October 27, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation will match up to $6 million in new contributions to the Oregon Symphony over the next three years, Symphony President William Ryberg announced today.
“This significant gift, the single largest in our history, is a vote of confidence in the Oregon Symphony and our future, and a challenge to all of us to work hard to place this cultural jewel on sound financial footing,” said Ryberg.
Designed to help build the giving capacity of the Symphony, the grant is a matching gift for new monies contributed to the Oregon Symphony’s annual fund for the next three years, he said. In the first two years the match is one-to-one, meaning that every new or increased gift is matched dollar-for-dollar. In the third year, the Miller Foundation will match every two dollars raised with one dollar. The three-year effort will bring $14 million in new contributions to the Symphony, said Ryberg.
After the Symphony successfully raises $2 million in new monies during this current fiscal year, and after the Miller Foundation matches it with $2 million, the resulting $4 million will balance this year’s operating budget. “The Miller Match will be our primary tool in stabilizing the Oregon Symphony’s current operations,” he said.
“When I accepted this position five months ago, I knew that the financial capacity had to be here to support the incredible artistic efforts of Carlos and our musicians,” said Ryberg. “We now have the tool in the Miller Match to tell the Oregon Symphony story to the nearly two million people who live in this metropolitan area. In the longer term, we are now positioned to share our mission with the citizens of Oregon and “to touch the heart and soul of all Oregonians,” as Carlos has so eloquently stated.”
A special campaign designed to announce the gift and to educate the general public about the Symphony’s needs will be launched in mid-November, he added.
