Hylton Center Donors Honored

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

The top donors to the future Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas were honored at a "Leadership Donor Recognition Event" Monday evening.

Marvin Gillum, co-chairman of the campaign to raise funding for the center, served as emcee for the evening wel-coming with "you all here on this joyous occasion."

Gillum told the gathering at the Center for the Arts that "this evening we are celebrating the beginning of construction on the center and those whose leadership gifts have made it possible for the campaign to reach this milestone."

He said in November, the Hylton Foundation announced its extraordinary grant of $5 million to the campaign and that the center will carry the name of the Hylton family who has played such an important role in the growth of the region.

One half, or $2.5 million of the grant, is in the form of a challenge. For every dollar raised since last November from new donors or second gifts from current donors, the foundation will match those gifts dollar for dollar.

To date, the campaign has received commitments totaling $9.8 million and when the Hylton challenge is met, the group will be at $11.4 million or 80 percent toward its $15 million goal.

So far, about 425 individuals, families and organizations have provided gifts ranging from $25 to seven figures.

Honored at the gathering Monday night were Donny Hylton, representing the Hylton family; Sen. Charles Colgan, D-Manassas, for his support of the center; Carol Merchant Kirby and Peter Kirby; John Gregory; Rex Parr, president of Didlake, representing the Didlake Foundation and contributor Roger Costello; Jana and Marvin Yeates, in honor of Lovey Hamill; Lockheed Martin; Bob Buchanan, CEO of Buckhanan Partners; Creston Owen; Dominion Vir-ginia Power; and Engineering Groupe.

Jean Kellogg, executive director of the center, said "over the past six months I've had the great pleas-ure of attending performances and getting to know the performing and visual arts community leaders who have, collectively, developed and nurtured a vibrant cultural life in the county and city.

"We all know how much that means, not only for the audiences and artists, but for the increasing number of people who are eager to make music, dance, community theater and the visual arts an important part of their lives. The center is a unique public-private partnership that will be a resource for the entire community, including teachers and students and local and regional arts groups. We will finally have a superb venue to attract performing arts from around the world."

The center will also be a new economic engine for the county and the city. Its average total economic impact on the city, county and the state from operations and ticket sales is estimated to be $6.9 million annually—or close to $70 million over the first decade of the center's operation.

Kellogg said "this evening the campaign for the center is honored to recognize those who's gifts of $100,000 and above have made it possible for us to begin construction and realize a dream of many years."

Prince William County Supervisor Wally Covington, R-Brentsville, in whose the center is located, said, "We are building the center as a team—the county, city and George Mason University—and thanks to every-one for the support given this important endeavor."

Manassas Mayor Harry "Hal" Parrish II said, "I'd like to call the center a part of the city … but it's just a stone throw away in the county. It will be great for all three jurisdictions."

Alan Merten, president of George Mason University, said "because of the cooperation and support of the community people around the world know about us because we make it happen."

The campaign staff includes Johnny Atkinson, who is chairman of the major gifts committee, Sheryl Bass, Lucy Beauchamp, Brian Benninghoff, Kathy Bentz, Ron Carmichael, Larry Czarda, Linda Daniel, Randall Edwards, Ken Elston, Sue Farris, John Foote, Molly Grove, Guy Hinkler, who chairs the special gifts committee, Kellogg, Carol Kirby, Kris Nohe, Jay Norman, Sharon Pandak, Mary Postma, Bill Reeder, Rich Seraydarian, Mike Vander-pool, Marion Wall, Buck Waters, Donna Wittenauer and Jana Yeates.