Longtime Columbus philanthropists Bob and Helen Haddad have committed $1 million to expand the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s downtown office conference room into an 80- to 100-seat community events center to be used by the orchestra and others.
The gift will be part of the Philharmonic’s $2.5 million fund drive called Music Builds Community: A Campaign for Music + Performing Arts.
The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon during a celebration that kicked off the campaign with about 85 people on hand at Columbus City Hall.
“The Philharmonic’s music education programs have a positive influence in the lives of those living in and around the Columbus community,” Helen Haddad said beforehand. “Having a venue this size will benefit not only the Philharmonic’s music education programs but will offer opportunities for others to enjoy rehearsing and performing in an inviting space.”
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The new space, to be named the Helen Haddad Music, Arts and Event Center, will be built on the back of the orchestra’s office building at 315 Franklin St. downtown. A parking lot currently occupies the space.
“This is really a game-changer for the Philharmonic and for the community,” said David Bowden, the Philharmonic’s only music director in its history. “This is a huge thing for all of us.”
The gift is being made in two parts: a $500,000 outright gift and $500,000 in matching funds to complement public donations. Leaders said the matching campaign is a way to allow local residents to support the arts locally. The Philharmonic plans for the additional $1 million to come from foundations, grants and other sources, according to orchestra leaders.
Philharmonic supporters
Helen Haddad graduated from the University of Oklahoma Music School and sang in the Philharmonic Chorus for years. Plus, she has tirelessly supported the Philharmonic youth music programs, including funding education director Vanessa Edwards’ annual salary.
Bob Haddad, perhaps best known locally as founder of Columbus Container, played clarinet in high school band and orchestra and turned down an instrumental music scholarship to the University of Oklahoma so he could concentrate on other academics.
On Tuesday, Bob Haddad humbly referred to himself and his wife as “just two kids from Oklahoma who learned to work hard.”
The Haddads have been strong supporters of The Philharmonic since it began in 1987.
“Music and education have been dear to her heart from an early age,” said daughter Tracy Haddad, who also is a member of the Philharmonic board and the fund drive campaign committee.
The Haddads donated the building on Franklin Street to the Philharmonic in early 2016, providing a home base for offices and music education programs. But the office has been the orchestra’s home since 2003. In the same year, Enkei America donated a Shigeru Kawai Concert Grand Piano to the Philharmonic, with the intent that it be made available to piano students as well as being available for the enjoyment of others throughout the community.
Expansion meets need
The combination of these two gifts led to the Philharmonic’s idea to expand the conference room, according to orchestra leaders.
“There is not a facility in the community that met both the accessibility desired by Enkei America and the security needed for a piano of this caliber,” said Margaret Powers, Philharmonic executive director. “Expanding the conference room to create a flexible space that can be used as a recital hall for piano students and visiting artists appeared to be a viable option.”
No timetable has been set yet for construction, since that depends upon the fundraising, Powers said.
Orchestra leaders said conversations with members of as many as 60 local organizations led to the realization that there were other unmet needs for a facility of this size. Dancer’s Studio Inc., Mill Race Theatre Company and pop-up performing groups are just a few of those interested in utilizing the facility.
Additional downtown meeting space for both corporate and community organizations was another need the Philharmonic identified when discussing the new space.
“From my perspective, this is just the latest chapter of the extraordinary philanthropic history of our community,” Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop said.
Philharmonic Board President Sharon Sung Andrews, who called the planned space “a community living room,” saluted the Haddads in a statement before the gathering.
“Once again, Bob and Helen Haddad have demonstrated their exceptional commitment to the arts in Columbus by stepping forward not only to support the Philharmonic but also to provide opportunity to artists of all ages,” Andrews said.
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Bob and Helen Haddad have been leaders in the business, arts, philanthropic and sports and leisure scene for years in Bartholomew County.
Bob Haddad launched Columbus Container in 1973. He sold the company in 2016 to Illinois-based Packaging Corporation of America.
Bob Haddad also became owner of Harrison Lake Country Club in 2014. He also paid off the club’s $3.3 million debt in 2005.
Bob Haddad said he is such a music aficionado that he spontaneously calls out movements of classical pieces that work their way into the soundtracks of movies he is watching, ranging from “The King’s Speech” to “Saving Private Ryan.”
Helen Haddad has long been a tireless supporter of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic music education programs, including its youth orchestra.
Besides the local community, the couple have also been strong supporters of other causes such as Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
The Haddads also launched the Haddad Foundation in 2002. It was established to support charitable programming benefiting central Indiana residents, with a primary focus in Bartholomew, Hamilton and Marion counties, with an emphasis on youth development, arts, education, medical/health care advancement and emergency disaster relief.
Four of their children: Tammy Burton, Bob Haddad Jr., Tracy Haddad, and Hayden Haddad manage the foundation’s work.
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The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s $2.5 million fund drive called Music Builds Community: A Campaign For Music + Performing Arts, began Tuesday.
Its goal is to raise $500,000 from the public, according to organizers. Four significant donations already came in by Tuesday afternoon.
The $2.5 million includes an estimated $1.3 million for a community events center project added on to the Philharmonic’s downtown office, according to Philharmonic Executive Director Margaret Powers. Another $650,000 will cover a range of needed repairs on the building in general. And another $550,000 will be part of an endowment fund for building an event center maintenance.
To give: 812-376-2638 or thecip.org.
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