Arlene Schnitzer, Philanthropist and Downright Good Citizen

Arlene Schnitzer has made a mission of fostering artistic excellence and diversity throughout the Northwest, advocating eloquently for the key role the arts play in a society’s social, cultural and economic well-being.  Frequently described as “far-sighted and visionary” the native Oregonian’s energetic leadership has advanced local and national arts organizations such as the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Ballet Theatre, the Oregon Symphony, The National Council of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the National Committee for the Performing Arts/Kennedy Center, and the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California.

Educational and social service institutions also receive a generous share of Mrs. Schnitzer’s philanthropic and volunteer commitment.  She has been actively involved with The Northwest Academy, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland, The Oregon Health & Sciences University Foundation and several state-wide appointments.  With her husband, Harold, Mrs. Schnitzer co-founded the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, which not only awards grants and supports a variety of health, social service and community organizations in the community, but also operates a program, entitled “Care To Share”.  This program, operating at Oregon Health and Sciences University, was established is help fund medical and personal financial needs of families when they have a child involved in a health crisis.

Public recognition received by Mrs. Schnitzer includes having received the Aubrey R. Watzek Award from Lewis Clark College, the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Oregon, the Distinguished Service Award from Western Oregon State College, an honorary degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pacific Northwest College of Art, the Equal Opportunity Award from the Urban League of Portland, and with her husband Harold the prestigious First Citizen Award.

Regarded as one of the foremost galleries in the Northwest, Arlene Schnitzer’s “Fountain Gallery of Art” nurtured many of the region’s finest visual artists from 1961 to 1987.  During a fourteen-year television career, Mrs. Schnitzer produced programs on wide ranging topics on the arts and social issues, subjects not often thoughtfully and publicly discussed at that time.

Most recently Arlene Schnitzer and her husband, Harold, established the James DePreist Professorship in Ethnic Art at Portland State University’s School of Fine & Performing Arts.  The endowment, named in tribute to the Oregon Symphony’s renowned conductor emeritus, will create new opportunities in art education for students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.  “Regardless of what career path is chosen in life,” Mrs. Schnitzer notes, “one’s humanity can be enhanced through some connection with the arts.”