For Immediate Release
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The Arts Center Campaign Receives Donation from Alejandro and Irma Villarreal
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – April 24, 2009 – Community leaders Alejandro and Irma Villarreal of Brownsville have given a significant gift for The Arts Center under construction at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. 
The gift was presented and approved at the Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees meeting in the Gorgas Board Room on Thursday, April 23.
“The Villarreals appreciate and collect art and want students at their alma mater and in their community to have the opportunities in fine arts that our new Arts Center will bring,” said Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dr. Ruth Ann Ragland.
The Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees accepted the Villarreal’s gift that will name Parterre Box B “The Villarreal-Montemayor Box.” The 107-square-foot box is located on the first floor at left of center and includes four movable chairs.
“Both Irma and I are very excited to be a part of this project – The Arts Center… all the academics, the teaching, and the performing arts. In the name of our family, Villarreal-Montemayor, we want to thank you all,” Mr. Villerreal said.
Board Chair David Oliveira presented the Villarreales with a framed print of a watercolor rendering of The Arts Center.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Villarreal are alumni of Texas Southmost College. Mr. Villarreal received an Associate in Arts before going to Texas A&M where he earned a bachelor’s in environmental design.
Mrs. Villarreal also received an Associate in Arts degree at TSC and then went to Southwest Texas State, now Texas State University, receiving her Bachelor in Business Administration in Marketing.
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,” Ragland said.
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, and the Neal and Lourdes Simmons Teaching Studio, the Sergio and Magda Arguelles Box, the Habet Family Concessions, the Keppel AmFELS Box and the Bernice and Ruben Edelstein Grand Piano Room.
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 includes 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, contact the UTB/TSC Division of Institutional Advancement at (956) 882-4322.