Portland Opera Awarded $2.1 Million Grant

Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano announced that the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation has awarded Portland Opera a $2.1 million grant. The grant-the largest ever received by the Opera-is provided for general operating support over three years.

In awarding the grant, Miller Foundation Trustee Alice McCartor said that "Portland Opera has built a strong record-especially since the arrival of Mr. Mattaliano-of producing exceptional opera for our community and of significantly growing its audiences. We were very impressed with the Opera's plans to grow community support for the future and sincerely hope that this grant will motivate others to increase their support of this vital part of the cultural fabric of our community."

The Miller Foundation grant is one of the important cornerstones of Portland Opera's New Era Initiative, a comprehensive plan launched this season designed to create a stable and sustainable future for the Opera by attracting the level of community support enjoyed by other opera companies in similarly sized cities.

"Receiving this grant bolsters our confidence in our plans for the future and provides the momentum for us to successfully implement other key elements of the initiative," noted General Director Mattaliano. "We are immensely grateful to the Miller Foundation for such a vote of confidence."

Opera Board President Jeff Evershed, President of M &T Bank Corporation, added: "The Opera is proud of its track record of finishing eight out of the last nine seasons in the black. The Board is incredibly committed to balancing this year's budget, and the Miller Foundation's record-setting grant will help continue the Opera's solid history of fiscal responsibility."

By www.portlandopera.org