By Laura Spencer
Kansas City, MO – Fundraising continues for the Metropolitan Kansas City Performing Arts Center. The complex is short of its 326 million dollar goal, with 92 percent of the construction cost, and 70 percent of the overall cost, including endowment, raised. Officials today (June 15, 2006) announced a significant donation, as KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.
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Law firm Spencer Fane Britt and Browne LLP is pledging 100 thousand dollars for the planned Metropolitan Performing Arts Center. Spencer Fane chairman Mike Saunders says he and his partners were inspired the recent public fundraising effort. Saunders says the business community has stepped up, and now he's challenging other professionals.
Saunders: We're hoping that the professional firms could lead the way here and get involved...in what I consider a very important part of our community.
Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the Performing Arts Center complex includes a 1600 seat symphony hall, an 1800 seat hall for opera and ballet, and a 400 seat Celebration Hall. Groundbreaking is slated for October, and construction is expected to begin in December. Laura Spencer, KCUR News.