Asolo Rep Receives $1 Million Gift from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
(SARASOTA, FLA) — The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation has gifted $1 million to Asolo Repertory Theatre in support of Asolo Rep’s Staging Our Future Capital and Endowment Campaign. The contribution will go toward a planned $5 million endowment fund that will help cover operating expenses for the new and expanded Koski Center facilities on Tallevast Road.
“The Barancik Foundation remains a beacon of generosity and leadership that bolsters Asolo Rep and the Sarasota community as a whole,” said Asolo Rep Managing Director Linda DiGabriele. “We are honored by their support and proud to continue to be a part of the incredible legacy of Charles and Margery.”
Phase 1 of the project, which includes new construction on the Koski Center property, broke ground on April 27, 2021. The new building will include a state-of-the-art, two-story “Super Rehearsal Hall” as well as production spaces and gathering places.
Asolo Rep leadership expects phase 1 to be completed by May 2022, at which point it will begin incurring operating expenses. The Barancik Foundation’s gift allows Asolo Rep to continue building the income in anticipation of these operations.
“Chuck and Margie were inspired by Asolo Rep’s world-class educational opportunities for children,” said Teri A Hansen, President and CEO of Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. “This top-notch facility will not only generate further revenue and support world-class productions, but also grow capacity for more children to experience all Asolo Rep has to offer.”
This $1 million gift represents the latest in an extended history of contributions from the Barancik Foundation to Asolo Rep. The generosity of Charles and Margery Barancik, and the legacy that lives on in the Barancik Foundation, continues to fuel Asolo Rep’s artistic and community achievements.
ABOUT ASOLO REP
Entering its 63rd season, Asolo Repertory Theatre is recognized as one of the premier professional theatres in America and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. One of the few select theatres in the nation that performs in true rotating repertory, Asolo Rep’s highly skilled acting company and extensive craftsmanship bring to life this unique performance method that gives audiences the opportunity to see multiple productions in the span of a few days. Asolo Rep presents up to 10 productions each season, including contemporary and classic works and provocative musical theatre experiences. A theatre district in and of itself, Asolo Rep is committed to expanding its reach into the community, furthering its collaboration with the best theatre artists working in the industry today and cultivating new artists through its affiliation with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and Managing Director Linda DiGabriele, Asolo Rep’s ambitious theatrical offerings and ground-breaking education and community programming engage audiences and ensure its lasting legacy for future generations. Visit asolorep.org to learn more.
About Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation—a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Florida. The Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment and medical research. Visit barancikfoundation.org to learn more.