Spreading the Wealth: ACT Gives Big Money to Intiman, Seattle Rep
It was a fundraising gala to remember.
Posted by: Laura Dannen on Mar 08, 2011 at 04:00PM
2 Comments
File this under Reasons To Love Seattle: In a classy move on Friday, the executive director of A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) donated big money to both Seattle Repertory Theatre and Intiman Theatre at the Rep’s annual gala fundraiser—a boon for Intiman, which needs to raise $1 million by September to stay in business. The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that during a Raise the Paddle live auction, ACT’s Carlo Scandiuzzi “leapt to his feet to say he [and wife Laile] would not only match every $100 donation, turning it into $200 for the Rep, but he would also give another $100 per raised paddle to Intiman…. At that point, almost every paddle at the gala shot up in the air.”
The Scandiuzzis ultimately donated $42,000—$22,000 split between Seattle Rep and Intiman—and prompted 5th Avenue Theatre board member Kenny Alhadeff and his wife Maureen to give money to ACT. I mean, where else does this happen?! When do competitors give so readily to each other? Would Starbucks bail out Dunkin’ Donuts? It gives me the chills, the good kind.
According to its website today, Intiman has raised $146,471.51 with a goal of $500,000 by the end of March. To find out more or to donate, go to intiman.org.
Tags: Seattle Repertory Theatre, Theater, ACT , Intiman Theatre, Fundraiser
This generous act does not surprise me, for two reasons. One, the Scandiuzzis are incredibly generous people who support the arts and other worthy causes in our area. Two, ACT, the REP and Intiman have a history of supporting one another as well the all three having partnerships with 5th Ave, the Paramount and the Moore. The theaters in Seattle are a collaborative community. As a trustee of ACT Theatre, I am thrilled to be a small part of this powerful collaboration.
Judy Ness
Kenny Alhadeff and his wife, Marleen, (by the way – not Maureen) are very active in the theater community, the Children’s Museum, and Homelessness projects. They are some of the unsung heroes of our community who seek to make a difference. It is because of people like the Alhadeff’s and others like them that I truly love Seattle!