Porgy and Bess

A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T | 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5

MANFRED and FERN STEINFELD Longtime subscribers and supporters of Lyric’s Annual Campaign, Manny and Fern Steinfeld join the production sponsorship family this season with their generous cosponsorship of Weinberg’s The Passenger . Also substan- tial supporters of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Lyric is deeply grateful

MRS. HERBERT A. VANCE and MR. and MRS. WILLIAM C. VANCE Lyric Opera appreciates the extraordinary gener- osity and leadership of the Vance Family. For more than 20 years, Mrs. Herbert A. Vance provided Lead Sponsorship of Opera in the Neighborhoods, one of Lyric’s most popular youth-enrichment pro- grams. The Vances have generously sponsored/ cosponsored several Lyric premieres and new pro- ductions including Hänsel und Gretel (2001/02),

to have Manny and Fern play an integral role in bringing this moving piece to Chicago for its Midwest premiere. The Steinfelds also supported Lyric’s Building on Greatness Campaign through the “Name a Seat” program. LIZ STIFFEL

Carol and William Vance

The Pirates of Penzance (2003/04), The Midsummer Marriage (2005/06), The Damnation of Faust (2009/10), Show Boat (2011/12) Oklahoma! (2012/13), and The Sound of Music (2013/14). For many years, the Vances have supported young singers through their sponsorship of Ryan Opera Center ensemble mem- bers. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance contributed to the Campaign for Excellence and are generous sponsors of the Renée Fleming Initiative. Mr. Vance is an esteemed member of Lyric’s Board of Directors, Compensation, and Executive Committees. He also serves on the Ryan Opera Center Board, of which he is past President. This season, Mrs. Herbert A. Vance and Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance generously cosponsor Lyric’s production of Carousel . Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance have also made a significant commitment to the Breaking New Ground Campaign. ROBERTA L. and ROBERT J. WASHLOW

A passionate devotee of opera and loyal subscriber at Lyric, Liz is a prominent member of Lyric’s Women’s Board and a long-standing member of the Guild Board of Directors. She has generously supported The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, as well as the Opening Night Pre-Opera Cocktail Buffet, the Opera Ball Reception, and the Wine Auction Honored Guest

Dinner. Previously, Liz Stiffel was the Lead Sponsor of the Renée Fleming Subscriber Appreciation Concert (2010/11), and she generously cosponsored productions of La bohème (2001/02), The Magic Flute (2005/06), Falstaff (2007/08), and Manon (2008/09). She also supported Lyric’s Building on Greatness Capital Campaign. This past season, Liz Stiffel was the Lead Sponsor of the Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert and this year she is sponsor- ing the Wine Auction Honored Guest Dinner and is a Diamond Patron of the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball. CHERRYL T. THOMAS

Roberta and Bob Washlow are cherished members of the Lyric family. For more than two decades, they have enjoyed attending Lyric performances and special events, and have generously supported the Annual Campaign. Since 1986, the Port,

Cherryl Thomas is a lifelong Chicagoan, having worked for the City of Chicago for 30 years in the Departments of PublicWorks, Water, Aviation and Buildings, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Infrastructure in the Mayor’s Office before accepting an appointment by President Clinton to serve as Chairman of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board for 5 years. Founder, President and CEO of Ardmore Associates, who

Washlow, and Errant Families sponsored more than 20 Lyric productions. The Washlows cosponsored Porgy and Bess (2008/09), The Elixir of Love (2009/10), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2010/11), Show Boat (2011/12), Don Pasquale (2012/13), and La Clemenza di Tito (2013/14). Roberta and Bob Washlow gener- ously cosponsor this season’s Porgy and Bess. Lyric is honored to have Roberta Washlow as an esteemed member of its Board of Directors. HELEN and SAM ZELL

generously support Operathon, Cherryl personally sponsors her first production this season as a cosponsor of Porgy and Bess . Lyric is honored to have Cherryl serve on its Board of Directors and Civic Engagement Committee.

Helen and Sam Zell are passionate sup- porters of Chicago’s vibrant cultural scene. They are longtime subscribers to Lyric Opera and have contributed to the Annual Campaign and special proj- ects including the Wine Auction for many years. Helen and Sam Zell generously

DONNA VAN EEKEREN FOUNDATION Donna Van Eekeren is a devoted opera fan, Lyric subscrib- er, and generous supporter of the Ryan Opera Center. She enjoys encouraging talented young artists in her roles as a Ryan Opera Center Distinguished Benefactor and Lead Sponsor of Rising Stars in Concert and Exclusive Sponsor of its radio rebroadcast on 98.7WFMT. Reflecting her pas- sion for introducing young people to opera, the Donna Van

cosponsored Lyric’s new production of Rinaldo (2011/12), Rigoletto (2012/13), La Traviata (2013/14) and this season are cosponsors of the Lyric premiere of The Passenger .

Donna Van Eekeren

Eekeren Foundation has supported Lyric’s Performances for Students, NExT Discount Tickets for College Students, and Opera in the Neighborhoods, as well as Fantasy of the Opera and as a Singer Sponsor for the Ryan Opera Center. This season, the Donna Van Eekeren Foundation generously cosponsors Anna Bolena, having previously cosponsored The Merry Widow (2009/10), Carmen (2010/11), Ariadne auf Naxos (2011/12), La bohème (2012/13) and Die Fledermaus (2013/14). She has also made a leadership gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign to secure Lyric’s future, and supports Wine Auction 2015 and the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball as a Sapphire Patron. Executive Chairman of Land O’Frost, Donna Van Eekeren is a valued member of Lyric’s Board of Directors, serving as Secretary of the Board, on the Executive and Production Sponsorship Committees, and on the Ryan Opera Center Board.

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