On Sunday, May 6, 2012, The Kinkaid School celebrated the historic $5 million gift of the Jerold B. Katz family, with a special performance by over 120 Kinkaid students and a dedication ceremony, renaming the theatre The Lenny C. Katz Performing Arts Center. Close to 500 people attended the celebration, which included an moving tribute to alumnus Lenny Katz '84 by his brother, Evan.

The Katz Family's gift, the largest in the School's 106-year history, will support the Tomorrow's Promise Capital Campaign as well as Kinkaid's performing arts program.  The first $4 million will go to the campaign, the acquisition of the new 24-acre property and related initial improvements. The final $1 million will create "The Lenny Fund", a special endowment which will ensure the Katz Performing Arts Center remains a first-class, state of the art facility.

In recognition of the gift, The Kinkaid Theatre building will be renamed “The Lenny C. Katz Performing Arts Center.” The first $4 million of the gift will support the campaign, the acquisition of the new land and its early improvements. And, the final million dollars will create “The Lenny Fund,” a special endowment which will be used to ensure the Performing Arts Center remains a first-class theatre complex.

While the magnitude of the gift is transformational for the School and the campaign, it is even more meaningful for what it represents to the Katz family and the legacy of Kinkaid alum Lenny C. Katz ’84.

Lenny’s story at Kinkaid is one that is shared by many Kinkaid students and alums. Lenny loved his time at Kinkaid and truly embodied the spirit of the school. From Kindergarten to graduation in 1984, Lenny was a Falcon through and through. Lenny was a strong all-around student, an aggressive athlete and a gifted artist. He played football. He wrestled. He performed in nearly every dramatic production. He lived Kinkaid life to the fullest appreciating the many opportunities the School presented him.

Today, Lenny lives with a traumatic brain injury after a serious accident in 1988. And, through all that the family has done for Lenny and for the advancement of brain injury research, they wanted to do something transformational and lasting for Lenny. This gift in Lenny’s name is the beginning. It is their way to keep Lenny’s spirit and love for the School not only alive for Lenny, but for every child with a passion for the arts and a desire to enjoy all that Kinkaid has to offer.