EXCELLENCE | THE FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE
A Graduation Gift for Future Generations of Interlochen Artists
A few months ago, when it came time to celebrate the high-school graduation of their daughter Charlotte (IAA 22-26), Academy parents Matt and Kimberly Gray took a unique approach: they made a generous gift to the institution and the artistic department —Visual Arts—where Charlotte had such a wonderful experience as a four-year student. Their new Gray Family Visual Arts Program Endowment bolsters the capacities of Interlochen Visual Arts through programmatic support for visiting artists, needed materials, or special initiatives. Through its endowment, this fund will be available annually for the betterment of future generations of Academy artists, even while its principal continues to grow. Kimberly and Matt say it’s their way to “pay it forward” for the superlative experiences Charlotte enjoyed as a student. The Grays have also pledged to continue supporting the Annual Fund, the vital conduit of a wide array of supports for student scholarship and artistic growth at Interlochen. By diversifying their philanthropy into both excellence and access, Matt and Kimberly will have helped ensure that more deserving students can matriculate at Interlochen— and that, once here, they have educational experiences that will guide and inspire them for the rest of their lives.
Matt, Charlotte (IAA 22-26), and Kimberly Gray.
Singer-Songwriter Program Inspires Artistic Craft in Son, Philanthropy in Parents
Since its earliest years, part of the magic of Interlochen has been that it doesn’t just draw artists and art-lovers (and the families and friends who support them); Interlochen also draws them back , to reinvest in their own artistic journeys. That’s certainly the case with the Cunningham family. For Henry (IAC 23-24, IAA 24-26), Camp summers honing his craft as a singer-songwriter inspired him to matriculate at Academy. Henry’s parents Eric and Angela, wowed at the transformative impact of Interlochen upon their son, were inspired to take their own next steps, not only as supportive parents but also as philanthropists. Their newly established Cunningham Family Singer-Songwriter Program Endowment establishes perpetual support for visiting artists, touring, and professional development for faculty within Interlochen’s singer-songwriter program. Angela and Eric are also making gifts for immediate use to both a new Singer-Songwriter Program Fund and the Interlochen Annual Fund. The Cunninghams’ gifts will have impact both now, while Henry is still a student, and for generations to come.
Eric, Henry (IAC 23-24, IAA 24-26), and Angela Cunningham.
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2026 ANNUAL REPORT OF GIFTS
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