To the benefit of all of the Greater Shepparton community, the Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation have made a very generous donation of $1,000,000 towards the new Shepparton Art Museum (SAM).
In acknowledgement of this generous gift, the SAM building foyer will now carry the Peter Copulos and family name.
Peter Copulos, a well-known and respected Shepparton businessman and philanthropist, migrated to Australia at age eight. He commenced work at 15 years of age and has since built success upon success. Peter and his wife, Maria, established their foundation in 2008 to give back to the local community in appreciation for the opportunities they and their family have been given in the Goulburn Valley region.
Peter Copulos said: “I have been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to come to Shepparton at a young age and to be able to work hard and build up our family business here. This town and region have been very good to me and my family and I value the opportunity to give back to significant projects like the new SAM, which will have lasting benefits for Shepparton’s future”.
SAM Foundation chair, John Head said “On behalf of the SAM Foundation we are truly appreciative of the continued generosity of Peter Copulos and the Peter and Maria Copulos Foundation. Their ongoing investment in important projects for the Greater Shepparton community enables organisations such as ours to make a real difference. Such a significant contribution assists with the new SAM becoming a reality”.
“This gift is proof that our generous donors and supporters understand the centrality of arts and culture for our communities,” suggests Dr Rebecca Coates, SAM director. “A gift of this magnitude underlies Shepparton Art Museum’s importance in leading the way in aspiration and action, and creating a place and space that will provide boundless opportunities and meaningful experiences for members of our community and beyond”.
The SAM Foundation is a Shepparton-based organisation endorsed as a tax-deductible gift recipient, with the foundation working to support the Shepparton Art Museum in enriching the cultural offerings within Greater Shepparton.
