The Washington Performing Arts Society Thursday confirmed a gift of $1.4 million from Mars candy heiress Jacqueline Mars. The gift to support education and community programs had been in the works for a while, but was delayed after an October fatal car accident in Aldie, Virginia, in which a car Mars was driving crossed the median and hit another car. One of the passengers and the unborn baby of another were killed. Mars pled guilty to a charge of reckless driving and paid a fine of $2,500 in Loudon County, Virginia General District Court.
The official announcement is expected later Friday afternoon. It is the largest gift ever received by the organization, which was founded in 1965.
Sources at WPAS said they were ready to announce the gift when the car accident happened, and because of the incident and the related media attention, all involved decided to postpone the donation until after the December 5 court hearing.
The gift will be spread out over three years. It will fund a new program, the Mars Urban Arts Initiative, and the creation of a new staff position, Mars Urban Arts Curator. Jenny Bilfield, president and CEO, wrote in an email, “Positions and initiatives such as this simply don’t exist in abundance. We are so grateful for the impetus that this multi-year gift provides to sustain existing programs and provide a launching pad for new ones.”
This article has been updated from a previous version.
Jacqueline Mars Gives $1.4 Million to the Washington Performing Arts Society
It’s her first philanthropic act since she was involved in a fatal car accident in October.
The Washington Performing Arts Society Thursday confirmed a gift of $1.4 million from Mars candy heiress Jacqueline Mars. The gift to support education and community programs had been in the works for a while, but was delayed after an October fatal car accident in Aldie, Virginia, in which a car Mars was driving crossed the median and hit another car. One of the passengers and the unborn baby of another were killed. Mars pled guilty to a charge of reckless driving and paid a fine of $2,500 in Loudon County, Virginia General District Court.
The official announcement is expected later Friday afternoon. It is the largest gift ever received by the organization, which was founded in 1965.
Sources at WPAS said they were ready to announce the gift when the car accident happened, and because of the incident and the related media attention, all involved decided to postpone the donation until after the December 5 court hearing.
The gift will be spread out over three years. It will fund a new program, the Mars Urban Arts Initiative, and the creation of a new staff position, Mars Urban Arts Curator. Jenny Bilfield, president and CEO, wrote in an email, “Positions and initiatives such as this simply don’t exist in abundance. We are so grateful for the impetus that this multi-year gift provides to sustain existing programs and provide a launching pad for new ones.”
This article has been updated from a previous version.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
Meet the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
5 of DC’s Most Interesting Ideas for Revitalizing Chinatown
A “Corpse Flower” Is Currently in Bloom at the Botanic Garden
How Emma’s Torch Is Changing the Lives of Its Refugee Workers
Former Fiola GM Convicted of Murder Is Now in a Netflix Docuseries
These 5 DC Traffic Cams Are Issuing the Most Tickets Right Now
Farewell to Crystal City Underground, the DC Area’s Strangest Mall
Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People of 2024
Inside the Urgent Effort to Preserve Black Newspapers