The Jacksonville Symphony received a record $5 million donation from longtime supporter Preston and Joan Haskell, the symphony announced Oct. 24.
The largest donation in the symphony’s 75-year history, it will support its endowment fund and capital improvements to Jacoby Symphony Hall, according to a news release.
The gift “will provide a stable financial foundation for the Symphony and will help ensure that the Jacksonville Symphony continues to deliver world-class performances, expand arts education programs and foster meaningful community engagement for generations to come,” the release said.
The Haskells “have a rich legacy of championing the Jacksonville Symphony and the broader arts community,” it said.
Preston Haskell has served multiple terms as president of the symphony’s board of directors. He led the $22 million campaign in 1993 “that bought the symphony’s new home to life while also significantly expanding the Symphony’s endowment.”
Joan Haskell served as president of the Symphony Guild from 1976 to 1978, and helped advance the symphony’s mission and community outreach.
“This gift not only honors their decades-long relationship with the Symphony but also ensures that we can continue to share the beauty of the music with future generations,” Steven B. Libman, symphony president and CEO, said in the release.
“Every great city has a great orchestra, and the Jacksonville Symphony is a cultural gem in our community,” Preston Haskell said. “The arts are essential to the human experience, and not only enrich individuals but also stimulate economic growth and make cities more attractive places to live and work.”
He is now an honorary director of the symphony’s board.
Courtney Lewis, music director of the symphony, said the donation “will enable the Symphony to continue performing at the highest level, bring world-class musicians to the hall, strengthen educational programs and foster even greater artistic innovation.”
The gift not only reflects the Haskells’ “deep commitment to the Symphony but also to the cultural vitality of Jacksonville as a whole,” Matthew Marcin, chair of the symphony board, said in the release.
Preston Haskell founded of The Haskell Co. in 1965 and built it into one of the largest architecture, engineering, construction and consulting firms in the U.S.