Leonard and Claire Tow

Long recognized for its distinguished performing arts curri-culum—in music, theater, dance, film, television and radio—Brooklyn College will soon have outstanding campus facilities to match. President Christoph Kimmich recently announced that two of the College’s alumni, Leonard and Claire Tow (‘50 and ‘52, respectively) are donating $10 million for a new Center for the Performing Arts. This is the largest single donation in the College’s history, eclipsing the $6.5 million bequest from former philosophy professor Walter Cerf that came in 2002.

The gift, Kimmich predicted, “will transform the arts on campus, and we are exceptionally grateful.” Lindly Hanlon, chair of the the College’s Arts Council, agreed: “This gift will enable our support of an arts curriculum that attracts talented students and faculty from around the world.” Planners for the Tow Center envision performance and rehearsal spaces, set design and construction workshops, exhibition galleries, classrooms, an arcade, and a grand lobby.

Tow is chairman and chief executive of Citizens Communications, a major telephone and cable company, and is also involved in the reorganization of Adelphia Communications. He also serves as a trustee on the Brooklyn College Foundation, and the Tows have hitherto funded scholarships, internships, and research travel stipends for both students and faculty of the College.