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The �Ӱ�ԭ�� has exceeded $2.5 million in annual fund giving for the first time in its nearly 100-year history for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.

Shattering last year’s record annual fundraising results, the legendary conservatory raised more than $2.5 million for scholarships, student services and other programs vital to empowering the world’s most talented classical music students to fulfill their dreams and potential. That represents a 79% increase in annual giving in just four years.

“The support we have seen for �Ӱ�ԭ�� in the last year has been deeply inspiring and a testament to the value the Institute brings to people locally and globally. It also shows the confidence that people and foundations have in our exceptional students, faculty, staff and alumni to help us continue to move forward with our vision to be the future of classical music,” said �Ӱ�ԭ�� President and CEO Paul W. Hogle.

Hogle continued: “From our humble beginnings in 1920 when we were founded by an extraordinary group of pioneering Cleveland women, �Ӱ�ԭ�� has been part of the fabric of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, with our work touching virtually all areas of local life. �Ӱ�ԭ�� and Cleveland have grown up together, with the Conservatory contributing to and advancing the city in so many ways. Our generous benefactors recognize �Ӱ�ԭ��’s importance as a leading world-class institution that is serious about our standing in the community and paying our civic rent, and they have invested in that mission. These gifts to �Ӱ�ԭ�� will continue to fuel our strategic plan, Blueprint:100, to raise more scholarship funds and further reduce the net cost of attendance and expand the impact of our financial resources across the student body.”

�Ӱ�ԭ��’s Board of Trustees again reached 100% participation in the Annual Fund, in addition to their generosity of time and spirit. “I’m so proud and overjoyed to see the Trustees demonstrate their passion and commitment to the students and to the Cleveland community with this high level of support,” said Board Chair Richard J. Hipple. “A remarkable average Trustee gift of $12,600 in 2018-19 is especially gratifying. They are helping to provide important resources that help support these incredible students.”

Hipple himself is no stranger to generosity. In March, he and his wife, Jean, donated $1 million to establish �Ӱ�ԭ��’s first Dean’s Scholarship, which provides full tuition to an outstanding student.

In addition to the Hipples’ gift, longtime donors and Clive Hamlin made gifts of $1.5 million to establish new Presidential Scholarships that award full tuition, room, board and fees to exceptional students. Addicott also serves as a �Ӱ�ԭ�� Trustee. Their leadership gifts have inspired a wave of endowed student scholarship support totaling an additional $5.8 million.

From 64 Governing Members, �Ӱ�ԭ�� raised a total of $603,820 with a net growth of $71,472. Comprised of prominent individuals from business, cultural and civic communities, Governing Members serve as passionate ambassadors in Northeast Ohio and around the world sharing �Ӱ�ԭ��’s mission, vision and purpose.

The leadership and commitment of the �Ӱ�ԭ�� Women’s Committee also bolstered the Institute’s fundraising success through several initiatives, most notably raising more than $250,000 for student scholarships at the event “A Legacy in Bloom,” which celebrated the life and altruistic legacy of 102-year-old Northeast Ohioan and former �Ӱ�ԭ�� Trustee Clara T. Rankin. It was the most funding ever raised at a single �Ӱ�ԭ�� event.

Among other highlights of this past fiscal year’s giving to �Ӱ�ԭ��:

• Two grants from the – one for the Center for Innovative Musicianship’s (�Ӱ�ԭ��²) Community Partnership Performances Project that created awareness about the plight of the homeless and the other to test a new Virtual Learning program model
• Ongoing support from , which provided funding of more than $557,000 to boost �Ӱ�ԭ��’s ability to offer nearly 600 free public performances throughout the region as well as free livestreaming and radio broadcasts

“It's inspiring to see all that �Ӱ�ԭ�� has accomplished in the last few years,” said Nancy W. McCann, president of the , which generously supports the arts and culture in the Greater Cleveland area, including education and programming initiatives at �Ӱ�ԭ��. “The school has so much to be proud of. We are thrilled with the energy and positive momentum coming out of �Ӱ�ԭ�� and continuing our longstanding relationship of working with the school to provide resources for the students and our community. We look forward to seeing what the future holds and imagining the tremendous influence �Ӱ�ԭ�� will have in its next century.”