Pictured #1 Martin Gapshis with Michael Leppen. #2 Miriam Hoover. #3 Ald. Tom Tunney speaking with guests, and #4 Center on Halsted Executive Director Robbin Burr and Amy Maggio.TEXT AND PHOTOS BY Amy Wooten
Michael Leppen and Miriam Hoover announced the $1 million gift to Center on Halsted ( COH ) at a fundraising dinner at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Hoover recently pledged $1 million in honor of Leppen, her nephew, which is the largest private commitment to COH to date. Leppen pledged one-quarter million to the Center two years ago, as well.
'I wanted very much to have a center so people could all have an opportunity to meet and see,' Hoover told Windy City Times at the dinner. 'We want young people to be able to know they have a place of refuge.'
Leppen told Windy City Times that although his aunt pledged the gift in his honor, 'it's not for me,' he said. 'I really wanted to give a legacy gift for our community. I want us to be the beacon light for the rest of the country. It's really time for us to step up and help our peers,' Leppen said, adding that there are still LGBT youth on the streets.
Leppen's gift for his contribution—the naming of the lobby—was given to his mentor, Amy Maggio, at the dinner.
In honor of their gift, the 175-seat theater, located on the third floor of the Center, will be named the Hoover-Leppen Theater.
Hoover's contribution brings the Center to nearly $16 million of its $20 million goal, COH Executive Committee Chairperson Patrick Sheahan said.
The Center broke ground mid-June on 3656 N. Halsted, and is expected to open in late 2006 or early 2007.