April 4, 2010 | Read Time: 1 minute
How much: $30-million pledge
Who gave it: Ann Ziff and her family. Ms. Ziff is the widow of William B. Ziff Jr., who led Ziff Davis, the publishing company behind PC Magazine and Car and Driver, based in New York.
Who got it: The Metropolitan Opera, in New York, where Ms. Ziff has been a board member since 1994.
Purpose: The gift is unrestricted and will be used for general operating support.
Impact of the gift: Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, wrote in an e-mail message to the Chronicle: “Ann Ziff’s very generous gift has already inspired others to make significant contributions. We are extremely grateful to her.” The opera is facing a $4-million deficit for its current fiscal year and has seen its endowment dwindle from more than $300-million to approximately $200-million due to the economic crisis.
More news about big gifts, including a searchable database of newly announced gifts of $1-million or more, are available online at http://philanthropy.com/extras. Send gifts news to gifts@philanthropy.com.
