For Immediate Release: January 6, 2014
Robert J. Appel Pledges Unprecedented $20 Million Gift
to Jazz at Lincoln Center
New York, NY (January 6, 2014) – Jazz at Lincoln Center announced an unprecedented gift of $20 million from Robert J. Appel, the organizations Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Appels gift is the largest single private philanthropic contribution to date in support of jazz, and will benefit the thousands of performance, education and broadcast events Jazz at Lincoln Center produces each year. The gift also advances the organizations global objectives in audience development, engagement and jazz advocacy.
“Bob Appel’s gift to the organization is transformative,” said Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Managing and Artistic Director. “His expressed commitment to jazz and Jazz at Lincoln Center establishes a new standard of philanthropy for this great American art. The magnitude of this affirmation from our Chairman invigorates our entire institution, and encourages us to an even deeper and more profound engagement with our Mission.”
Mr. Appel was appointed Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2012. He became a member of the Board of Directors in 2008 and has actively served on various committees. He has been a private investor since 2003 and was formerly a partner of Neuberger Berman, an investment and securities brokerage firm. Mr. Appel has been recognized for his philanthropic work with his alma mater, Cornell University, The Weill Cornell Medical College and many other organizations. As Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Chairman, Mr. Appel works closely with the Board and Marsalis, on fundraising to maintain and further develop a myriad of national and international curatorial, educational and archival initiatives.
ABOUT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
The mission of Jazz at Lincoln Center is to entertain, enrich and expand a global community for Jazz through performance, education and advocacy. With the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and guest artists spanning genres and generations, Jazz at Lincoln Center produces thousands of performance, education, and broadcast events each season in its home in New York City (Frederick P. Rose Hall, “The House of Swing”) and around the world, for people of all ages. Now in its 26th year, Jazz at Lincoln Center is led by Chairman Robert J. Appel, Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, and Executive Director Greg Scholl. Please visit us at jazz.org; follow us on Twitter @JALCNYC and Facebook; watch our free, global webcasts at new.livestream.com/jazz; and enjoy concerts, education programs, behind-the-scenes footage, programs and more at youtube.com/jazzatlincolncenter.