Jazz at Lincoln Center announced an unprecedented gift of $20 million from Robert J. Appel, the organizations Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Mr. Appels gift is the largest single private philanthropic contribution to date in support of jazz, and will benefit the thousands of performance, education and broadcast events Jazz at Lincoln Center produces each year. The gift also advances the organizations global objectives in audience development, engagement and jazz advocacy.

“Bob Appel’s gift to the organization is transformative,” said Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Managing and Artistic Director. “His expressed commitment to jazz and Jazz at Lincoln Center establishes a new standard of philanthropy for this great American art. The magnitude of this affirmation from our Chairman invigorates our entire institution, and encourages us to an even deeper and more profound engagement with our Mission.”

Mr. Appel was appointed Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2012. He became a member of the Board of Directors in 2008 and has actively served on various committees. He has been a private investor since 2003 and was formerly a partner of Neuberger Berman, an investment and securities brokerage firm. Mr. Appel has been recognized for his philanthropic work with his alma mater, Cornell University, The Weill Cornell Medical College and many other organizations. As Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Chairman, Mr. Appel works closely with the Board and Marsalis, on fundraising to maintain and further develop a myriad of national and international curatorial, educational and archival initiatives.

Originally published at jalc.org