St. Cecilia Music Center’s Executive Director Cathy Holbrook announced today that St. Cecilia Music Center is the recipient of a $1,000,000 endowment gift from the estate of Peter M. Wege. The Center plans to dedicate next week’s annual Great Artist Gala to Mr. Wege in recognition of this generous gift.

Peter Wege, one of Grand Rapids’ most prominent philanthropists, passed away on June 7, 2014. In his will he indicated that he wished to leave St. Cecilia Music Center a gift in the amount of $1,000,000 to help fund SCMC’s endowment.

Courtesy Wege Foundation
Courtesy Wege Foundation
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Cathy Holbrook, Executive Director of St. Cecilia Music Center, said, “When Mr. Wege’s daughter, Mary Nelson, called to tell me this news I was flabbergasted. Mr. Wege had been a long-time generous supporter of SCMC but we were not expecting a bequest from him. This is the largest single donation SCMC has ever received in our 131 years history. We are so grateful to Mr. Wege and the Wege family.”

Holbrook also said, “SCMC has been in the planning stages for some big projects which include upgrades to our historic facility as well as an initiative to build our endowment. This gift from Mr. Wege will have an immensely positive impact on our ability to move those plans forward.”

St. Cecilia Music Center’s Great Artist Gala takes place this Thursday evening,September 18, 2014. The annual fundraiser will be dedicated to Peter M. Wege and the legacy that he has left on Grand Rapids and the lasting impact that will be forever felt at SCMC. The concert on the 18th brings 20-time Grammy winner and jazz pianist Chick Corea with his band the Vigil to Grand Rapids.

Tickets are still available for the Great Artist Gala dedicated to Peter Wege, and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. or online at www.scmc-online.org.

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