Thomas Breen Photo
The Shubert Theatre has received its largest gift from an individual donor in its 104-year existence.
Markeshia Ricks Photo
Clark.
John Fisher, the theater’s executive director, announced in a press release Tuesday that board member Alexander Clark and his wife Jennifer donated $1.5 million.
Fisher said in the release the gift will provide support to the theatre and be recognized as the Alexander and Jennifer Clark Performing Arts Center during the next decade.
“Alexander and Jennifer’s support of the Shubert Theatre through the years has been a tremendous example of personal giving,” Fisher said in the release. “With this transformational gift, they hope to inspire other individuals to support the legendary theatre.
The Shubert Theatre, a not-for-profit, relies on donations from individual donors, grants, and sponsorships to supplement revenue generated from ticket sales, according to Fisher. The gift from the Clarks’ helps the theatre remain a non-commercial, donor-supported entity.
“The Clarks have been enthusiastic theater patrons, since their time as Yale students,” Fisher said. “Alexander sits on the Shubert Theatre/CAPA CT Board of Directors. The Clarks are substantial supporters of the theatre and play an integral role in sustaining the legendary Shubert Theatre for future generations to experience and enjoy.”
Alexander Clark is the founder of New Haven-based Technolutions. Both he and Jennifer, who is the founder of Unite For Sight, a health-focused nonprofit, graduated from Yale University in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Together, the Clarks’ founded Slate School, a nonprofit elementary school, which has a 25-acre, nature-based site in North Haven. The couple is so fond of the Shubert that they were married on the theatre’s stage in 2009, according to the press release.
What generosity and commitment! This is great news. Local institutions, organizations, and local businesses should take note. New Haven needs and deserves more philanthropy.
[Note to the NHI: In my opinion "And his wife" Julie Clark was short shrifted in your coverage: no picture, no tag, no full name used. Even her bio sentence starts "Both he and Jennifer" ...founder of Unite for Sight.]