Sweet Music: $700,000 Given To Symphony Cowles Foundation And Families Donate $500,000; Johnston-Fix Foundation And Fix Family Add $200,000
The Spokane Symphony this week announced early donations of $700,000 to its major gifts campaign.
The gifts include the largest ever individual donation to the symphony, $500,000 from the Harriet Cheney Cowles Foundation and the Cowles families. Cowles Publishing Co. owns The Spokesman-Review.
The remaining $200,000 was given by the Johnston-Fix Foundation and the Fix family.
The campaign, which is designed to support the symphony’s endowment fund, stands at $2 million in pledges this week. Symphony officials hope to raise $3.5 million to $4.5 million.
“These gifts contribute to the foundation of the symphony’s next 50 years and follow on the heels of a 50-year history just completed that was heavily uplifted by the involvement of both these families,” says executive director Jonathan Martin.
Among the first patrons of the symphony in 1945 were Mr. and Mrs. William H. Cowles Jr., grandparents of Betsy Cowles, who is co-chair of the symphony campaign. Eric Allen Johnston, a prominent Spokane businessman, supported the symphony throughout his life, and his daughter, Harriet Fix, is the campaign co-chair.
“We want to be leaders in this effort and believe firmly in the future of the symphony and its gifts to the whole Northwest,” says Betsy Cowles. “We really have one of the best symphonies in the country, especially for our size.”
Cowles vividly remembers the first Spokane Symphony concert she attended with her parents at the old Fox Theater, right down to the white lace dress and Mary Jane shoes she wore. “It was just such a magical experience,” she says.
Cowles hopes the endowment campaign will help bring the symphony to a broader audience. “A lot of times, people think of symphonic music as elitist and only for the most educated,” Cowles said. “It’s not. It should be available to everyone and anyone in the community.”
Fix says, “The symphony is the heart and soul of the cultural life of Spokane.” Her family is committed to continuing to support it.
The symphony campaign will extend through next January, raising cash and five-year pledges. Symphony officials hope these major gifts will inspire others to donate, and have designed a campaign which attempts to broaden the base of symphony support.
“The whole process is going along really well,” Cowles said. “By the time we get to the community level of gift-giving, there will be a lot of new faces leading that charge.” , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: BIG BOOST The symphony’s fund-raising goal is $3.5 million to $4.5 million. Today, the total stands at $2 million after donations of $500,000 from the Harriet Cheney Cowles Foundation and $200,000 from the Johnston-Fix Foundation.