Old National Bank's renewal of its pledge to the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts puts Madisonville Community College's Fulfilling the Promise gifts campaign over the $9 million mark.

That's one of the largest campaign totals ever for a Kentucky community college, MCC officials said.

Old National will continue to provide major sponsorship support to the Glema Center's Center Stage Series. With this pledge, the bank's total campaign commitment tops $100,000, making it one of the 15 lead pledges in the campaign.

"Our Center Stage shows are the foundation for our entire season," Executive Director Brad Downall said in a press release. "Each of these performances cost roughly $32,000-$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."

Old National officials consider the arts center, as well as other MCC programs, to be a major asset to the community, said Community President Kent 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," Mills said. "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."

Old National will sponsor the opening act for the 2007-08 season, which has not yet been announced.

The pledge continues the bank's generosity, said Dr. Judy Rhoads, MCC president. Since 1988, Old National has provided more than $720,000 to the college.