CHICAGO, July 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Colonel
(IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired) and other generous
donors will be recognized at the grand opening of the renovated
Illinois Governor's Mansion on
July 14, 2018. Through the TAWANI
Foundation, Pritzker committed $250,000 to the Illinois Governor's Mansion Association, a
nonprofit board created to preserve and oversee the public asset's
renovation with private funds.
"The Illinois Governor's
Mansion is a great cultural destination that contains a historical
collection of extraordinary objects, paintings, artifacts and
exhibitions on the richness and wonder of the people and land of
Illinois," said Pritzker, founder
of TAWANI Foundation, the philanthropic arm of TAWANI Enterprises,
Inc.
The Illinois mansion is the
official residence of the state's governor and was considered one
of the grand mansions of Illinois.
However, years of neglect and delayed maintenance made the mansion
unfit, including splintered wood, peeling paint and structural
damage.
In 2015, construction started after Governor Bruce Rauner and his wife, First Lady
Diana Rauner, promised the public to
fully renovate the mansion without using taxpayers' money. The
Rauners formed the Illinois
Governor's Mansion Association Board recruiting local influencers,
residents and leaders in architecture and design to work together
to breathe new life into the Mansion and revamp educational
programs to focus on Illinois
state's richly layered history and beautiful artwork.
"Historic preservation is at the heart of our nation's most
vibrant economic development because it goes hand-in-hand with
business development," said Pritzker. "I couldn't be more thrilled
to be part of a program that puts politics aside and brings
together a people-centered movement to preserve the People's House.
We are providing a link to the roots of our history for future
generations."
The Illinois Governor's Mansion
renovation is a multistep renovation. Structural changes include a
new facade and landscaping. Other features include:
- Full ADA accessibility for the first time in history
- Professionally trained docents on-site for guided tours
- Expanded programming
- An all-new visitor center and short orientation video
- Rooms dedicated to historic events, including the Columbian
Exposition and past Illinois Governors and families
Art exhibits are also part of the newly-renovated mansion. The
inaugural exhibit, Art in Illinois, brings together more than 80 works
of art from artists based in the state.
The donor board will be unveiled at the grand opening of the
renovated Illinois Governor's
Mansion, the same day the newly-renovated Mansion is slated to open
to the public for tours. The wall will feature the names of more
than 45 other committed donors.
For more information about the Illinois Governor's Mansion renovation, visit
http://illinoismansion.org/renovation-updates. For more information
about the TAWANI Foundation, which provides support in the areas of
arts and culture, historical preservation, health and wellness,
LGBT and human rights, education and environmental initiatives,
visit http://www.tawanifoundation.org.
About TAWANI Foundation
Founded in 2002, TAWANI Enterprises' philanthropic organization,
the TAWANI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that provides support in the
areas of arts and culture, historical preservation, health and
wellness, LGBT and human rights, education and environmental
initiatives. The TAWANI Foundation has given more than $102 million
through 2017 to provide support in these areas and has pledged
another $30 million through 2026. To learn more, visit
http://www.tawanifoundation.org.
SOURCE TAWANI Foundation