Former Owensboro Mayor Dave Adkisson Accepts Role as Honorary Campaign Chair of RiverPark Center’s Million Dollar Match Campaign
OWENSBORO, Ky.
Almost 30 years ago a small group of citizens had a dream. At the time that dream was drawn on the back of a paper napkin. It would depict what would become one of the region’s finest performing arts centers and would challenge boundaries in education, economic development, and entertainment. The Center would go on to gain national and international recognition in those realms. That dream would be named, RiverPark Center.
One of those founding “dreamers”, Dave Adkisson, has agreed to step up to help lead the charge to finally retire the facility’s debt.
Jeff Danhauer, RPC board Vice Chair said, “When thinking of a person to serve as Honorary Chair of the “Million Dollar Match” campaign, Dave Adkisson was a natural fit. He was one of the original founders of RPC and believes in all the ways it helps the community, from education to economic development. We are humbled and honored he has agreed to help lead this campaign to the finish line!”
Dave Adkisson has been strong advocate of RiverPark Center throughout the years and today RiverPark announces that Adkisson will help lead the charge as Honorary Campaign Chair of the Million Dollar Match campaign to take care of RiverPark’s debt once and for all.
Adkisson recently stated, “The RiverPark has been a tremendous success for Owensboro for almost 20 years. That’s a generation! And the RiverPark will be serving the Owensboro region for generations to come.
I witnessed the historic generosity of Owensboro citizens in the early 1990’s, when the community originally rallied behind a new arts center and raised more than $10 million in contributions. So I’m honored to help lead an effort to get the RiverPark Center poised for the next generation. Retiring the debt and letting the RiverPark be all it can be is an important gift we can give the next generation.”
Adkisson is originally from Owensboro, Ky., where he began his career working for the local Chamber of Commerce. At age 34, he was elected mayor of Owensboro and re-elected without opposition four years later. He was recruited in 1999 to become president of the Birmingham, Alabama Chamber of Commerce and served nearly six years in that post.
Adkisson has held several statewide leadership posts in Kentucky, including chairman of the Kentucky Advocates for Higher Education, co-founder of Leadership Kentucky and chairman of the Kentucky Center for Public Issues. He serves on the board of the World Equestrian Games and is the president and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Georgetown College and holds a master’s from Harvard University. He resides in Lexington with his wife Bonnie. RiverPark Center is thrilled and honored to have Adkisson serve as Honorary Chair of the fundraising endeavor.
RiverPark Center’s first success came in 1988 (during Dave Adkisson’s term as Mayor) when state government awarded Owensboro a $4.5 million challenge grant to build the performing arts center. That grant was more than doubled with $10.7 million in local funds, including a remarkable $9 million from 3,000 individuals and businesses. Even with all of that support it was not quite enough to cover the cost of construction, so the board took a leap of faith. That leap of faith built the Center, but also accumulated debt associated with its construction.
For years, that debt has been a lingering challenge to the non-profit organization, but finally, a public/private partnership will allow RiverPark to eliminate debt.
The plan that has become the “Million Dollar Match” campaign consists of RiverPark Center contributing $1 million, Daviess County Fiscal Court contributes $1 million (from hotel tax proceeds, which can only be used for debt service) and the City of Owensboro assuming the remaining $2.6 million. After the goal has been met RiverPark Center receives a ninety-nine year lease on the facility.
Retiring the debt will allow the board and staff to focus their resources on programming for the community, instead of worrying about the next debt service payment.
RiverPark Center is truly the “living room” of the community. Hosting over 170,000 people annually, including 35,000 students through school day performances. RiverPark holds over 600 events annually, including Broadway shows, concerts, The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Dance Theatre productions, graduations, awards ceremonies, corporate meetings, festivals, rallies, news conferences, wedding receptions, and class reunions.
RiverPark is the premiere civic landmark on the downtown riverfront. It is “The Place Where Memories Are Made.”
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, supports RiverPark Center with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
