David Geffen, entertainment industry mogul and cofounder of DreamWorks animation, has made a sizable donation to the Lincoln Center in New York City. Geffen will donate $100 million to the Lincoln Center.
Geffen is in good company, as a group of highly successful and philanthropic individuals oversee the Lincoln Center as well; among the board of directors are William E. Ford, the CEO of General Atlantic, Robert A. Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and Shelly Lazarus CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, among many others.Lincoln Center chairwoman Katherine Farley announced on March 4 that the Avery Fisher Hall will be renamed the David Geffen Hall in September. Renovations to the hall will begin in 2019.
Lincoln Center chairwoman Katherine Farley announced on March 4th that the Avery Fisher Hall will be renamed the David Geffen Hall in September. Renovations to the hall will begin in 2019.
“As a native New Yorker, I recognize that Lincoln Center is a beacon to artists and musicians around the world,” Geffen said in a statement. “To be involved with such a beloved and iconic institution is deeply satisfying.”
In addition to David Geffen hall, there is also the Geffen Playhouse and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, all of which are named in honor of the generous philanthropist. Geffen isn’t a stranger to making large donations. In fact, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA came at the price of $200 million.
The hall was originally named after Avery Fisher, a violinist and founder of the Fisher Radio Company, after he financed a renovation to the hall in 1973. Fisher died in 1994, though an agreement guarantees that the renovated building will still feature prominent tributes to Fisher and his family, chiefly his three children, will remain involved in the concert hall.
About the Lincoln Center
The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a 16.3-acre complex in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan. The center has 30 indoor and outdoor performance venues. The Lincoln Center is home to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Juilliard School, and many others.