President Nancy Y. Bekavac today announced a lead gift by MaryLou and George Boone towards the creation of a Performing Arts Center at Scripps College. "This generous gift will help Scripps create a state-of-the-art music and dance facility worthy of the talent and dedication of our outstanding faculty and students," said President Bekavac. "We are enormously grateful to MaryLou and George Boone for making a lead gift for this essential enterprise."
In January 2002, Scripps will begin construction of the Center, which will include renovation of Garrison Theater on Tenth Street, and additional facilities for music and dance instruction and performance. The recital and rehearsal hall will be named the MaryLou and George Boone Hall. "We are delighted with the thought that the Music and other Performing Arts Departments will have a new venue," said MaryLou Boone. "We hope that all the Claremont Colleges will benefit from this additional space."
The Boones, residents of San Marino, California, are long-time supporters of the arts and of education in Southern California. MaryLou Boone served as a trustee of Scripps College and is on the steering committee of the college’s Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery. She is an overseer at The Huntington Library in San Marino, a trustee of Marlborough School, and a trustee emerita of Boys’ Republic. George Boone serves as a trustee of the University of Southern California, the California Institute of the Arts, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and a trustee emeritus of Harvey Mudd College and Southwest Museum. The Boones are also supporters of a Stanford University program in Washington, D.C., that promotes public service.