Year in Philanthropy

Gala Reception in Didlake Grand Foyer

FY22 brought a joyous return to in-person programming at the Hylton Center. The year opened with the successful Hylton on the Hill performance series, sponsored by Randall and Anna Edwards, Miller Toyota of Manassas, NOVEC, and United Bank and staffed by our dedicated Friends of the Hylton Center volunteers. The gradual return to indoor performances in the fall led to a spring season with more traditional in-person experiences, including the return of the Friends of the Hylton Center Hospitality Area (in its new Education and Rehearsal Wing location) and the Lovey Hammel Lounge.

Spring events resumed in the form of an in-person Copper Circle Dinner following Velocity Irish Dance. The dinner was attended by more than 100 of the Hylton’s most loyal donors. Also reintroduced this year was the in-person Season Announcement event. Attended by Friends of the Hylton Center, the event not only built anticipation around the coming season, it raised the spirits of all involved!

Perhaps the most exciting event of the season was the 12th Anniversary Gala—a double-header weekend with two days of celebrations. Lovey Hammel and Denise McPhail were honored for their steadfast and visionary support of the Hylton Center and George Mason University. The weekend opened with an in-person black tie optional evening of dining and celebrating, culminating on Saturday night with a thrilling performance by Leslie Odom Jr. Gala guests raised their paddles in support of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, raising over $52,000 in a matter of mere minutes and smashing all previous raise your paddle records. This year’s Gala raised over $240,000 to support the Hylton Center’s programs—breaking all previous records!

FY22 was also a successful year in philanthropy for the Hylton Center. The Annual Fund raised more than $300,000, not including the annual Endowment Payout. Much gratitude is due to the Friends of the Hylton Center, corporate sponsors, and foundation and government funders who continued to support the arts in our region during challenging times.

The Capital and Endowment Campaign continued through FY22, raising funds for the Education and Rehearsal Wing, as well as the Hylton Center’s Endowment. The Hylton Center was honored to receive a gift from the Jacquemin Family Foundation to name the Large Rehearsal Hall—now The Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall. With $1.2 million raised for the Capital and Endowment Campaign in FY22, the Hylton Center is nearing the completion of the campaign and fortifying the future.

In total, combined with Annual Fund and Capital and Endowment Campaign Gifts, the Hylton Center raised $2,024,970 in FY22—a testament to the importance of the arts in the life of this community.

In addition to the above generous outpouring of philanthropy, the Hylton Center was also the recipient of a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant from the Small Business Association. This generous funding provided $824,005 of support in FY22, ensuring that the Hylton Center was able to continue operations and retain its staff amidst ongoing COVID-19 uncertainty.

Raise Your Paddle