Portland, OR. Noted philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer died on Saturday, April 4th in her home. Her son Jordan reports she was suffering from some intestinal issues, she was 91. Arlene Schnitzer was responsible for a plethora of major philanthropic gifts, most recently a record-breaking $10 million to Portland Art Museum. Arlene Schnitzer and her son, Jordan, created the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation. Both stayed up to date with social causes, even recently releasing a statement on the impact of the COVID-19 virus.
This is an excerpt from the recent message by Jordan Schnitzer:
My mother and I are deeply concerned about the impact the COVID-19 virus is having on our community. First and foremost is the concern we have for the health and safety of all of us and our families. Nothing is more important than our health.
My mother has often said “this too shall pass”, and hopefully we can start rebuilding our non-profits that have served our community and state so wonderfully for years!
Arlene is survived by her son, Jordan, and four grandchildren. (Jordan and Arlene Schnitzer in 2015 at the PNCA Grand Opening.)
Barbara Hall, who directs the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Care Foundation, told OPB that people in Portland know Arlene Schnitzer as the woman whose name is on the concert hall downtown, but in addition to their public gifts, the Schnitzers funded many causes anonymously. In particular, programs that gave financial aid to families caring for critically ill children. Below are several articles from the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation website about the work of the foundation. Harold Schnitzer died in 2011.
“My father, Harold Schnitzer, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 42 and spent the rest of his life managing his illness. He followed the latest developments and supported diabetic research but was most passionate about patient care. He knew many were not as fortunate as he was to receive the best care available. In 2007, my father and … Read More
$1 Million Gift from Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer to Support Judaic Studies at PSU Contribution will provide new scholarships and fund a visiting scholar from Israel Portland State University today announced a $1 million grant through the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation (OJCF), on behalf of Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan D. Schnitzer. The philanthropic investment will … Read More
On July 17, the Beaverton Arts Foundation announced the anonymous lead donor, Patricia Reser, who pledged $13 million to the new center for the arts in Beaverton, and the official name, the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, which was previously referred to as the Beaverton Center for the Arts. “The dream of a vibrant stage and central gathering place … Read More
The above articles explore just a few of the recent contributions of Arlene Schnitzer. Many people in Portland’s nonprofit community will remember Arlene Schnitzer with fondness and gratitude.
Portland, OR. The Portland Art Museum announced a landmark gift of $10 million from philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer. This represents the largest contribution from an individual donor in the 127-year history of the institution.
The gift was announced at the Museum by her son, Jordan Schnitzer. Gov. Kate Brown spoke of Mrs. Schnitzer’s extraordinary leadership to approximately 200 invitees, underscoring the importance of investing in the arts in our state.
Jordan and Arlene Schnitzer in 2015 at the PNCA Grand Opening
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici also announced a $750,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of the Museum’s Connections Campaign. Through that campaign, the Museum will transform its campus by connecting its two buildings via the new Mark Rothko Pavilion and by growing its endowment in support of access, exhibitions, and programs.
The Schnitzer gift now represents the lead gift in the Museum’s ongoing Connection Campaign, which is currently in the quiet phase. An official announcement of the public campaign is anticipated in 2021.
“This extraordinary gift is a profound investment in our role as Portland’s museum for art and film, but also in the future of the arts in our region,” said Brian Ferriso, Director and Chief Curator of the Museum. “We are so grateful to the Schnitzer family for their leadership in continually reinforcing that the arts are essential for vibrant, equitable communities. This gift, and the gifts it will inspire, will shape the future of the arts in this community in ways we cannot foresee today.”
The Portland Art Museum released the video below to thank Arlene Schnitzer:
Arlene Schnitzer’s relationship with the Portland Art Museum began when she enrolled as a student at the Museum Art School.
Harold and Arlene Schnitzer are pictured in the Japanese Garden in 2010. Arlene Schnitzer and her late husband, Harold Schnitzer (1923–2011) have been close partners of the Museum for almost half a century.
Their passion for art, and our city, led to leadership roles at the Museum. The Schnitzers have provided financial support of important acquisitions, exhibitions, and capital campaigns; donated their Chinese Han Dynasty collection and other works to the Museum’s collection; and made significant investments in furthering the scholarship of the curatorial team through endowments of Northwest and Asian art, whose curatorial positions are named in their honor. The Schnitzers’ vision and generosity led to the creation of the Museum’s Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Northwest Art, celebrating the creative vitality of the region.
When asked about what drives her philanthropy, Mrs. Schnitzer said, “Enough is never enough giving back. And Harold felt it as strongly as I do. And that’s it.”
In recognition of their commitment and contributions, in 2007 Harold and Arlene Schnitzer were named the first-ever Life Trustees of the Museum. In 2014, the Museum showcased Arlene and Harold’s distinguished collection with the exhibition and publication In Passionate Pursuit: The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Collection and Legacy. That exhibition displayed artwork by many of the Northwest artists whose careers Mrs. Schnitzer nurtured through her Fountain Gallery, including Robert Colescott, the focus of the special exhibition Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott, opening February 15 at the Museum. The Schnitzers’ legacy and impact on the arts in Portland and throughout the Northwest are undeniable.
