CORPS de Ballet 25th Anniversary Legacy Fund

Photo from the 2001 conference held in Seattle, Washington in collaboration with the School of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Pictured left to right: Barbara Hamblin, Patty Graham, Joan Buttram, Richard Sias, Francia Russell, Kent Stowell, Violette Verdy, Sharon Garber, Christine Knoblauch-O'Neil, David Curwen, and Nola Nolan.

As CORPS de Ballet International approached its 25th anniversary in 2023, founding members and past Presidents David Curwen and Sharon Garber reached out to CORPS leadership with a desire to give back to the organization that they describe as their “ballet family and essential support system” throughout their academic careers. With the support of the Board and the Planning and Development Committee, Curwen and Garber provided a seed donation and established the CORPS de Ballet 25th Anniversary Legacy Fund. The fund’s purpose was to provide CORPS leadership with financial resources for organizational operations: to support the ongoing needs of ballet faculty in higher education.

CORPS members at the 2018 conference in Florence, Italy.
CORPS members at the 2018 conference in Florence, Italy.
CORPS members at the 2012 conference at Jacob's Pillow.
CORPS members at the 2012 conference at Jacob's Pillow.

The Legacy Fund Drive opened during the Summer 2023 conference with an initial goal of raising $25,000 to commemorate the organization’s 25 years. In September 2024, after exceeding its goal, the drive was formally closed. Donations to this fund support the organization’s operational expenses.

CORPS offers its deepest gratitude to Curwen and Garber; the Planning and Development Committee; and CORPS members, friends, and affiliates for their extraordinary generosity.

This fund drive is now closed. Those interested in supporting CORPS may give here.

Donors

Artistic Director (over $5,000)

David Curwen & Sharon Garber
Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Etoile ($1,000-$4,999)

Judith (Gigi) Bennahum
Kathlyn (Kit) Carroll
Elizabeth Gillaspy
Courtney Harris
Amanda McKerrow& John Gardner
Alexandre Munz
Sharon Oberst
Anonymous

Principal ($500-$999)

Joellen A. Meglin & Richard C. Broadhead
Karen Dearborn
General McArthur Hambrick
Mike Blumer & Nola Nolen
Mary Margaret Holt
Tauna Hunter & Michael Gleason
Melonie B. Murray

Soloist ($100-$499)

Anjali Austin
Diane Cahill
Margaret (Molly) Faulkner
Rose & Charles Flachs
Lisa Fusillo
Ruben Gerding
Frederic Hood
Mary Oberst (in honor of Sharon Oberst)
Sandra Perez
Yvonne Racz
George Smojver
Claire Wooten

Corps de Ballet ($1-$99)

Sue Collins
Anne Van Gelder
Julia Gleich
Mary Ann Meyer
Cornelia Paraskevas (in honor of Sharon Oberst)
Patti Raffa & Patrick Franz
Rhonda Ryman
Gretchen Ward Warren

Comments from Donors

“This donation fulfills our initial pledge in starting the Legacy Fund. It is our honor and privilege to support this organization that has given us so much.”
~ David Curwen & Sharon Garber

 

“Corps de Ballet was an inspiration for me with its fierce and caring dedication to the heart of ballet pedagogy!”
~ Judith (Gigi) Bennahum

 

“CORPS is a vital part of the evolution of our field of the arts.”
~ Amanda McKerrow & John Gardner

 

“I am honored to have this opportunity to give something back to an organization that has offered so many meaningful and rich experiences for members like me.”
~ Melonie B. Murray

 

“I am so grateful to CORPS for the warm collegial support and lasting friendships!”
~ Claire Wooten

 

“I wanted to donate to the Legacy Fund in honor of my mother, because as she believed, so does CORPS de Ballet believe in all that is good.”
~ General McArthur Hambrick