Richards, Newbaker name PAC art gallery
Couple hopes gift will spark other second-homeowners to contribute
There were both practical and aspirational impulses behind the naming gift Lori Richards and Ken Newbaker pledged for the art gallery in the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College.
“We enjoy art and we value what art brings to a community,” said Richards, who serves on the Garrett College Foundation Board of Directors. “Art challenges people. Music, dance, theatre and other art forms can help us think about our lives and experiences and those of others. The PAC will be a jewel in our community.”
Newbaker added, “We also wanted to encourage other part-time residents and second-homeowners to do the same. That’s been the theme of all of our gifts [to the Garrett College Foundation] – to get second-homeowners to recognize that Garrett College and the Garrett County community is a place of growth, progress and opportunity.”
Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president, praised the husband-and-wife team for their support of the PAC endowment campaign as well as their support of other initiatives.
Lori Richards and Ken Newbaker have provided a naming gift for the art gallery in the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College. Pictured, left to right, are Garrett College President Dr. Richard Midcap, Richards, Newbaker, and Garrett College Foundation Executive Director Cherie Krug.
“Lori and Ken are so supportive of Garrett College and our students,” said Midcap. “The PAC endowment. Our Open Educational Resource [OER] initiative for low-cost textbooks. Providing meals for student athletes on campus during the semester break. Whatever need we’ve had, they’ve answered the call.”
Cherie Krug, executive director of the Garrett College Foundation, agreed.
“We are so fortunate to have Lori and Ken as examples for giving by the second-homeowners in Garrett County,” said Krug.
The Foundation has raised more than $2.3 million toward a goal of $2.5 million for the PAC endowment campaign. Midcap said the endowment will be used to defray operational costs to “permit us to attract performers we couldn’t otherwise afford to bring to the region.”