Ringling Museum Receives $1 Million Toward Educational Programs

SARASOTA, Fla. – Sept. 25, 2006 – The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art today recognized a pledge for more than $1 million from Florida residents and dedicated arts patrons Marvin and Betty Danto. The gift, earmarked for children’s programs, will support the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s educational mission.

The Marvin and Betty Danto Endowment will support Ringling Museum initiatives including classroom visits to the estate, curriculum-teaching materials, Internet-based teaching programs and children’s art making activities.

“Much like John and Mable Ringling, my wife Betty and I believe providing cultural education for young people is very important,” Danto said. “We hope our gift helps continue the legacy of John and Mable while elevating the museum as a unique cultural educational institution for all ages.”

The gift comes just as the museum prepares to open the doors of its new education/conservation building in late fall 2006. The new building provides 68,000 square feet of modern space to serve the Ringling Museum’s educational mission with classrooms, meeting spaces, a 65,000-volume art library and a state-of-the art conservation lab and art storage.

“Mr. and Mrs. Danto’s gift enables us to expand our existing educational programs and offer even greater opportunities to children and families,” said Ringling Museum Executive Director Dr. John Wetenhall. “Now that we have the adequate facilities, this gift will help us breathe life into those buildings with mission-driven programs and initiatives.”

“Florida State University is proud to see the momentum continue toward growing the Ringling and FSU Foundation endowments,” said FSU Foundation Interim President Marilyn Spores. “As we strive to become one of the top 20 research universities in the country and help the Ringling become one of the most successful university museums in the country, support from donors like Mr. and Mrs. Danto is very important.”

Once received, gifts to the Ringling endowment are also eligible for Florida’s matching program through the Florida State University Foundation. At more than $1 million, the Danto’s gift is eligible for a 75 percent match.

 Ringling Museum efforts support the Foundation’s mission, which is to raise, invest and manage private gifts for academic initiatives of the university.

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The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University is the state art museum of Florida. It preserves, develops, and enhances the legacy of John and Mable Ringling and engages and educates a large and diverse audience in a world-renowned collection of art, Cà d'Zan (the Ringlings’ mansion) and its historic contents, collections documenting the circus and its history, the historic Asolo Theater, and the architecture, courtyard, gardens, and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.