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Arts Patron

Mary T. Wolfe, Perrysburg

Nominated By: Bowling Green State University

The impact Mary Wolfe has had on the arts in Ohio is profound. A Toledo resident, Wolfe's influence has stretched across the state and her efforts are almost too numerous to list. As an advocate, supporter, leader and shaper of arts policy, Wolfe is truly a catalyst for changing the face of the arts community in Ohio and beyond. One of her most recent contributions is the Wolfe Center for the Arts at Bowling Green State University. The center, which is scheduled for completion in December 2011, will house collaborative initiatives in the theater and visual arts, as well as music and dance. The programs and technologies featured at the center will provide a new facet to the university's long-standing record of excellence in the arts, and can be credited to Wolfe and her husband directly.

Wolfe played a significant role in the creation of a new gallery at the Toledo Museum of Art. The gallery, which will be known as the Frederic and Mary Wolfe Gallery, will house the institution's modern and contemporary collections. Wolfe also serves the Toledo Museum of Art as a founding member of the Apollo Society, an organization that commits each year to purchasing and donating pieces of art to the museum. Wolfe also has been a generous supporter of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, tirelessly serving on the board, co-chairing the highly successful Symphony 2000 fundraising campaign and personally aiding the organization during a time of financial crisis. Additionally, Wolfe acted as co-chair for a project that installed a large-scale mural at the Valentine Theatre in Toledo.

Wolfe is also committed to furthering the success of individual artists. An artist herself, Wolfe's position as a teacher at Bowling Green State University allowed her the opportunity to meet and help students on an individual level, as well as create a scholarship that supports students in many areas of the arts. Through her roles as a volunteer and board member for other organizations, such as the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, the University of Toledo, the Maumee Valley Country Day School, the National Committee of the Whitney Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Ohio Arts Council, Wolfe has created a tremendous artistic legacy and has become a leading voice for arts support across the entire state.

Mary T. Wolfe video tribute (6:44 minutes)