Playhouse Square presented its Falco Award to Jim and Kathy Pender on August 28 during the organization’s President’s Dinner.
Longtime supporters Kathy and Jim Pender met at Playhouse Square and have been involved with the organization since the theaters were saved from the wrecking ball in the 1970s. Jim served as a Trustee for many years while Kathy was a member of the Education Committee. They honor the memory of their son Michael, who loved theater, music and working with children, by giving to Playhouse Square’s education programs.
“Education is one of the lifelines of Playhouse Square. We live and breathe it, but no one does it as much as Jim and Kathy Pender,” said Craig Hassall, President and CEO, Playhouse Square. “Because of their support of Playhouse Square’s education programs, thousands of young people have experienced one of the most extraordinary things in life – live theater.”
The Falco Award, named for former Playhouse Square President & CEO Art Falco, honors an individual, foundation or organization in Northeast Ohio whose leadership, perseverance and dedication has contributed to the success of Playhouse Square.
Past Falco Award honorees include Tom Adler, Glenn Brown, Pat and John Chapman, Chris, Connor, the Richard J. Fasenmyer Foundation, David Frazier, Joseph Garry, Jr., Elaine Hadden, KeyBank, Julien McCall, William Miller, Jon Outcalt, Raymond Shepardson, K.K. Sullivan, Senator George Voinovich, and the nine founding members of Playhouse Square Partners: Jeffrey Cristal, Lawrence Hatch, John Marcus, Peter Rubin, Sara Stashower, Kurt Weaver, Neil Weinberger, Mark Weisman and Theodora Wolf.