Hangar Hands Out Distinguished Awards at Annual Meeting

The Hangar Theatre celebrated their accomplishments of 2013 at their annual meeting on Monday, April 7th where one business organization and three community members were recognized as substantially impacting the artistic integrity and financial health of the Center for Performing Arts. Board members, staff, volunteers, and community members all gathered to celebrate the continual success of the Hangar and the positive impact of those who so generously contribute their time and resources to the Hangar Theatre.

For the past 10 years, the Hangar Theatre has presented the Philanthropic Angel Award to a person or organization for contributions that set a pace for support of the arts in our community and at the Hangar Theatre. This year, Lisa Whitaker, the President and CEO of CFCU Community Credit Union was present to receive the Philanthropic Angel Award on behalf of the CFCU. Managing Director Josh Friedman presented the Philanthropic Angel Award to CFCU Community Credit Union "for their continuing faith in the Hangar and our mission as demonstrated by their generous Partner In Flight sponsorship, as well as their financial expertise, guidance and assistance in the Hangar's financial planning." Upon receiving this award, Ms. Whitaker responded, "CFCU is proud to receive the Philanthropic Angel Award in recognition of our ongoing support of the Hangar Theatre. As a community credit union, we take pride in giving back to other community-focused organizations. The Hangar provides wonderful cultural and educational programs for Tompkins County and the surrounding areas."

The Agda Osborn Award has been described as the volunteer award honoring Mrs. Osborn's dedication to community service within many community organizations. She served on the Hangar Board for over 20 years, including the Hangar's inaugural year, and she was among those visionaries who decided to convert the old Morse Field hangar into a theater. This award is given annually by the Hangar in honor of Agda Osborn to an individual for exemplary service and commitment to the Hangar Theatre characteristic of Mrs. Osborn. This year, Sally McConnell-Ginet was awarded the Agda Osborn Award for her invaluable contributions as Chair of the Hangar Theatre's Event Committee. Sally's inexhaustible energy and enthusiasm are an inspiration to board and staff members alike. Her leadership has helped the Hangar expand fundraising and stewardship events in both quantity and quality.

The third award presented was the Tom Niederkorn Award which has been presented annually since 1989. Tom was a fellow visionary with Mrs. Osborn and without his persistence and determination the Hangar simply would not exist. His efforts on behalf of the Hangar range from hammering in loose theatre seats to personally securing seed-funding from Nelson Rockefeller. Today, Tom continues his service to the Hangar as an emeritus board member. This year the Tom Niederkorn Award was presented to John Simon for his long time commitment to the Hangar's educational programming. From John's tenure as a Project 4 teaching artist, to his original compositions for the Mainstage play, Penelope of Ithaca, he has proven to be a vital part of the Hangar Community. John's abundant talent and generous nature have provided a strong body of work and a welcome collaborator to us all.

The fourth and final award for the event was the Erin Aljoe Schlather Award which is awarded to a young person who has made a significant contribution to the Hangar's educational programming and sparked the contributions of others. This award is named in honor of the late Erin Aljoe Schlather, a young woman whose prolific talents and generosity of spirit were a model to those around her. This year, Imri Leshed, a student at Dewitt Middle School, received the Erin Aljoe Schlather Award for his numerous contributions to the Hangar's educational programs. Imri's consistent participation in the Next Generation School of Theatre, including important roles in Seussical, Jr. and The Wiz, has been an inspiration to his peers and a joy to local audiences.

The Hangar's 2014 season is a celebration of its 40th year of providing exceptional theatre experiences to enrich, enlighten, educate, and entertain the diverse audience in the Finger Lakes region and beyond. All year, the Hangar will celebrate this milestone with special events, an alumni reunion, and stories taking a look back at the theatre's humble beginnings and rich history. Visit the website at www.HangarTheatre.org for more information.

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