【時報訊】聖路易大都會公園博物館區五個會員組織，密蘇里植物園，密蘇里歷史博物館，聖路易藝術博物館，聖路易科學館及聖路易動物園，為紀念今年一月時過世之聖路易大慈善家E. Desmond Lee，聯合制定四月十七日為Des Lee紀念日。當天這五大單位將提供多項優惠服務及商品折扣、免費入場等。Des Lee先生生前對聖路易社區組織之捐款超過七千萬元，促進和提升社區遠景，提供各大學獎助學金、專業基金。這項紀念日之制定已獲得聖路易地區一百餘個社團組織，超過三十位教授學者、政府各單位及工商企業聯名支持。
E. Desmond "Des" Lee先生是聖路易企業家，社區領袖和大慈善家。2010年1月31日因腦中風病逝於聖約翰醫院，享年九十二歲。
Des Lee先生生前捐出超過七千萬元予聖路易地區兒童組織、非營利組織及本地區各大學，他成立Des Lee願景基金會，賦予三所大學--聖路易密蘇里大學、華盛頓大學、偉伯斯特大學共同協調合作，為聖路易社區努力創造願景。
1917年8月6日出生於密蘇里州Sikeston，在密州哥倫比亞長大，以全額獎學金完成聖路易華盛頓大學學業，獲得企管學位，Des Lee先生曾是大學籃球隊隊長，他也曾在二次世界大戰時入伍陸軍，成為一位少尉軍官。
退伍後，Des Lee先生與他的父親Edgar先生，大學同學Jim Rowan及Jim的父親John共同成立Lee-Rowan公司，這家製造公司的第一個產品是有專利之金屬衣架，在各大百貨公司銷售，後來公司又經營鋼絲架業務，在公司成長盈利之際，Des Lee先生繼續不斷的將百萬盈餘慷慨捐出。
密蘇里大學校長Thomes George表示，今天，整個Touhill演藝中心能夠有聖路易地區各初、高中學生齊聚歡慶，Des Lee爵士大樂團佳年華會，都是因為有著Des Lee先生這樣一位特別的大慈善家捐助，讓社區裡千百位年青人得福。George校長說，1996年改變了密大和整個聖路易社區，當時Des Lee先生告訴那時的校長Blanche Touhill，他要成立Des Lee願景基金會，結合聖路易地區各大學及各社團組織力量，全力照顧聖路易社區被忽略、被漠視的孩子們，Des Lee願景基金會全國獨一無二，慷慨的捐助讓基金會及各大學及社區組織一起運作成功，向目標願景努力，美化、善化了我們所居住的聖路易。
Des Lee最後一次公開露面是2008年新年除夕，在Powell交響樂廳，當晚節目最後，他應邀上臺，以客座指揮與聖路易交響樂團完成「Auld Lang Syne」樂曲。
聖路易交響樂團團長Fred Bronstein說，「所有人都知道，Des Lee先生最喜愛聖路易交響樂團」，「他的巨大支持和鼓勵，讓聖路易交響樂團勇往直前」，Des Lee先生充分暸解樂團所面臨的挑戰，但他總是樂觀的面對，並且深信樂團是聖路易市所不可或缺的。
Des Lee先生曾在許多社團組織之董事會中服務，包括Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA，United Way of Greater St. Louis 聯合勸募中心，聖路易科學館、動物園、植物園、藝博館，密蘇里歷史協會及Ranken技術學院，他還在本地各大學裡成立了許多獎學金項目。
CITY'S TOP FIVE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS OFFER THE COMMUNITYA DAY TO HONOR PHILANTHROPIST DES LEE
ST. LOUIS -The five members of the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD) - the Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and Saint Louis Zoo-will join together on Saturday, April 17, 2010, to observe "Des Lee Day." The St. Louis philanthropist E. Desmond Lee died at age 92 earlier this year.
The five cultural institutions chose to celebrate Des Lee Day in this collaborative way because Lee embodied great collaborative vision for the community. He enabled numerous organizations to carry out community outreach programs, establish professorships with universities, and develop projects that would not otherwise have been possible.
On April 17, the five cultural institutions will offer:
20% off merchandise at the Garden Gate Shop, Missouri Botanical Garden;
20% off merchandise at the Museum Shop, Missouri History Museum does not include music, videos, DVDs, sale items, John Pils and Jim Trotter products and cannot be combined with any other discount offers;
free Family Tours beginning at 2:30 p.m., Saint Louis Art Museum;
free admission to Moon Rock, the brand-new musical version of The Space Show at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, Saint Louis Science Center;
free Zooline Railroad rides, Saint Louis Zoo.
Making
Connections
Following his retirement as a businessman, Des Lee began connecting St. Louis organizations through educational and community partnerships in 1996. He encouraged institutions to establish programs and share resources that would benefit the entire community, particularly those who are underserved.
As a result, today there are over 100 member organizations, more than 30 endowed professors and a number of government agencies and businesses in the St. Louis area involved in the Des Lee Collaborative Vision.
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden's mission is "to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life." Today, 151 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display.
Missouri History Museum
The Missouri History Museum has been active in the St. Louis community since 1866. Founding members established the organization "for the purpose of saving from oblivion the early history of the city and state." The museum operates the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park and the Library and Research Center at 225 South Skinker Boulevard near the Washington University campus. Visit mohistory.org for more information.
Saint Louis Art Museum
The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the nation's leading comprehensive art museums with collections that include works of art of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Areas of notable depth include Oceanic art, pre-Columbian art, ancient Chinese bronzes and European and American art of the late 19th and 20th centuries, with particular strength in 20th-century German art. The Museum offers a full range of exhibitions and educational programming generated independently and in collaboration with local, national and international partners. Admission to the Saint Louis Art Museum is free to all every day.
Saint Louis Science Center
The Saint Louis Science Center is one of the top five science centers in the United States, serving 1.2 million visitors annually. Recently named one of the Top 10 Science Centers for Families by Parents magazine and one of America's most visited museums by Forbes Traveler Magazine - the only museum in Missouri to be named to either list - the Saint Louis Science Center complex includes a four-story OMNIMAXTheater, the air-supported EXPLORADOME and the James S. McDonnell Planetarium. Its mission is to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning. For more information, visit slsc.org.
Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo is widely recognized for its innovative approaches to animal management, wildlife conservation, research and education. One of the few free zoos in the nation, it attracts about 3,000,000 visitors a year. The Zoo has been named America's #1 Zoo by Zagat Survey and ParentingMagazine. The Zoo's web site is www.stlzoo.org. |
