The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville announced today that Preston H. Haskell is giving $5 million to the museum’s endowment.
In the release, Haskell said his gift is meant to help launch a new phase in the life of MOCA Jacksonville by inspiring similar philanthropy to build the Museum’s endowment and sustain future programming.
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to support this institution, for which I have such admiration and affection, in the creation of a meaningful endowment fund. Such a fund will complement and nourish the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and educational programs, all which have grown so successfully under Marcelle Polednik’s superb leadership of the past four years. I hope that others will join me in this initiative, which is so important to MOCA Jacksonville’s continued growth and financial security,” Haskell said in the release.
This is one of the single largest gifts from an individual contributor to a cultural organization in the history of Jacksonville, the release said. The gift has no restrictions.
Haskell is the founder of The Haskell Co. and a former chair of the MOCA board of trustees. He serves as trustee emeritus, and his daughter, Sally Singletary, is a member of the board.
“We are honored and inspired by Mr. Haskell’s commitment to MOCA Jacksonville’s vision and to sustaining its indelible impact as a center of artistic and educational excellence. This gift is both a significant measure of confidence in MOCA’s organizational capacity and maturity as well as a catalyst for the future growth of the Museum’s strides toward lasting sustainability,” Marcelle Polednik, director and chief curator of MOCA Jacksonville, said in the release.