OCPAC gets $10 million, with a catch

The Orange County Performing Arts Center on Tuesday announced a $10-million challenge grant from Lawrence and Kristina Dodge, bringing the campaign to pay down the debt on the $240-million Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall near its three-quarter mark.

Introducing the Dodges, who in 2004 gave $20 million to Chapman University for its new film school, the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, former center chairman Paul Folino said their gift is “the cornerstone of our race to the finish.”

The Dana Point couple’s contribution is contingent on the center raising $20 million more within two years, which would lift the campaign from $176.5 million (counting the Dodge gift) to $196.5 million.

Lawrence Dodge is founding chairman and chief executive of American Sterling Corp., a Foothill Ranch company involved in banking, insurance, real estate and technology; Kristina Dodge co-founded its film production division.

The education offices and two rehearsal studios built into OCPAC’s concert hall wing have been named the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center.

-- Mike Boehm