Staebler Insurance is donating $100,000 to Laurier's Faculty of Music Making Space for Music campaign in celebration of the company's 150th anniversary in 2023.
"Staebler Insurance is a valued partner and a generous supporter of Laurier students," said Jason Coolman, vice-president of advancement and external relations at Laurier. "Just as Staebler Insurance has been making a difference in this community for 150 years, so will this gift make a difference in the lives of Laurier Music students for decades to come."
The gift will be acknowledged by naming the Staebler Insurance Box Office in the new Savvas Chamberlain Music Building.
"Staebler Insurance is delighted to celebrate our 150-year anniversary with a gift to Wilfrid Laurier University and the Making Space for Music campaign," said Russell Philpott, executive vice-president, Staebler Insurance. "Music has a long-time and deep connection to our organization and the Staebler family. It is an honour to give back to Laurier to help inspire the next generation of musicians in our community. We're so excited about the changes happening with the Faculty of Music at Laurier and we can't wait to see what's next."
Staebler Insurance also supports the Staebler Insurance Music Award, established by previous Staebler Insurance Chairman Stephen Philpott (BBA '82) in 1991 in honour of the Staebler family and their passion for music.
Founder J.M. Staebler co-founded the Berlin Piano and Organ Company in 1890. His son, H.L. Staebler, was president of a local music club and through his efforts as chair of the public school board, music instruction became part of the region's regular school curriculum. H.L.'s son Keith Staebler was an accomplished jazz pianist who helped create the Centre in the Square. The award is granted annually to an outstanding full-time student studying piano in the Honours Music program. To date, the award has been granted 39 times with $37,366.42 total award monies granted.
"We are thrilled and truly grateful that Staebler Insurance has chosen to celebrate an important milestone in their company history by contributing to an important milestone in Laurier's history: the transformation of the Savvas Chamberlain Music Building," said Cynthia Johnston Turner, dean of the Faculty of Music. "This next step in Staebler Insurance's long running support of music in Waterloo Region will ensure that Laurier's high quality musical education and collaboration changes even more lives in our community and beyond. It is truly a legacy to Staebler Insurance's generosity and passion for music."
MAKING SPACE FOR MUSIC
The Making Space for Music campaign aims to raise $15 million to renovate and expand Laurier's Faculty of Music building, now named the Savvas Chamberlain Music Building, after a transformative gift of $4 million from longtime Laurier supporter Savvas Chamberlain. This campaign will transform the building and surrounding area into an improved space for teaching, practising, rehearsing and performing. An exceptional new campus entranceway, lobby and practice rooms will allow increased opportunities for music students to develop their craft and for the public to enjoy and participate in Faculty of Music programming.
The renovation is projected to be completed early in 2024.
