The Galveston Arts Center has received $188,500 to help repair hurricane damage to its 1878 First National Bank Building. The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, The Brown Foundation, Inc., and Mrs. John McGovern of Houston, all supporters of the center’s emergency stabilization project, which was 40% complete when hurricane Ike struck, have added to earlier gifts. Mrs. McGovern and her late husband were the first major donors to the building restoration effort that started two years ago, following the announcement in late 2006 that the Arts Center had received a $250,000 Save America’s Treasures grant for the emergency stabilization of its brick walls, foundation, and cast iron façade. The Kempner Fund, also an early supporter, added $10,000 in disaster aid to its initial $75,000 gift, and Kempner Capital Management gave another $10,000. The Brown Foundation, which previously gave $250,000 for the emergency stabilization, has now pledged an additional $125,000 for Ike-related repairs. The GAC hopes to reopen its first floor in the Summer of 2009.
Donors re-gift the GAC
