The Smith Center for the Arts will honor Hancock Estabrook attorney Wendy Marsh at its annual Celebrate Smith! dinner at 6 p.m. September 20 at The Cracker Factory, 35 Lehigh St., Geneva.
Celebrate Smith! allows Smith supporters to celebrate the past year and help fund programming, cultural enrichment and educational outreach to the community. The dinner also recognizes an individual or entity that made outstanding contributions to Smith Center for the Arts, Smith Opera House and the Geneva community.
As a board member in 2006-16, past chairman and ongoing volunteer, Marsh is a major contributor to the theater’s revitalization. She leads The Smith’s building committee, a group that oversees major grant-funded construction projects. She helped The Smith navigate past state awards that brought the opera house its air conditioning, new movie screen, stage rigging and other capital upgrades. Her work in securing and implementing state grant funds was critical in The Smith’s current construction project of renovating patron bathrooms and artist dressing rooms.
“I know I speak for The Smith’s board, volunteers and staff when I say how grateful we are for Wendy’s tireless commitment to our organization and, especially, our historic building,” said Susie Monagan, executive director. “Wendy is a force of nature,’ and has devoted countless hours and her considerable expertise into our ongoing list of priorities and issues. I am personally grateful for her patience and kindness, and look forward to toasting her at Celebrate Smith! in September.”
Marsh joined Hancock Estabrook in 1998 and currently serves as chairman of the real estate, environmental and land use planning department, concentrating in the areas of environmental, zoning and land use law. She and partner David Linger were instrumental in revitalizing a number of buildings in downtown Geneva. She is a leader in the firm’s community service and pro bono efforts, which participated in more than 100 charitable organizations and contributed a yearly donation of more than 836 hours of legal services.
Marsh served on the boards of Geneva Growth and Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as the advisory board of UG Collective, an organization that uses music to support community arts initiatives. She is the current chairman of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry foundation board.
Hancock Estabrook routinely provided financial and administrative support to The Smith, providing assistance navigating the requirements of grant application and administration. The firm is a lead sponsor of Medley on Linden, one of The Smith’s major fundraising efforts.
Tickets for Celebrate Smith! are $100. A sponsorship table for eight is $1,000. Tickets can be purchased at the Smith Box Office, 82 Seneca St., Geneva, by phone or in person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays-Fridays. Tickets are not available online.
Call 315-781-5483 or visit thesmith.org for information.
