Newman Receives a Transformational Gift to Support the Arts

Isidore Newman School is proud to announce a transformational gift for our School – a capital donation from Boysie and Joy Bollinger. This gift is the second $3 million gift in Newman’s history.

 

This generous gift in support of our arts program is the lead donation to fund construction of a state-of-the-art performing arts building on Jefferson Avenue. The 5,500 square-foot building will hold spacious, acoustically optimized rehearsal rooms for Newman’s award-winning band and choir programs as well as a beautiful art gallery for student work. The arts project also includes the construction of a flexible black-box-inspired theater space for smaller student productions. Joy and Boysie Bollinger make this gift as celebrated philanthropic leaders in the New Orleans community and as the proud grandparents of two current Newman students.

 

“We are profoundly grateful for the Bollinger family’s tremendous gift to our School,” said Head of School Dale M. Smith. “The arts have been an important part of the Newman education since our founding with every Newman student from Green Trees through 12th grade learning and exploring the visual and performing arts as well as music. The construction of a brand-new arts center on one of the most prominent sites on our campus – adjacent to the historic Jefferson Building – is a powerful testament to Newman’s ongoing commitment to arts education.”

 

The Bollinger gift continues the family’s long-standing and extraordinary leadership in civic causes and philanthropy in New Orleans. Boysie Bollinger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bollinger Enterprises, serves on numerous boards and has given considerable time to many professional and civic organizations in his lifetime. Among them are the Audubon Commission, the National World War II Museum, the Nicholls State Foundation, the United States Coast Guard Foundation, the Shipbuilders Council of America, the National Ocean Industries Association, the Boy Scouts, the Business Council of New Orleans, and many more.

 

Boysie Bollinger shared these words to describe his family’s inspiration for the gift: “Joy and I believe firmly in the value of arts education to the human spirit and to preserving and strengthening the culture of our great city. We also believe in Newman, which does so much to educate our City’s children to be well-rounded and meaningful contributors to their communities. We are proud to take the lead on the development of this spectacular learning environment for the arts at Newman.”

 

“Joy and Boysie’s gift allows us to realize our Master Plan,” Board Chair Peter Sperling said. “With the leadership and generosity of the Bollinger family, we are inspiring our current and future generations of students to achieve excellence in the arts and beyond. The Board of Governors is profoundly grateful to Joy and Boysie for their overwhelming generosity and commitment to our School.”

 

Please join us in our celebration and in thanking Joy and Boysie Bollinger for their transformational gift to our School.