Wexner Center for the Arts: Visit: Statement From Wexner Center Director Sherri Geldin About Wexner's Historic Gift To OSU

Statement from Wexner Center Director Sherri Geldin about Wexner's historic gift to Ohio State

February 16, 2011—The Ohio State University announced today a gift of $100 million to Ohio State by Limited Brands Foundation and Leslie H. Wexner, an Ohio State alumnus, Ohio State Board of Trustees chair, Wexner Center Foundation board chair, and chairman and CEO of Limited Brands. The majority of the gift—the largest in the university’s history—will be allocated to the university’s Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, and to the Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio State’s contemporary arts center.

The Wexner Center opened in 1989 with a $25 million gift from Wexner, who named the building after his father, Harry L. Wexner. Wexner and Limited Brands have given an additional $50 million to the contemporary arts center since then. A brief clip of Wexner speaking about the Wexner Center (from 2005) can be found here.

“This is an amazing moment for the university and the community, and I am immeasurably gratified that the Wexner Center for the Arts is among the beneficiaries of this unparalleled gift,” says Wexner Center Director Sherri Geldin. “As the center embarks in concert with the university on an unprecedented campaign, there simply could not be a more resounding and invaluable statement of support for the mission of the arts center and its place within the cultural fabric of Ohio State, the Columbus community, and beyond.”

A short video of Wexner discussing today’s gift can be viewed here.