Finn

Local philanthropist Steve Finn presented the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center an early gift for its 40th anniversary - a $1 million challenge grant.

This is not the first time Finn has shown his strong support for CSMA and arts education. Previously, he was the lead donor for the school’s multimillion-dollar capital campaign to build a permanent home at 230 San Antonio Circle in Mountain View. In recognition of that gift, CSMA’s state-of-the-art, 25,000-square-foot facility, which opened in 2004, is named Finn Center.

Finn’s grant agrees to match every dollar contributed to the school by a qualified donor for the development of an adjacent parcel of land acquired by CSMA last year. The 0.8-acre property, located at 250 San Antonio Circle, could provide additional parking and an annex for expanded programming. All donations, including cash, securities and pledges, must be received by Dec. 31 with payment by Dec. 31, 2011, and must be made by new and/or lapsed donors.

Finn, a resident of Los Altos Hills, is a former mayor and city council member. He is the former chairman, president and CEO of Trust Company of America, an independent trust company with headquarters in Colorado. In making the gift, Finn said he hoped his challenge would inspire others to support the school to continue developing creative programs in music, visual and digital arts.

“We are enormously grateful to Steve Finn for his generosity and for the entrepreneurial spirit of his gift to CSMA,” said Jeffry Walker, executive director. “CSMA is now among the top 10 schools of our kind in the nation. The development of our new property adjacent to Finn Center is critical to our growth and continuing success. The property will greatly increase our capacity to reach still more people of all ages with innovative arts programs. As CSMA looks forward to celebrating its 40th year in 2008, community support in meeting Mr. Finn’s challenge is a solid investment in the cultural life of our region.”

CSMA, a regional center for arts education, is committed to providing Arts for All, regardless of age, level, background or economic means. Since its founding in 1968, the school has grown to become the largest non-profit provider of arts education programs in Silicon Valley and currently has an international faculty of more than 100 professional musicians, artists and educators. Annually, CSMA reaches more than 40,000 people of all ages by providing: classes, lessons and camps in music, visual and digital arts; arts-in-the-schools programs (Arts in Action, Music in Action); after-school art clubs; concerts, lectures and exhibitions; and free community events. The school awards more than $200,000 in financial aid each year to youth and low-income families.

For more information, visit www.arts4all.org. To donate or to learn more about the challenge grant, call Kelly Hudson, CSMA development director, at 917-6800, ext. 303, or e-mail khudson@arts4all.org.