Dear Members of the Carleton Community:
It is with honor and pleasure that I announce today the renaming of our new Arts Union facility, scheduled to open September 2011, as the Weitz Center for Creativity.
The renaming recognizes the contributions by the family of Wally (’70) and Barbara (’70) Weitz and children, Katie (’96), Roger (’99), and Drew (’02),and their spouses Watie White (’93), Kate, and Meredith (’02). They provided the leadership gift of $15 million to transform the old Northfield Middle School into a world class facility that will showcase the arts and foster collaboration in teaching, learning, discovery, and creativity across the liberal arts.
The Weitz family is the largest single donor in College history at $25 million, as they also gave $10 million to launch our Breaking Barriers, Creating Connections $300 million campaign, successfully completed this past June. Barbara and Wally served as the campaign’s co-chairs, and Wally has been a member of Carleton’s Board of Trustees since 2000.
While the Arts Union name accurately described our programmatic ideas as the project progressed, the name “Weitz Center for Creativity” reflects even better the range of academic offerings and interdisciplinary opportunities ultimately planned for the building. This name captures the excitement and innovative spirit we expect will emanate from the Center and throughout campus.
Carleton is profoundly grateful to the Weitz family for all they have done, and are doing, to make the College an even greater place. They are generous and selfless donors and volunteers.
Please join me in celebrating the renaming of the Arts Union to the Weitz Center for Creativity. We look forward to the opening of the facility for fall, 2011.
Steve Poskanzer