For Immediate Release
Email this story
The Arts Center Campaign Receives Donation from Dr. Kal and Gigi Habet
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – JANUARY 15, 2009 – Community leaders Dr. Kal and Gigi Habet of Brownsville have given a significant gift for The Arts Center under construction at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
“Education makes dreams. I’m a living testimony to that,” said Dr. Habet. “It didn’t take long for my wife and me to realize that the university is a pivotal part of this community. Philanthropy, unfortunately, over the next year or two will take a dip because of the economic times, but people have to step up to the plate because through education the community will prosper.”
The Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees accepted Dr. and Mrs. Habet’s gift that will name the first floor concessions area The Habet Family Concessions at their meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13.
The concessions area is located to the right of the main entrance near the lobby gallery, the Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt Lobby Gallery. It is a location that will be easily accessible for pre-performance and intermission refreshments.
Board Chair David Oliveira presented the Habets with a print of a watercolor rendering of The Arts Center. They were accompanied by their son, Kal Jr., and their daughter, Madison.
“I feel that by helping the university you’re helping not only students but the community as a whole, and The Arts Center is a way of introducing wonderful culture to the community. So this is going to benefit a lot of people and generations to come,” said Gigi Habet.
Construction of the $25 million Arts Center is funded largely as part of a $68 million bond package approved by voters in 2004. The bond provides for $18 million while $6.7 million must be raised by the University to complete the building.
“To date, we have received about $1.5 million in gifts from private individuals, foundations and corporations to assist with the additional funding needed for construction,” said Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland, vice president for Institutional Advancement.
Previous named gifts to The Arts Center include the Gloria and James D. Zellerbach Green Room, the Dr. Roberto and Perla Robles Teaching Studio, the IBC Orchestra Pit, the Tipton Family Teaching Studio, the Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt Lobby Gallery, the Neal and Lourdes Simmons Teaching Studio, and the Sergio and Magda Arguelles Box.
The 49,887-square-foot structure, designed by Studio Red, will feature an 808-seat performance hall with a fully equipped stage designed to accommodate orchestras, operas, and dance and theater productions accommodating 150 people on stage simultaneously. The building is expected to be completed in winter 2009.
Additionally, the nautilus-shape structure will include a total of five teaching studios, three rehearsal halls, a green room, a patrons’ terrace, and a 5,298-square-foot lobby designed to accommodate receptions and art exhibits.
To learn more about giving opportunities, please contact the UTB/TSC Division of Institutional Advancement at (956) 882-4322.