Great River Shakespeare Festival

Matching Gift Largest in Festival's History

The Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minn., has received a $300,000 matching gift from the Slaggie Family Foundation on new and increased gifts toward GRSF's Setting the Stage Campaign. The contribution is the largest in the Festival's history.

Designed to ensure organizational growth and longevity, the Setting the Stage Campaign will make it possible for the Festival to create an operating reserve, increase its working capital, and provide GRSF a significant head start on funding for the next several seasons, according to a theater press release.

“We are happy to be able to support the Great River Shakespeare Festival,” Mike Slaggie of the Slaggie Family Foundation said in the GRSF press release. “We view it as a very important part of what's happening in Winona and wish them continued success. We all recognize the Festival's award-winning productions and positive impact on Winona's business community. In addition, their work in the areas of accessibility for everyone to their events, the initiatives with local schools, and their frequent support of other local non-profit organizations make this an organization that our Foundation is excited to support.”

“The Slaggie family has had a remarkable impact on this community in countless ways,” said Brian Frederick, GRSF's advancement manager, in a statement. “This gift is certainly going to make a big difference for GRSF and our ability to serve our area.”

November 13, 2011

If you have Shakespearean news to share, e-mail editorial@shakespeareances.com