“It has been very exciting to see the Museum change and grow, and to watch interest in the art of the Northwest region blossom,” Mrs. Schnitzer said. “It’s what Harold and I envisioned.”
“I am so proud of my mother, Arlene, and my late father, Harold,” said Jordan Schnitzer. “My mother recently said the reason they have given to the art museum was ‘You either put up, or shut up!’ It doesn’t get any more succinct than that!
“While their financial contributions have been important, I believe their leadership and lifelong effort to enlist many others to support the arts is their greatest legacy,” Mr. Schnitzer continued. “My late father often said, ‘You can’t have too many yellow school buses in front of the Museum!’”
About Portland Art Museum:
Mission
The mission of the Portland Art Museum is to engage diverse communities through art and film of enduring quality, and to collect, preserve, and educate for the enrichment of present and future generations.
PHILOSOPHY AND CORE VALUES
The Portland Art Museum strives to be an inclusive institution that facilitates respectful dialogue, debate, and the free exchange of ideas. With a deep commitment to artists – past and present – and freedom of expression, the Museum and Northwest Film Center’s collections, programs and staff aspire to reveal the beauty and complexities of the world, and create a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. We are a Museum for all, inviting everyone to connect with art through their own experiences, voices, and personal journeys. The following core values guide the Portland Art Museum:
Creativity The arts are at the core of our humanity, representing a timeless human impulse.
Connection The arts touch us and connect us across time, geography, and cultural differences, shedding light on how humans interact with their world.
Learning The arts open us to diverse ideas and ways of knowing ourselves, our community, and our world.
Accessibility The arts must be economically, intellectually, and physically accessible to everyone.
Accountability Transparency and careful stewardship of resources—including collections, staff, facilities, and investments – are essential for mission fulfillment now and in the future.
Portland, August 1st. The Portland Japanese Garden announced the largest gift in its history, a $1,000,000 endowment donation from The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation to establish The Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Culture, Art & Education. (Arlene is pictured in the Japanese Garden in 2010 with her late husband. Harold Schnitzer, the Portland real estate and philanthropic powerhouse, died in 2011 from complications related to cancer and diabetes. He was 87.)
“As a citizen of Oregon it is important to me to ensure the longevity of Portland’s prestigious Japanese Garden, which is considered to be one of the finest examples in the world outside of Japan,” says Arlene Schnitzer. “I am thrilled, along with the other trustees, to help maintain the Garden’s celebrated status by granting a significant gift to their upcoming expansion capital campaign.”
The gift fulfills one-third of the $3 million goal for endowment support needed toward the Garden’s planned expansion. The endowment will help fund the permanent curatorial position at the Garden that develops and oversees cultural, art, and education programs. The Portland Japanese Garden will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2013.
This series of programs was launched in 2007 under the leadership of Diane Durston, who will now be named the The Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Culture, Art & Education. New and enhanced programs presented at the Garden over the past five years include annual public lectures by nationally and internationally known speakers, authentic Japanese cultural festivals, the annual Art in the Garden exhibition series, and new programs for teachers and underserved school children. The goal of these programmatic advances is to bring new audiences to the Garden, enhance the visitor experience, and raise awareness of the broader cultural context in which Japanese gardens evolved.
Speakers in the Garden’s lecture series have included world-class experts in Japanese gardens and related fields such as Hoichi Kurisu, Shiro Nakane, and Marc Peter Keane. The groundbreaking Parallel Worlds: Art of the Ainu of Hokkaido and Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest drew more than 26,000 visitors to the Garden in June 2009. Other exhibitions have included internationally recognized artists in the field of traditional and contemporary Japanese arts including sculpture, prints, bonsai, and more.
“The creation of this endowment will support the Garden’s efforts to be a world leader in the field of Japanese gardens and culture,” says Steve Bloom, CEO of the Portland Japanese Garden. “The gift is a significant endorsement for the important work of the organization and the planned expansion project. We are fortunate to be the recipient of Arlene’s inspiring generosity.”
The Portland Japanese Garden is in the process of planning for an expansion designed to preserve and enhance the tranquility of the existing Garden, respond to increased visitor numbers, and take advantage of opportunities in the areas of education, environmental sustainability, revenue generation through visitor amenities, and enhancing visitor and member services.
Arlene Schnitzer and her family have a long history with the Garden. She and her late husband, Harold Schnitzer, made a significant gift to the Garden’s renovation of the iconic Zig Zag Bridge in 2010. Arlene’s sister-in-law Mildred Schnitzer was a founding board member of the Garden, her son Jordan Schnitzer is a past president of the Board of Directors, and her nephew Alan Davis is currently on the Garden’s Board of Directors. Arlene is also an active member of the Garden’s Golden Crane Society and its International Advisory Board.
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About the Portland Japanese Garden:
The Portland Japanese Garden is the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. Situated on more than 5 acres nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, the Garden features five traditional garden styles. The Garden is located above Washington Park at 611 SW Kingston Ave. in SW Portland, Oregon and is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Visit the Garden online at www.japanesegarden.com.
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