NRI, Dr. Pallavi Patel Performance
Arts Conservatory
Two years ago, the two doctors hit the headlines with
a $5-million contribution to the Tampa Bay Performing
Arts Center's new arts school, now named the Dr. Pallavi
Patel Performing Arts Conservatory at the Center.
The donation was part of the Center’s $30 million
capital campaign.
The conservatory is a four-story, 45,000-square-foot
structure on the north side of the performing arts
center. It was opened in October with more than 600
students. It offers classes ranging from On-Camera
Acting to Rock School to an interactive playtime for
preschoolers and parents. The school will have no
academic inclinations and will concentrate entirely
on training and studying performing arts.
The new school provides state-of-the-art facilities
to help talented youngsters grow and become more proficient
in their arts. Local theatre teachers to award-winning
professionals like Broadway star Ann Reinking have
been employed for this purpose.
The building features large, acoustically optimized
rehearsal places for youth orchestras; rooms for voice
lessons and dance recitals, as well as classes in
screenwriting, stage lighting and set building.
According to Dr. Kiran, music, dance and the likes
are the interests of his wife. In pursuance of her
passion, he asked if she would like to be involved
with the local performance arts centre. One thing
led to another and soon they made one of their largest
donations towards the performance arts centre. It
was an impulsive move, and one of the largest donations,
though similar amounts have been granted to hospitals
in India.
Dr. Pallavi Patel is extremely happy and hopes to
be involved passionately in the school. She believes
that the school will provide the opportunity to bring
forth talent that is often hidden in people. She says
that for those who have the interest and potential,
there is no place to learn and this school will be
the perfect channel for them
It was the magnitude of impact and the sheer scale
of the arts centre that attracted Dr. Kiran. This
institution touches approximately 150,000 people annually.
Also Dr. Kiran hopes that this centre would probably
continue its activities for the next 50 to 100 years
making it a sustainable project. He trusts that in
the future, institutions such as these will help to
remove the ethnic barriers through culture and music.
This would go a long way in helping people unite as
communities grow into multicultural societies.
KIRAN AND PALLAVI PATEL
Other donations from Kiran and Pallavi Patel:
$5-MILLION for the Dr. Pallavi Patel School for the
Performing Arts at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
$3-MILLION for a new heart-research institute near
University Community Hospital in Tampa.
$450,000 to help fund a new building for the University
of South Florida charter school for at-risk children.
LAND for the Hindu Temple of Florida in Carrollwood.
Source: St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune archives
OTHERS' DONATIONS
Some large, recent donations to colleges and universities
in Florida:
NOVEMBER 2002
SCHOOL: Ave Maria University
DONATION: $200-million (to start the school)
DONOR: Thomas S. Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza
DECEMBER 2004
SCHOOL: University of Miami School of Medicine (became
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine)
DONATION: $100-million
DONOR: family of Leonard Miller (founder of Lennar
Corp. and former chairman of the UM board of trustees)
APRIL 2004
SCHOOL: Rollins College
DONATION: $73.3-million bequest
DONOR: 1935 graduate George Cornell
AUGUST 2004
SCHOOL: University of Central Florida
DONATION: $24-million
DONOR: Northrop Grumman
JULY 2004
SCHOOL: University of Central Florida
DONATION: $10-million donation to help create a college
of biomedical sciences
DONOR: Al and Nancy Burnett
