Music Center Meets Its $17.6 Million Funding Goal

The Music Center will announce today that it has met its 1991 fund-raising goal of $17.6 million, a 15% increase over last year and the highest ever raised to support the various resident companies.

The announcement of the Unified Fund’s 24th straight year of success is being made at the center’s annual board of governors meeting.

Campaign Chairman Maury DeWald, noting the “extraordinary” efforts of the center’s volunteers, said that “in this year of extreme economic difficulties, it is all the more impressive that we reached what was a very ambitious goal.”

Music Center President Esther Wachtell cited the “unprecedented generosity” of gifts of as much as $450,000.

Six weeks ago, the Music Center said it was $1.2 million short of its goal. A $450,000 donation from a previous unidentified donor helped bridge the gap. The last gift that put the center over the top was $370 given by a Partners For and Junior Philharmonic member.

The Unified Fund will support:

* The Los Angeles Philharmonic, which this year received $5.2 million in support and next year is projected to receive $5.4 million.

* The Center Theatre Group (Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson), which this year received $4.2 million and next year is scheduled to receive $4.5 million.

* The Los Angeles Music Center Opera, which received $3.3 million and next year is projected at $3.7 million.

* The Master Chorale, which received $400,000 and is scheduled to get $450,000.

* The Joffrey Ballet, which this year received $1.2 million.

* The Music Center Education Division, which this year received $700,000 and next year is projected at $770,000.

With the Joffrey no longer a resident company at the Music Center, the Music Center Dance Program will receive $700,000. About $2 million will be used for fund-raising expenses, marketing and administration.