Mike and Kay Olthoff “Circle” Back to Renew Three-Year Matching Grant

In honor of West Michigan Symphony’s 75th anniversary, longtime supporters Mike and Kay Olthoff have renewed their 3-year challenge grant to sustain Symphony operations, programming, and education.

West Michigan Symphony recently announced its 75th Anniversary “Circle Campaign” spearheaded by Michael and Kay Olthoff who have offered a challenge match of up to $75,000 per year as a 2:1 match for the next three years.

Mike Olthoff is the CEO of the Norton Shores-based Nichols Paper and is on the board of the West Michigan Symphony. His wife Kay is a past West Michigan Symphony board member and is currently on the board of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, the Child Abuse Council and is the Board President of Mona Shores Public Schools.

Mike and Kay just completed a three-year match campaign with Symphony donors and have renewed and increased their gift in celebration of the organization’s 75th Anniversary.

The Campaign will raise funds to support the Symphony’s artistic programming, arts education for children and capital improvements at its new office and performance space, The Block.

“We are excited to renew our three year matching grant challenge,” Remarked Kay Olthoff. “The needs of the Symphony are still very real and it is up to all of us in the community to make this a sustaining organization. The first challenge grant in 2011 was a huge success and we are confident that this one will be also.”

The couple opted to re-establish the challenge match rather than donating a single gift to encourage as many people as possible to support or renew their support of the Symphony and to feel a part of its success.

“We are thrilled that Kay and Mike have chosen to extend their commitment to the symphony in celebration of our 75th anniversary,” said WMS president/CEO Carla Hill. “We encourage those of you who have attended concerts, watched our young musicians perform as part of WMS education programs, or have been otherwise touched by the outreach and programming of the symphony to consider a three-year gift to the circle campaign.”

As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region’s cultural community for 75 years. Serving a regional audience with eight annual main stage concerts and dozens of educational and outreach activities; the organization’s most recent addition is The Block, a new and intimate concert venue in downtown Muskegon that hosts a wide range of performers.

More information about the 75th Anniversary Circle Campaign can be found on the organization‘s website at westmichigansymphony.org/support-us/donors/