Historic $500,000 Gift from The Eugene McDermott Foundation Announced at TACA’s Silver Cup Luncheon
Bold Investment in the Arts Marks Largest Single-Year Donation in TACA’s History
DALLAS, TX – May 7, 2025 – TACA is proud to share a monumental milestone in support of the arts in North Texas, revealed at its annual Silver Cup Luncheon. One of the event highlights was the announcement of a $500,000 gift from The Eugene McDermott Foundation, delivered by Foundation Trustee Grace Cook. The unprecedented donation is the largest single-year gift in TACA’s 57-year history.
The Eugene McDermott Foundation
“TACA is deeply honored and humbled by this unprecedented gift from The Eugene McDermott Foundation,” said Maura Sheffler, Donna Wilhelm Family President and Executive Director of TACA. “This donation is not only a historic moment for our organization, but a long-term investment in the sustainability and growth of TACA and our support of the arts in Dallas. It is a true testament of the generosity and dedication to our arts community.”
In addition to supporting TACA’s portfolio of grantmaking and arts professional development programs, this investment will support the implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing TACA’s resilience and organizational infrastructure.
“The Eugene McDermott Foundation is proud to invest $500,000 in TACA — the largest single-year gift in TACA’s history,” Cook said. “My grandparents, Margaret and Eugene McDermott, believed that building a stronger Dallas wasn’t just an act of generosity — it was a responsibility. Supporting TACA honors that legacy and affirms our belief that creativity is one of Dallas’ greatest natural resources. This gift is an invitation to everyone who believes in the future of this city — to invest in the artists, organizations, and ideas that will shape the Dallas we haven’t even yet imagined.”
TACA fuels a vibrant arts community for Dallas and is dedicated to making it one of the strongest arts communities in the nation. Learn more at https://taca-arts.org.
About TACA
TACA invests in the vibrancy and resilience of a diverse Dallas arts community. TACA envisions a thriving arts landscape that is celebrated and accessible to everyone.
For over 50 years, TACA has been dedicated to making North Texas’ arts community one of the strongest in the nation. We invest in (60+) arts organizations of all shapes and sizes to support an arts community brimming with cultures and stories, that cares about the health and well-being of Dallas citizens, and is building a sustainable future for our creative community – all to ensure that North Texas remains a vibrant place to live, work, and play.
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