Naming ceremony set for Rockefeller Arts Center green room

The Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation of Arlington, Va., will name the Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center’s green room at Fredonia after its patron, Kay Hardesty Logan, who was a renowned area philanthropist, musician and arts patron, on Monday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m.

Kay Hardesty Logan Foundation President Marty W. Merkley, a former vice president and director of programming at Chautauqua Institution, will be joined at the formal ribbon cutting of the Kay Hardesty Logan Green Room by Fredonia Interim President Dennis Hefner.

A professional flutist, music educator and author, Mrs. Logan always said, “I don’t teach music, I use music to teach,” Mr. Merkley recalled. “She believed in paying it forward no matter what the situation, both professionally and personally. She was a true friend for life. She helped others and touched many lives,” he said. Logan had high standards and ideals and made a difference whenever possible.

Logan rarely designated any of her philanthropic gifts in her name, but chose to honor others, Merkley noted. It was now time, the foundation’s board of directors believed, to publicly honor a gift in Logan’s name, he said. The foundation continued Logan’s support of the arts following her passing in 2016.

“One of the hallmarks of Kay's philanthropy was that she did not just give money to worthy arts organizations, she also wanted to be involved, and was successfully involved, in many of the projects and initiatives she supported,” said Jefferson Westwood, Rockefeller Arts Center director and coordinator. “She was willing to give of her time, expertise and enthusiasm as well as her financial resources.”

Also participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be Kevin Kearns, vice president of Fredonia’s Advancement, Engagement and Economic Development division; Betty Gossett, executive director of the Fredonia College Foundation; and June Miller-Spann, University Advancement director of Development.

“I’m honored to help steward Kay’s legacy on the Fredonia campus,” Ms. Miller-Spann said. “I remember Kay as a Chautauqua Institution foundation board member who frequented the Program Office when I worked as Marty’s assistant. When Kay found out that I was studying art history at Fredonia, she gave me several beautiful Orientalist art books that once belonged to her late husband.”

Logan was also a close friend of former Fredonia President Dallas K. Beal and his wife, Kris. “On occasion I would drive Kris to Kay’s house so they could spend time together during the summer,” Miller-Spann said.

The Logan Foundation generously donated $25,000 as a matching grant to achieve a goal of $50,000 for future programming at RAC in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Fredonia’s I.M. Pei and Parners fine arts complex. Interested generated by the endowment will support programming at Rockefeller.

The gift is part of the Fredonia College Foundation’s Nurturing Innovation campaign.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.