$200,000 Granted to Orchestra : Gift: It is the largest allotment ever given to the Pacific Symphony.

The Pacific Symphony is being given a $200,000 grant--the largest in its 12-year history--from the Newport Beach-based Harry and Grace Steele Foundation, to be paid in $50,000 allotments over four years. The orchestra received the first $50,000 on Tuesday.

The grant is the first the orchestra has received from the foundation, which has been making grants for higher education, medical research and the arts since 1953. It has made major contributions to the Newport Harbor Art Museum and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Pacific Symphony executive director Louis G. Spisto said Wednesday that the money will be used to sustain annual operations and for educational outreach programs.

“The grant is critically important to us,” Spisto added. “The size of the grant demonstrates .. . that the Pacific Symphony is worthy of major support. It also greatly eases our planning process, (because) we know there is support each year to count on. . . . We’re very fortunate to have a family and a foundation like this in Orange County.”