Palm Beach Opera announced at the 50th
Anniversary Golden Jubilee Gala on
January 20 that long-time supporter
Helen K. Persson has made a $1 million
gift in honor of the organization’s 50th
anniversary.
Mrs. Persson has been involved with Palm
Beach Opera since 1996 and became a
member of the board of directors in
1999. A known philanthropist for the
arts in the community, Helen provided
the Palm Beach Opera with a $500,000
challenge grant during the 2009-2010
season, and was the sponsor of the
company’s performances of Beethoven’s
Symphony No. 9 in 2009 and
Verdi’s Requiem in 2011. Last
March, as the Opera planned the 50th
anniversary season, Helen Persson made a
$1million gift in honor of the 50th
Anniversary Season to guarantee a
splendid Golden Jubilee celebration and
to maintain artistic excellence
throughout the season.
“With her magnanimous support,
leadership and vision over the past
seasons, Helen Persson has become Palm
Beach Opera’s Guardian Angel”,
said Daniel Biaggi, General Director of
the company. “Helen’s deep love and
knowledge of opera, as well as her
passion to see the arts thrive, has
given this community the gift of
marvelous symphonic and operatic
performances. Helen is a beacon of hope
and support, serves as inspiration to
all of us, and sets the standards for
other community leaders to ensure that
the arts and culture have a prominent
place in Palm Beach County.”
Helen K. Persson graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania Nursing
School as a registered nurse and went on
to serve there as head nurse in
pediatrics. She joined the Navy during
World War II and served in the Navy
Nurse Corps where she rose to the rank
of Lt. Commander. Her commitment to
health and well-being presaged her
strong support of Sloan-Kettering in New
York, Good Samaritan Hospital in Palm
Beach County and recently Cape Cod
Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Helen studied music, in particular
opera, and performed often. Her love of
the arts has not abated, and she remains
a staunch supporter of the Kravis Center
for the Performing Arts, the
Metropolitan Opera and Palm Beach Opera.
Palm Beach Atlantic University named a
recital hall in her honor. The Helen K.
Persson Recital Hall includes studios,
practice space, classrooms and offices.
Florida Atlantic University College of
Nursing honored her by inducting her
into the university’s chapter of Sigma
Theta Tau, the international nursing
honor society.
Helen established the eminent scholar
chair in community caring at Florida
Atlantic University so that all of
society would benefit. In 1996 Palm
Beach Atlantic University honored her
with its Women of Distinction Award, and
the National Society of Fund Raising
Executives presented her with the
Outstanding Philanthropist Award. Palm
Beach Atlantic presented her with an
honorary degree in May 2001. She is
committed to Colgate University. There
she and her husband, Ted, have provided
the major support to build Persson Hall,
home to three social science departments
as well as the Helen K. Persson
Auditorium. In 1984 Colgate presented
her with an honorary degree.
Palm Beach Opera is dedicated to
producing world-class opera and diverse
educational programs which play an
integral role in the artistic and
overall enrichment of the communities it
serves. Palm Beach Opera was
incorporated in May 1961 and is a proud
member of the Palm Beach Cultural
Council.