Emily Ray, 270-824-8581, emily.ray@kctcs.edu

MADISONVILLE, Ky.--Kent Mills, Old National Bank Community President, and Denise Horne, Vice-President of Commercial Lending have announced an updated commitment by Old National Bank to the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts--a commitment that will extend through 2012--providing five years of major sponsorship support to the Center Stage Series.

The pledge, when added to other recent gifts obtained by the Advancement Office, lifts the college's Fulfilling the Promise Gifts Campaign pledge and cash total to just over $9 million, one of the largest campaign totals ever for a Kentucky community college. Old National's pledge also brings their total campaign commitment to over $100,000, one of 15 lead pledges in the campaign.

In making the announcement Mills stressed the importance of maintaining fiscal stability and performance integrity--goals that benefit the community as a whole.

"Old National considers the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, in addition to all programming at MCC one of our community's major assets, and a benefit for all communities in Muhlenberg, Webster, Henderson, Crittenden, and McLean counties, said Mills. "A strong arts center has implications far beyond just entertainment, with programs such as School Days and artist-in-residence series helping the arts come alive in our local classrooms.

"Old National is proud that our commitment makes all types of programs more accessible, and the bank is happy to have made it possible for our friends to see the likes of Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans, Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle, the Oak Ridge Boys and Brenda Lee close to home. We hope to always support MCC in a big way," he added.

Brad Downall, Executive Director of the Glema Center, stated "Our Center Stage shows are the foundation for our entire season. Each of these performances cost roughly $32,000 to $40,000 to bring to Madisonville, so underwriting is very important. If we didn't have friends like Old National around, we simply couldn't program the level of talent that our community enjoys."

MCC President Dr. Judy Rhoads sees the pledge as an extension of Old National Bank's consistent generosity over the past 30 years.

"Old National has now provided over $720,000 to our college since 1988 and bank employees have been successful students for 30 years," Rhoads said. "Old National remains one of Madisonville Community College's top ten financial supporters, including sponsorship dollars of $164,000 to the Glema Center since 1990; $550,000 to the Muhlenberg Campus; and gifts designated to scholarships and the Joe Davis Science Building. I am very proud to call them a Grand Benefactor for the next five years."

Old National will sponsor the opening act for the 2007-2008 season--a performance that has yet to be announced. The bank has sponsored sold out opening shows over the past three seasons, including the August 2007 performance of Dwight Yoakam.