For immediate release: November 29, 2007

INASMUCH FOUNDATION INCREASES SUPPORT
OF NEW COLORADO COLLEGE ARTS BUILDING TO $10 MILLION

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Nov. 29, 2007 – Colorado College’s new teaching and performing arts building has an official name: The Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, in memory of one of the college’s greatest benefactors and in recognition of the Inasmuch Foundation’s newly increased support of the project.

Gaylord’s Inasmuch Foundation, based in Oklahoma City, Okla., has awarded an additional $6 million to Colorado College to help fund the arts center, which is currently under construction at the corner of Cascade Avenue and Cache La Poudre Street on the Colorado College campus. The new grant, which follows a $4 million gift made in 2004 for the project, increases Inasmuch Foundation’s support for the distinctive teaching and performing arts building to $10 million – the largest amount from any single contributor.

“Edith Kinney Gaylord’s love for education, the arts and Colorado College were evident throughout her career and her life,” said Colorado College President Richard F. Celeste. “Because of her commitment to the arts, it is only fitting that this exciting new CC building – where art, dance, film, music, theater and video will be reinvented by young minds every day – be named the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center.”

Gaylord established the Inasmuch Foundation in 1982 to support charitable and educational projects. Gaylord, a respected and accomplished journalist, attended Colorado College as a member of the class of 1936 and served as a trustee for 24 years; she died in 2001. Her father, E.K. Gaylord, also attended Colorado College and was a longtime trustee and generous benefactor to the college. The Inasmuch Foundation gives to projects that reflect the vision of its founder in the areas of education, arts and culture, health and human services, historic preservation, and environmental concerns.

The Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, an eclectic 72,400 square-foot teaching, art installation and performance venue, will provide a full range of arts opportunities to students and faculty, encouraging interdisciplinary study, collaboration and experimentation. The building will feature cutting-edge arts technology, as well as flexible classroom and performance spaces.

“The Cornerstone Arts Center is the perfect celebration of Edith's life and her love of Colorado College and the Colorado Springs community,” said Robert J. Ross, president and chief executive officer of the Inasmuch Foundation. “For that reason, the board has granted the largest single gift from the foundation to date. We are grateful that the college has committed in turn to recognize Edith by naming the building in her memory. We admire the continuing visionary leadership that President Celeste is providing the college, and we are pleased to be a part of the impressive campaign to achieve Vision 2010.” 

The new $33.4 million building is under construction on the southeast corner of Cascade Avenue and Cache La Poudre Street, directly across from Packard Hall. Renowned New Mexico architect Antoine Predock, winner of the American Institute of Architects’ highest honor, the Gold Medal,  created the building’s distinctive design. The first public events are expected to be held inside the building during the college’s Summer Festival of the Arts in June 2008; official grand opening events are slated to coincide with Colorado College’s homecoming and parents’ weekend in October 2008, when alumni, parents, faculty, staff and students will all be present.

Edith Kinney Gaylord supported many initiatives at CC, including the Gaylord Endowment for Pacific Areas Studies; Asian Language and Cultural Studies Endowment; Hulbert Center for Southwest Studies; the Edith Manville Dabb Memorial Fund; the Russell T. Tutt Presidential Discretionary Fund; the Baca Lodge Fund; Lloyd Edson Worner Professorship; Fund for Tutt Library Collection Development; scholarships; annual and president’s funds; and building and renovation projects. Including the gifts made by Inasmuch Foundation, Gaylord’s financial support at Colorado College totals $15.8 million.

The latest gift comes shortly after Colorado College announced the public phase of a $300 million fundraising campaign to fund financial aid and international study for students; endowed professorships and faculty development; and a “next-generation campus,” including the Cornerstone Arts Center, a health and fitness center, and library facilities. In October, Colorado College received a $10 million gift – its largest single gift ever – from El Pomar Foundation. With the Inasmuch Foundation gift, the Vision 2010 campaign, which began in 2003, has raised $131.5 million toward its goal.

Colorado College’s Achieving the Vision campaign originated through a strategic mapping process involving Colorado College faculty, staff and students shortly after Celeste began his presidency in 2002. The resulting strategic plan, Vision 2010, was completed in 2003, with key areas broadly defined as Rigorous Intellectual Experience, encompassing new faculty positions, endowed professorships, faculty development, and distinguished visitors; Diverse, Respectful Community, encompassing financial aid, field study, endowed scholarships, international study and research-grant funding; and Next-Generation Campus, encompassing the Cornerstone Arts Center, a health and fitness center, a library and learning commons, and a Next-Generation Fund for technology. 

During its homecoming weekend in October, the college embarked on the public phase of the $300 million Achieving the Vision campaign. More than half of the college’s alumni – more than 12,000 graduates – have contributed to the campaign, along with parents of students and graduates, foundations and other supporters.

 About Colorado College

Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts college that was founded in Colorado Springs in 1874. The college operates on the innovative Block Plan, in which its 1,975 students study one course at a time in intensive 3½-week blocks. Colorado College also offers a master of arts in teaching program. For more information, visit www.ColoradoCollege.edu <http://www.ColoradoCollege.edu>.

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