$1.5M gifts for Manchester’s music, arts hall renovation
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Ejenobo Oke, Manchester University associate professor of art, teaches in one of the Winger classrooms. (photo courtesy: Manchester University)
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Manchester University Spartan Pride Marching band was started in 2020. (photo courtesy: Manchester University)
The home to Manchester University’s music and art departments has received donations totaling $1.5 million towards a $5 million renovation project. The gifts from three separate donors are earmarked for a planned upgrade of Otho Winger Memorial Hall, one of the oldest buildings on the North Manchester campus.
“The renovation to Winger is a top priority for us and we are very excited about the opportunities that the new spaces will present,” said Melanie Harmon, vice president for advancement.
Harmon says the gifts will help fund classrooms with proper acoustics and surround-sound equipment, art classrooms with important safety features, a new HVAC system and dedicated technology classroom and laboratory space for graphic design.
The project also includes the addition of an elevator.
The school says Manchester alumnus Rick Mishler and his wife Deb of Arizona gave a leadership gift of $500,000. Rick made the gift in honor of his late sister Cathy Gillam, who studied music at Manchester.
Fort Wayne businessman and philanthropist Chuck Surack, who founded musical instrument retailer Sweetwater Sound, and his wife Lisa also gave a $500,000 gift for the Winger project.
Manchester says it also received an anonymous donation of $500,000.