New-York Historical Society Completes $100 Million Fundraising Campaign
Press release (July 9, 2012) — Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of the New-York Historical Society, has announced the successful achievement of the $100 million fundraising goal set in October 2006 to support a major renovation of the institution’s landmark building on Central Park West, as well as education programs serving 200,000 New York City schoolchildren annually.
A total of $70 million in capital funds has paid all costs of the renovation of the building, which reopened in November 2011 following the largest and most ambitious capital improvement program since two wings were added to the original 1904 building in 1937. Transformed to welcome visitors of all ages, the building now conveys a palpable sense of history to visitors and passersby, with a new glass gateway on Central Park West that provides a window onto New-York Historical’s extraordinary collection of art, objects, and documents. New facilities include the Robert H. and Clarice Smith New York Gallery of American History, a stunning, permanent display enhanced by new proprietary technology; a renovated and improved Robert H. Smith Auditorium, featuring a new, multi-media destination film experience narrated by Liev Schreiber; and the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, the first museum-within-the-museum for young people and families.
An increase in $30 million to New-York Historical’s endowment will help support the vast network of educational activities sponsored by both the Museum and New-York Historical’s Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, which is widely acknowledged as one of the most important scholarly resources in the United States.
“With the deepest gratitude for the leadership of our Chairman, Roger Hertog, and our many benefactors, I am delighted to announce the realization of the funding goals set forth in our 2006 Strategic Plan,” Dr. Mirrer stated. “This historic achievement provides further inspiration and encouragement as we seek to secure the future of our great institution with an ongoing campaign for endowment.”
The $100 million campaign received eight-figure lead gifts from Richard Gilder, former Chairman of New-York Historical; Roger Hertog, New-York Historical’s current Chairman; and the late Robert H. Smith. Other major contributions to the campaign were made by Joseph and Diana DiMenna, Bernard and Irene Schwartz, the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, and the City of New York.
