City Newspaper Archives - 3/2008
REN SQUARE: The wealthy already fund the arts
Published on Mar 11, 2008
The assertion from former Mayor Johnson (of all people) and Towler that Rochester's wealthy are not supporting the arts is absurd and frankly false. Most non-profit organizations, especially the arts, are in existence largely as a result of the support from private citizens or grants from foundations started by private citizens. Flip over the program at any of our local events and you will see a long list of private corporations, foundations, and citizens who made it possible. To claim otherwise truly comes across as unappreciative, maybe even a little uninformed. (Maybe both?)
I laughed out loud when I read the line, "Where are the George Eastmans of today?" Some historical insight would have served Towler well. The implication that there is an abundance of our population at that level is a little off. It is a select group that falls within that range, not just in Rochester, but in the US. (Studies have Eastman in the top 50 for wealthiest citizens in the history of our great nation.) And those that are at that level today are and will continue to be donating time and financial resources to the arts and other causes that better the quality of life for all of Rochester.
Is there any standard for looking into things to gain perspective prior to getting them published?
MIKE ABRAHAM, WEST HENRIETTA
