George Mason lands $5M donation from big-name donor

WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL – George Mason University said Tuesday it has secured a $5 million gift from the Peterson Family Foundation to support the renovation of its Center for the Arts on the school’s main Fairfax campus.

The award to the school’s College of Visual and Performing Arts will largely be used to modernize the concert hall auditorium, which was built in 1990. Jon Peterson, CEO of Fairfax-based The Peterson Cos., and his mother, Carolyn Peterson, announced the gift during an event at the latter’s home.

“This gift is significant because we know it will provide our excellent students, world-class visiting artists and the community of art lovers with a stellar Center for the Arts auditorium in which to share and experience the arts,” Carolyn Peterson, widow of famed local developer Milt Peterson, said in a statement. “We are honored to help move this initiative forward.”

Milt and Carolyn Peterson established the Peterson Family Foundation in 1997; it has raised millions in donations for various medical, educational and religious organizations. The Peterson family recently made a $20 million donation to Inova Health System. The Peterson family has also made several donations to Mason over the years, including a scholarship for vocal arts.

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