We’re excited to announce a pair of gifts given to the AACA by Ruth Wunderlich — one in the amount of $10,000 will be directed to the ArtWorks Center Education Program, and the other in the amount of $52,000 will be directed to Paramount Theatre operations.

Colleen Weimer has been friends with the Wunderlich family for over forty years now, but cites 1992 as the year she first got to know Ruth. Having assumed the role of caretaker, Colleen was kind enough to speak with me over the phone last week about Ruth’s recent donations to the AACA.

Ruth was born and raised in Austin. One of three sisters, she graduated from Austin High School in 1944. As the last surviving member of her family, she still owns the same home she grew up in. She’ll be 91 years old in October.

Although I was unable to speak with Ruth personally, I can’t help but believe that it was her background as a teacher of 42 years that motivated her to give such an astounding donation to the AACA’s education program. Weimer cited Ruth’s experience with school fundraisers–often required of students in order to participate in extracurricular activities and limiting some students’ ability to get involved with what they love — as a primary reason behind the gift. Regardless of the reason, her donation has enabled the AACA to make our kids’ studios more accessible than ever, beginning as early as this summer.

Although I will not be around to see these changes take place, I’m excited to introduce the woman who will: Lana Kenyon will be taking up the reigns of our education program, and I have no doubt that she’ll make some amazing things happen at the ArtWorks Center.

I’m signing off here, folks. I’m no good at goodbyes, so I’ll just say: see you when I see you.