Swailes
When B-W trustee Beth Swailes ’65, attended two performances of The Phantom of the Opera at the College in November—the first production of the Andrew Lloyd Weber classic performed by non-equity performers—she already had made a generous pledge to Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Baldwin-Wallace College. Following the second performance, she attended a dinner for B-W’s Honor Gift Club benefactors where she decided it was time to issue a challenge to the College family and to herself.
She asked to make a few comments.
“Forty-two years ago, I graduated from B-W’s Conservatory of Music,” began Swailes. “Seventy years ago, my mom, Beverlie Buck Mayer, graduated from the same Conservatory. The professors have changed…the students have changed…BUT, the facility is the same.
“In order to retain our topnotch faculty who, based on their reputation, are able to recruit the most talented students in the country, we must see some changes in our facilities.
“In watching last night’s performance and understanding the potential these students have, I decided it is time to ‘step up to the plate’ and to ask others to join me. There-fore, I announce today my commitment to increase my gift for the Conservatory project to $1 million, and, I am challenging the B-W community to match dollar for dollar my $500,000 additional commitment with new or increased giving to make this project happen.”
With its goal of raising $82 million before Dec. 31, 2010 for vital capital, endowment and operating programs, Transforming Lives is the largest philanthropic under-taking in B-W history. A major component of this effort is to provide additional space for study, practice, rehearsal and performance and to renovate the existing facilities within the Conservatory of Music. The estimated cost will exceed $15 million.
“It has always been my desire to see these things accomplished during my lifetime, rather than providing for them in my estate. I am passionate about making sure I see THIS project to completion,” Swailes said.
“We are deeply appreciative of the ongoing vision and commitment to quality within our Conservatory that have been fundamental to Beth Swailes since her days as a student here,” noted B-W President Richard Durst. “The success of this campaign will be measured by our ability to meet and fully fund each of the goals that lie before us.
“With growing costs for construction and renovation, we truly are fortunate that trustees, such as Beth, have recognized the opportunities before us and have responded by increasing their already very generous gifts to help us toward that destination.”
Beth Swailes’ B-W roots run deep. A Conservatory graduate, she followed in the footsteps of her mother, Beverlie Buck Mayer ’38. A member of the Board of Trustees, Swailes has been a generous donor to her alma mater. She was instrumental in establishing the Melvin Hakola Scholarship to honor her former B-W voice teacher, and actively supports the Beverlie Buck Mayer Music Scholarship. In 2006, she received an honorary degree from the College.
A former soloist with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, she has been particularly interested in the College’s music theatre program. She regularly travels to New York City to see the music theatre seniors’ showcase performances and recently established the Elizabeth M. Swailes Music Theatre Fund.
Also a successful businesswoman, she is the former owner of 14 KFC franchises in Ohio and Maryland. She developed a medical office building in her hometown of Oxford, Ohio and spent nine years on the Board of Directors of The Knolls of Oxford, where she assisted in the development of this full-service, three-tier retirement center.
For more information on helping B-W meet this challenge, contact the Development Office at 440-826-2131.
275 Eastland Rd.