College Receives $2.5 Million Gift for Endowed Chair in Music, Worship

Westmont has received a $2.5 million gift from the Adams Family Foundation for the establishment of an endowed chair in music.

The money will endow a new faculty position in the music department called the Adams Chair of Music and Worship. A portion of the gift -- $500,000 – will endow a fund to enhance music program offerings.

“We are committed to enhancing Westmont’s music program not just for its fine students but for the impact it can have on the community,” Denise Adams said.

Mrs. Adams, a gifted artist, is a college trustee and a member of the Westmont Art Council, a community group that supports the college’s art programs.

“We are deeply grateful to the Adamses for this extraordinarily generous gift,” President Stan D. Gaede said. “Not only will it allow us to continue building our music program, but it will also enable us to strengthen the long tradition of music in worship. We are absolutely delighted by this contribution to the arts at Westmont.”

Provost Shirley Mullen added: “It is our hope that this position will enable us to enhance the role that music plays in our overall campus program, and that it will enable us to strengthen our connections with Santa Barbara churches and the Santa Barbara arts community.”

This is the third significant gift the college has received from the Adams Family Foundation. The foundation gave the college two gifts of $5 million each during its recent capital campaign. That money will go toward construction of the Adams Center for the Visual Arts. The building is included in the college’s updated master plan, which is under review by Santa Barbara County.

For more information, contact Executive Vice President Cliff Lundberg at (805) 565-7188 or e-mail clundberg@westmont.edu.