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Home > Archive > Mar 6, 2008

Tuacahn Center Announces New Foundation
By Sharon May
Managing Editor
Tuacahn Center for the Arts announced creation of the Tuacahn Foundation, Feb. 4. The foundation will focus on increased fundraising efforts for Tuacahn – a nonprofit organization – to set money aside for the facility's future.
“It's time for us to graduate to a more concerted effort, a more organized effort,” Tuacahn CEO Kevin Smith said. “All our programs are running very well; now we need to put it in perpetuity. We need to put some money aside for the future.”
Fundraising efforts have been ongoing at Tuacahn since its creation in 1995, but this more concentrated effort will ensure Tuacahn's place in the future, Smith said. The foundation's efforts will bolster the theater against the ebbs and flows of the economy and also provide for future growth at Tuacahn.
“We've got 70 acres out here,” Smith said. “There's no reason why we couldn't continue to grow with other programs and other facilities as we look to the future, but we've got to start now with a foundation that will develop those fundraising efforts and those ideas into fruition down the road.”
The chairman of the new Tuacahn Foundation is Mike Scott. He and his wife, Patty Dupre, live in Ivins and also have a residence in Seattle, where they have a private consulting and research firm and also property investments, according to a press release from Tuacahn. Over their 29 years as a business team, the couple have advised many clients – public, private and nonprofit – regarding long-range business and estate planning, surpassing $100 million in value at times.
Scott and Dupre are both hiking enthusiasts and fell in love with the Tuacahn canyon when they first came to Southern Utah in 2002, according to the press release. They built a home nearby and became frequent Tuacahn patrons. They became active Tuacahn supporters in 2007.
In addition to Scott and Dupre, other members of the new Tuacahn Foundation include Sue Cox, Eileen Sheridan, David Toth, Scott Raine and Hyrum Smith.
Cox is a native of St. George, according to the press release, and has been on the Tuacahn Center's Board of Directors for seven years. She actively supports the local arts in various capacities.
Toth was the co-founder of NetRatings, which he sold a few years ago to Nielsen Media Research. He and Sheridan (his wife) live part time in St. George and part time in California.
Raine was formerly a marketing manager and business consultant for United Airlines. He is a member of the Tuacahn High School Board, president of the school's PTA and a long-time supporter of Tuacahn's productions, according to the press release.
Hyrum Smith was the primary donor for Tuacahn when it was created and had involvement in its formation. He has been an active participant in the Tuacahn board since then.
As quoted in the press release, Scott said other theaters throughout the nation would be envious of the support Tuacahn receives from the local community, with 80 percent of the theater's $5 million yearly budget coming from ticket sales alone. The members of the newly formed foundation will serve to bring other financial support to Tuacahn and ensure the theater's success for many years to come.
“I think the community is supportive of what we're doing and sees the benefits to the community. It's a great amenity for our community,” Kevin Smith said. “We'll always be in need of the generous contributions of those who support the arts and education; that's just the reality of the business we're in.”
Tuacahn Center for the Arts is located at 1100 Tuacahn Drive in Ivins. For more information about Tuacahn, call 652-3300 or visit www.tuacahn.org.

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