Museum Receives Major Gift From Anderson Family
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History recently received a $1 million gift from longtime Museum Director Chace Anderson and his wife, Josie. The family’s total contribution to the Transformation Project now stands at $2 million.
The gift will support the creation of the A. Chace and Josephine Anderson Entrance Lobby. This space will lead from the Wade Oval entrance to the new Visitor Hall, which will be free to the public and showcase eight of the Museum’s iconic specimens, including Dunkleosteus, Ohio’s state fossil fish, and Balto, the heroic sled dog.
“I love this institution. I love its mission. We want to keep advancing the cause and see the Museum realize its aspirations,” said Mr. Anderson. “The fabric of any city is enriched by its cultural institutions. Our Museum plays a role in helping our community engage in all aspects of natural history; it helps educate us on where we come from, the history of our Universe, and the role we have as humans on the planet.”
This gift is the Anderson family’s second contribution to the Transforming the World of Discovery Campaign. The Andersons previously supported Phase I of the Museum’s capital project, which included the renovation of the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank, the addition of the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears Garden, and the construction of a new attached parking garage. Their support also helped fund the recently completed Gateway Projects, which included a redesign of the Thelma and Kent H. Smith Environmental Courtyard, the creation of the Current Science area, and a major renovation of Murch Auditorium.
“We continue to make progress on the Museum’s transformation through the support of the Anderson family and our other generous donors,” said Sonia Winner, Museum President & CEO. “Chace and Josie truly understand our mission. They ardently support our vision to make the world a better place by educating and inspiring exploration. Their dedication allows us to further elevate the visitor experience and the Museum’s value to the community.”
“We are honored to support this wonderful institution and its mission,” said Josie Anderson. “We’ve been longtime supporters because we know the incredible impact the Museum has on the community. As it continues to evolve, it will deliver even greater benefits.”
“I believe in the Museum, its role in the community, and where we are headed,” added Mr. Anderson. “Josie and I are thrilled that we can have an impact on this campaign. I’ve invested a lot of my life in this institution, and I want to see it thrive and succeed. We hope our gift will encourage others to follow suit.”
Mr. Anderson has served on the Board of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History since 1998, including two terms as Board President, from 2009 to 2015. He is the Co-Chair of the Museum’s Transforming the World of Discovery campaign and helped secure many gifts that contributed to the completion of Phase I of the project. Josie is a member of Friends of CMNH.