Support

Support the Arts. Sustain the Experience.

For the last 70 years, Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts has brought world-class artists and transformative performances to our community. Your support keeps this legacy alive—on stage, in classrooms, and throughout eastern Connecticut.

Whether you give your time, your resources, or your voice, every contribution makes a difference. Join our family of supporters and help Jorgensen continue to inspire, educate, and connect through the power of live performance.

Group of children in colorful clothing joyfully jumping in the air with the Jorgensen Outreach for Youth logo beside them.

JOY! (Jorgensen Outreach for Youth)

The Jorgensen Outreach for Youth and JOY! Conservatory Program bring the arts to eastern Connecticut’s children, providing free tickets to Jorgensen events for underprivileged children and their families, and full scholarships and unique educational opportunities to talented and highly motivated young musicians.

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On October 17, 1999, Jorgensen presented Alice in Wonderland to a full house of eager youngsters—many experiencing live theater for the first time. Among them were 25 children and 8 young adults, the first participants in the Jorgensen Outreach for Youth (JOY!) program. Since then, JOY! has welcomed over 10,000 children from eastern Connecticut to Jorgensen events.

JOY! brings the arts to underprivileged children and families by providing free access to performances, transportation, in-school outreach, and the JOY! Conservatory Program.

This program is made possible through the generosity of individuals and local businesses. Thanks to our JOY! benefactors, Jorgensen can share the excitement of live music, dance, and theater with hundreds of young people each year. We invite you to share the JOY! by making a donation today and helping us bring the arts to deserving children across our community.

For more information, please contact Rodney Rock, Jorgensen Director, at 860-486-1983 or rodney.rock@uconn.edu with any questions. 

Donor Levels: 
Diamond $1,000+
Emerald $600–$999
Ruby $300–$599
Sapphire $100–$299
Pearl up to $99

A group of seven musicians performing with violins, clarinet, trumpet, bassoon, double bass, and cello, alongside a woman standing beside a grand piano, smiling

Lenard Chamber Music Endowment Fund

Gifts to the Lenard Chamber Music Endowment Fund support chamber music, one of the hallmarks and most dearly loved elements of the programming at Jorgensen. This fund is made possible through the generosity of Jean and John Lenard. Additional support has also been provided by the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation.

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The Lenard Chamber Series is made possible through the generosity of Jean and John Lenard. 

Thanks to the generous philanthropy of patrons Jean and John Lenard, chamber music, one of the hallmarks and most dearly loved elements of the programming at Jorgensen is secure well into the future. Also, thanks to the Lenard Endowment, UConn students, non-UConn students, and area youth are invited to attend all chamber music events for free. 

Jorgensen would like to invite you to support the Lenard Chamber Music Endowment Fund by making a gift today.  

Gifts to the Lenard Chamber Music Endowment Fund support expenses of and relating to the Chamber Music Series including musicians’ fees, master classes, pre-concert lectures, receptions, travel, lodging, and hospitality. 

Contact Director Rodney Rock at 860-486-1983 or rodney.rock@uconn.edu with any questions. 

Jorgensen CoStars logo

CoStars

The CoStars are Jorgensen’s active donor-volunteers. In addition to a monetary donation, the CoStars generously donate their time and talent through community advocacy, creative fund-raising activities, ushering, and hosting pre- and post-concert receptions.

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The CoStars are a special group of volunteers who generously contribute $750 per person / $1,500 per couple, along with their time and talents, to support Jorgensen through community advocacy, creative fundraising, and by hosting pre- and post-concert receptions featuring world-class artists. Their dedication has made possible the purchase of the portable chamber stage and acoustical shell, the Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano, and the state-of-the-art exterior message center. By becoming a CoStar, you’ll join a vibrant, thoughtful community of arts lovers who make Jorgensen’s success a priority. Members receive an honorary Producers Circle membership in the Jorgensen Circle of Friends, which includes early ticket ordering for one full year, reserved lower-level parking in the North Garage, recognition in the Jorgensen Playbill, and invitations to artist receptions and meet & greets.

As a special thank you, CoStars are invited to the exclusive Sneak Preview Dinner and Cocktail Party each spring, hosted by Director Rodney Rock, where members enjoy an exciting first look at the upcoming season before its public announcement. Join the CoStars and be the first to know what’s new!

If you are interested in becoming a Jorgensen CoStar, please contact Rodney Rock at 860.486.1983, or by e-mail at rodney.rock@uconn.edu.  

Exterior view of the Jorgensen Center at dusk, featuring a brick and concrete facade with colorful vertical banners and illuminated entrance doors where people are entering.

Director’s Fund

Your gift provides the Director of Jorgensen with discretionary funds to support the presenting program, and/or to undertake important facility upgrade and enhancement projects.

Contact Director Rodney Rock at 860-486-1983 or rodney.rock@uconn.edu with any questions.

Exterior view of the Jorgensen Center at dusk, featuring a brick and concrete facade with colorful vertical banners and illuminated entrance doors where people are entering.

Circle of Friends

The Jorgensen Circle of Friends is a group of generous art-supporters who make vital contributions to special projects, interior restorations, and commissioned works.

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Become a Friend! Join Jorgensen’s Circle of Friends, a community of generous arts supporters whose contributions have helped fund restorations, special projects, and commissioned works throughout the years. By becoming a Friend, you’ll not only help sustain Jorgensen’s mission but also enjoy exclusive privileges, including early ticket-ordering for one full year, recognition in the Jorgensen Playbill, and invitations to “Meet the Artist” receptions.

Make your tax-deductible donation today and become part of a tradition that keeps the arts thriving in our community. To join, contact Rodney Rock at 860-486-1983 or rodney.rock@uconn.edu.

Donor Levels: 
Producer’s Circle $500 person / $1,000 couple
Director’s Circle $250 person / $500 couple
Artist’s Circle $125 person / $250 couple
Patron’s Circle $50 person / $100 couple
Critics Circle $25 person / $50 couple
Student Understudy $10  

Jorgensen Event Sponsorship Program

Express your appreciation and support for the wonderful programs at Jorgensen by sponsoring a concert or other event through Jorgensen’s Endowed Sponsorship Program.

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts has brightened the lives of many at the University of Connecticut and in the surrounding communities with a wide variety of exciting performances since 1955. One way that arts lovers like you can express their appreciation and support for these wonderful programs is by sponsoring a concert or other event during the current season through Jorgensen’s Title Sponsorship Program.

Premier Recognition

Your benefits as an Event Sponsor will include seeing your name in the Jorgensen playbill, as well as additional community recognition through university press releases.

Exclusive Artist Access

Visit with the event’s featured guest artist, arranged by the Jorgensen staff. Depending on the performer’s schedule, this could either be a special “meet and greet” session prior to the event, or a post-concert private reception for you and up to 25 of your friends. Through a sponsorship, you could celebrate a special holiday, birthday or anniversary, or dedicate an event to a loved one.

Support Cultural Legacy

Most importantly, by contributing to the cost of a current event, you will help ensure that Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts can continue to present such wonderful programs in the future. A cultural gift like this would benefit not only Jorgensen, but its neighbors throughout the region. A baseline donation of 25% of the cost of the event is suggested for a Title Sponsorship.

A quintet of classical musicians performing on a stage with purple lighting. The ensemble includes a pianist at a grand piano, a cellist, and three violinists.