The Gund Foundation honors retired trustee Ann Gund with a $1 million grant to arts education for Cleveland students

At its recent board meeting, the trustees of The George Gund Foundation awarded $1 million to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Arts Education Fund in honor of Ann Gund as she stepped down from the Foundation’s board. This grant is the inaugural gift to this new donor-advised fund at the Cleveland Foundation, and will support musical, performing, and visual arts.

Ann devoted almost 30 years to the Foundation, serving as secretary for nearly all those years and vice president most recently. Ann fully committed to the Foundation’s What We Believe statement—prioritizing racial justice, democracy building, and fighting climate change—and to urgent issues in our community, including pandemic relief, lead abatement, the Cleveland Plan, and Say Yes to Education, where she and husband Graham Gund made a $1 million personal gift.

Ann took particular interest in the arts, education, women’s issues, and environmental issues. Within all these and other interests, her advocacy for high-quality arts education stands out. A dedicated patron of the arts, Ann brought particular passion for arts education. She supported efforts to reach diverse and visionary artists, showing deep interest in young talent. She believes in arts education as a means to engage students in their broader academic studies and in arts for arts’ sake.

The Arts Education Fund is intended to be the catalyst for much-needed private investment in arts education in Cleveland schools. The Fund will support musical instrument purchases, rights to plays and compositions, theater and film equipment, and more, with an aim to raise student artistic performance levels and reclaim Cleveland’s position as a superior arts district in the country.

To contribute to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Arts Education Fund, please visit www.clevelandfoundation.org/give-now/?existing_select=cleveland-metropolitan-school-district-arts-education-fund-exfund.