JAMES D. WOLFENSOHN TO RECEIVE THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART'S FIRST ANNUAL DAVID ROCKEFELLER AWARD
Chairman of the Board Ronald S. Lauder, President Agnes
Gund, and Director Glenn D. Lowry of The Museum of Modern Art announced
today that James D. Wolfensohn is the recipient of the first annual David
Rockefeller Award for enlightened generosity and effective advocacy of
cultural endeavors. The award will be presented to Mr. Wolfensohn on
Monday, February 24, 1997, at The Museum of Modern Art.
The award
is named for the Museum's Chairman Emeritus, an early advocate and
successful pioneer in developing strong and enduring links between the
corporate community and cultural organizations. Mr. Rockefeller was
instrumental in creating the Chase Manhattan Art Collection, took a
leadership role in forming the Business Committee for the Arts in 1967, and
has been a generous financial supporter of museums and cultural
organizations in New York City and throughout the country. The award will
annually recognize an individual whose commitment, generosity, and advocacy
of the arts match the leadership demonstrated by Mr. Rockefeller during his
career.
James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, has a long
and distinguished history of involvement in the arts and other
not
for-profit causes. He is Chairman Emeritus of Carnegie Hall and of the
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and served on the Board of
Directors of the Metropolitan Opera Association for fifteen years. In
addition, among other affiliations, Mr. Wolfensohn is Chairman of the
Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, and a Member of the Steering
Committee of the Bilderberg Group. He was formerly Chairman of the Finance
Committees of Howard Hughes Medical Institute and of The Rockefeller
Foundation. Mr. Wolfensohn is also Chair of the Wolfensohn Family
Foundation, Inc., which has funded a number of educational, social,
medical, and cultural initiatives.
Mr. Wolfensohn, a Fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has received international honors
for his leadership in not-for-profit causes. In 1995 he was awarded an
Honorary Knighthood by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. He
is also an Honorary Officer in the Order of Australia; a Chevalier of the
Legion d'honneur of the Republic of France; and a Commander of the Order of
Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mr. Wolfensohn received a
Business Committee for the Arts Leadership Award in 1994 and the Montblanc
de la Culture Award in 1992.
"I am delighted to be chosen as the first
recipient of the David Rockefeller Award," said Mr. Wolfensohn. "I have
enormous respect, admiration, and love for David Rockefeller, and I am
proud to join his efforts to strengthen the bond between business and the
arts."
Mr. Rockefeller said, " I am deeply honored that The Museum of
Modern Art has chosen to name this award for me. Jim Wolfensohn perfectly
embodies the spirit of this award. He has devoted his personal resources,
exceptional abilities, and, most importantly, his time and leadership to
strengthening the capacity of cultural organizations throughout the nation
to play a broader and more meaningful role in the lives of our people."
The award will be presented at the Museum's Annual Corporate Luncheon,
chaired by Mrs. Henry R. Kravis and Jerry I. Speyer. The event will benefit
the Museum's educational programs. The Advisory Committee for the David
Rockefeller Award includes Giovanni Agnelli, Patti Cadby Birch, Patricia
Phelps de Cisneros, Lewis B. Cullman, Katharine Graham, Agnes Gund, Kitty
Carlisle Hart, Mrs. Henry R. Kravis, Mrs. Frank Y. Larkin, Glenn D. Lowry,
Robert B. Menschel, Jo Carole Lauder, Ronald S. Lauder, Gerald M. Levin,
Carroll Petrie, David Rockefeller, Jr., Richard Salomon, and Jerry I.
Speyer. The award is designed by Massimo Vignelli.
For further
information contact Alexandra Partow, Assistant Director, Department of
Communications, 212/708-9756.
