.
"These contributions represent the gathering momentum for PACE that we are seeing in the community," says Kemper Freeman, Jr., founding member of the board of PACE and chairman and CEO of Kemper Development Company. "As we head toward ground breaking later this year, these, plus the numerous additional contributions that will come from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government, will be critical to a successful opening in 2008."
Responding to the needs of a prosperous, diverse, and growing region east of Lake Washington, PACE will offer Eastside audiences the chance to enjoy top regional, national, and international live arts for the first time close to home. PACE will be the only major performing arts center on the Eastside on a par with the Paramount and Fifth Avenue Theatres and McCaw and Benaroya Halls, with the superior acoustics, performance areas, and an audience experience expected in a top ranked theatre.
"These significant gifts to PACE are tangible demonstration of support for that vision," says Richard Collins, executive director for PACE. "These early endorsements of PACE and the $100M Capital and Endowment Campaign speak to the need to enhance the cultural opportunities that PACE will offer to the region."
Performing Arts Center Eastside is a 2000-seat premier regional center for the performing arts. Its mission is to enrich cultural life with a wide diversity of live entertainment, arts, and education. PACE will stimulate the arts region-wide; attract new audiences; heighten arts awareness and education; provide a performance home for select area arts organizations; and serve as a cultural center for the Eastside.
With plans to open in late 2008, PACE will be located in downtown Bellevue on the corner of 106th Avenue NE and NE 10th Street. Nearly $13M has been raised and the $100M Capital and Endowment Campaign has completed Phase I of its fundraising with 100% board participation and the gift of land valued at $8M.