Why They Give
Behind every gift is a story: a lifelong love of singing, a belief in arts education, a commitment to Orange County, or a desire to ensure choral music continues to thrive for generations to come. Through conversations, Pacific Chorale’s supporters share what inspires their philanthropy and why they choose to invest in this work.
Endowment Fund
Contributions to Pacific Chorale’s Endowment Fund are invested in perpetuity; the interest generated from the Endowment helps to provide the Chorale with long-term financial stability. The Chorale is delighted to acknowledge its generous Endowment Fund donors. We are deeply grateful to them for their belief and investment in the organization’s future.
Commitments of $1,000,000 and Above
William J. Gillespie*
Lori and John Loftus
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons, Artistic Director Chair
Commitments of $100,000 and Above
Kathryn Gibson
Ron Gray*
James and Karen McBride
Ron Rudderow*, Assistant Conductor Chair
Vina and Barry Williams*
Commitments of $50,000 and Above
Mike Andrews
Janice Johnson, in Memory of Roger W. Johnson
John* and Jan Landstrom
David and Darrellyn Melilli
John and Elizabeth Stahr*
Commitments of $25,000 and Above
Marilyn and Tom Nielsen
George H. I. Reiss*
Commitments of $10,000 and Above
Wells Fargo Bank
Greg and MarJane* Christofferson
Dr. Edward and Mrs. Helen Shanbrom, in Memory of David Lee Shanbrom
Commitments of $5,000 and Above
Anne B. Nutt
Commitments of $1,000 and Above
Michael and Karen Carroll
Dr. James* and Yuko Kawai Dunning
Margaret Gates
Michael and Eleanor* Gordon
Dennis V. Menke
Richard Messenger
Richard and Michele McNeil
Jeanette Moon
Donna Morse
Carl and Susan St.Clair, in memory of Cole Carsan St. Clair
*deceased
Legacy Society Members
The Legacy Society recognizes and honors those who have included Pacific Chorale as part of their estate planning. By remembering Pacific Chorale in a will, an insurance policy or retirement plan, by establishing a charitable remainder trust, or through any other planned-giving vehicle, you have the opportunity to leave a definite legacy and ensure the preservation of quality choral music and education. Have you ever considered extending your generosity beyond your lifetime?
Mark E. Aldrich
John Alexander
Mike Andrews
Joan Sue Betson*
Robert D. Breton
Percy Brotherton*
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Campbell
Phyllis and Terry Clark
Warren Coy
Denean R. Dyson
Jacline R. Evered
Roger and Geri Gibb*
Kathryn Gibson
Gary Good and Jacqueline Charnley
Ron Gray*
George W. Haas*
George Hatchard*
William and Carol Hatton
Tom and Anne Henley
Mark and Donna Hoover
Dennis L. Houser
Michael and Susan Jacobs
Bonita Jaros and Andrei Novac
Janice Johnson
Barbara Kingsbury
Craig and Deborah Kistler
John* and Jan Landstrom
Randi W. Larsen
John and Lori Loftus
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
Karen M. and James S. McBride
Richard Messenger
Jeanette Moon
Thomas C. Moore Trust*
Ann and Steve Morris
Betsy* and Jerry Moulton
Carla and Kenneth Neeld
Patricia Newton
Trish O’Donnell*
Elizabeth Pearson
Sandy and Val Policky
Thomas A. and Bonnie J. Pridonoff
Loraine Reed
George H. I. Reiss*
Ron Rudderow*
Peggy Schmid
Jane Shepherd
Kirsten and Craig Springer
Susan Van Wig
Martha and Peter Wetzel
Vina Williams*
*deceased
Named Chairs
Pacific Chorale’s Artistic Director Chair, currently held by Robert Istad, has been endowed by Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons.
We are deeply humbled and grateful to announce that Ron Rudderow, a former Pacific Chorale singer, left a bequest to our Endowment Fund of $500,000, establishing the Ron Rudderow Legacy Fund in 2025, which endows Pacific Chorale's Assistant Conductor Chair, currently held by Kibsaim Escárcega.
Ron Gray, a former Pacific Chorale singer, left a bequest to our Endowment Fund of $300,000, establishing the Ron Gray Legacy Fund in 2021, which will annually underwrite two staff singer positions in our bass and tenor sections.
Long-time Board member Janice Johnson made a gift in 2007 to endow a chair for our Tenor Section Leader in memory of her husband Roger. Our Roger W. Johnson Memorial Chair is Nicholas Preston.
A coalition of Pacific Chorale singers and supporters pooled their resources to endow a chair for a second soprano in memory of Rita Major, a former administrative leader of the Chorale, a longtime employee of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and our last surviving founding member still active as a singer at the time of her passing in 2017. Our Rita Major Memorial Chair is Jessica Dalley.
Previous chairs: Barbara Kingsbury
In 2007, after the passing of tenor section leader Joseph Mathieu and longtime volunteer bass Robert (Bob) Morse within a short period, a group of donors jointly endowed two memorial chairs for members of the tenor and bass sections. Our Singers Memorial Chairs are Tom Henley and Craig Kistler.
Previous chairs: Carl Porter and Karl Forsstrom
Annual Fund Donors
Government, Corporate & Foundation Support
$25,000 AND ABOVE
The Capital Group
Colburn Foundation
Orange County Fifth District Discretionary Grant
Salt-Away Products, Inc
The Segerstrom Foundation
$10,000 To $24,999:
Groover Charitable Arts Fund of the OC Community Foundation
Pacific Life Foundation
$5,000 TO $9,999:
ACFEA Tour Consultants
American Feel Young Chorus
Concordia University
Farmers & Merchants Bank Irvine Barclay Theatre
Lon V. Smith Foundation
Newport Beach Cultural Arts Commission .
Quinn & Dworakowski LLP
Richard Nixon Foundation
Robert & Doreen Marshall Fund for Dramatic Arts and Classical Music
$1,000 TO $4,999:
Dr. Louis Guss Foundation for Children
City of Hope Orange County
LPL Financial
Pacific Symphony
Parker Hannifin Corp.
$100 TO $999:
Marathon Petroleum Company
Very special care has been given to the preparation of donor listings. This list is current as of June 30, 2026.