Nonprofit agencies and organizations that serve communities rely on the generosity of residents to help them remain financially sound, so they can provide beneficial and desired programming.
Benefactors can play a significant role in the life of a nonprofit. A perfect example is Bob and Helen Haddad with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.
The Haddads are music lovers and both have music backgrounds. They have been supporters of the Philharmonic since it began in 1987.
Helen Haddad sang in the Philharmonic Chorus for years, and has supported the Philharmonic youth music programs, including funding education director Vanessa Edwards’ annual salary.
The Haddads donated a building at 315 Franklin St. to the Philharmonic in early 2016. Already the Philharmonic’s home under a rental agreement, that gift guaranteed that the music organization would have a permanent home base for offices and music education programs.
Now, Bob and Helen Haddad are pledging $1 million to the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic to expand its downtown conference room into an 80- to 100-seat community events center for use by the orchestra and others.
Appropriately, the new space will be named the Helen Haddad Music, Arts and Event Center.
“Money is only as good as what you use it for,” said Bob Haddad, well known for founding Columbus Container.
The couple’s gift is being made in two parts: $500,000 outright and $500,000 in matching funds to complement public donations. That $1 million pledge is part of the Philharmonic’s $2.5 million fund drive called Music Builds Community: A Campaign for Music + Performing Arts.
The Haddads’ latest gift is another show of the couple’s commitment to the Philharmonic — and by extension to the community.
Their admirable decades of support have been beneficial, appreciated.
