Goodman Theatre Announces 'Endowing Excellence' Campaign

Goodman Theatre today announced that it has raised $10 million toward its $15 million Endowing Excellence, The Campaign for Goodman Theatre? - a multifaceted fundraising effort designed to ensure permanent resources for Chicago's oldest and largest not-for-profit producing theater.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago's philanthropic and business leaders gathered for the breakfast event, where Goodman Theatre Chairman Patricia Cox, Artistic Director Robert Falls, Executive Director Roche Schulfer and Campaign Co-Chairs Shawn M. Donnelley (Immediate Past Chairman) and Joan Clifford (Women's Board President and Vice President of the Board of Trustees) unveiled the seven key areas of the theater in need of endowment support (details on page 2). Donnelley and Clifford led the initial campaign effort to procure $10 million by the conclusion of the theater's 10th Anniversary "Decade on Dearborn"; $5 million more is needed to reach the goal.

Standing center stage at Goodman Theatre this morning, Mayor Rahm Emanuel encouraged Chicagoans to contribute at this important moment for the theater, noting the Goodman's stature in America's "only city to house five Tony Award-winning theaters."

"This is a great theater," declared Mayor Emanuel. "When people from around the world come to see theater in Chicago, they come to Goodman Theatre. Our cultural institutions create economic vitality and a fabric to a community?whether that's downtown or in a neighborhood?like nothing else. No other city has what we have; we have something really special, and the great thing about the Goodman is that it doesn't just do it in this building?which is essential for the quality of life I want to build here. I see you as an anchor for that. Let's finish the job."

To contribute to Endowing Excellence, The Campaign for Goodman Theatre, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Endowment; to make a gift of $10,000+ or to explore naming opportunities, contact Kealie Williams at 312.443.3811, ext. 581.