Diana & Richard Milock give $3 million to 17³Ô¹Ï through Be What’s Possible campaign

diana-and-richard-milock-2021.jpgDiana and Richard Milock (download a high-resolution version here)TRAVERSE CITY — The 17³Ô¹Ï Foundation today announced it has received a $3 million gift commitment from community members Diana and Richard Milock. This gift will support the college’s Audio Technology program, Great Lakes Culinary Institute and Dennos Museum Center.

This is the largest single gift from a living donor in the college’s history. Richard and Diana Milock have now given more than $5.3 million to the 17³Ô¹Ï Foundation as part of the current Be What’s Possible campaign, making them the lead donors in this effort. With this gift, the campaign has raised more than $37 million to date. The campaign will continue through June 30, 2021 to raise support for scholarships, programs, facilities, and the Fund for 17³Ô¹Ï.

“The generosity of Richard and Diana will support student success and the sustainability of a treasured cultural asset—in turn making so much possible for the entire community,” said 17³Ô¹Ï President Nick Nissley. “This multidisciplinary gift reflects the scope of 17³Ô¹Ï’s offerings—arts and culture, technical education, and emerging programs.”

This new gift will:

  • Establish an endowed fund to support the greatest needs of the Dennos Museum Center with $1.5 million;
  • Create an endowed fund to support students at 17³Ô¹Ï’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute through scholarships and the greatest needs of the program with $1 million;
  • Support the current needs of the Audio Technology Program and the Dennos Museum Center, including key equipment updates to the Milliken Auditorium and support for the Audio Technology Program to encourage student success with $500,000.

“It is an honor to work with Diana and Richard—two amazing and generous leaders—to achieve their philanthropic goals through the 17³Ô¹Ï Foundation,” said Rebecca Teahen, Executive Director of the 17³Ô¹Ï Foundation. “This gift speaks to their belief in 17³Ô¹Ï and the power of philanthropy to make a difference for our students and the whole community.”

The Milocks have supported both the Dennos Museum Center and 17³Ô¹Ï’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute for nearly two decades, most notably with a $2 million gift to expand the museum in 2015. Diana Milock serves on the board of the 17³Ô¹Ï Foundation and as a member of the campaign steering committee for Be What’s Possible, the Campaign for 17³Ô¹Ï. The Milocks were named 17³Ô¹Ï Fellows, the college’s highest honor, in 2014.

17³Ô¹Ï is a publicly funded community college that offers associate degrees, professional certificates, and bachelor’s degrees in more than 80 areas of academic study including the Great Lakes Culinary Institute and the Audio Technology program. For more information, visit 17³Ô¹Ï at nmc.edu.

The Michael and Barbara Dennos Museum Center at 17³Ô¹Ï is the region’s premier cultural center offering world class programming in the visual and performing arts. The museum offers a changing array of exhibitions in three galleries and a sculpture court; features a hands-on Discovery Gallery; and a Gallery of Inuit art, the museum’s major permanent collection. The museum’s 367-seat Milliken Auditorium offers concerts in blues, jazz, chamber and world music and hosts the productions of numerous performing arts groups in the region. For more information, visit the Dennos Museum Center at .

 

Release date: APRIL 21, 2021

For more information:

Rebecca Teahen
Associate Vice President for Resource Development
Executive Director, 17³Ô¹Ï Foundation
rteahen@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1855

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE

17³Ô¹Ï is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination