MORE THAN $ 1.3 MILLION IN NEW GIFTS FOR THE BERMAN FAMILY ERFORMING ARTS CENTER
ADVANCING THE MISSION
Recognizing a Year of Generous Giving
THIS YEAR, STEVENSON UNIVERSITY HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT GIFTS IN SUPPORT OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE SANDRA AND MALCOLM BERMAN FAMILY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
MORE THAN $ 1.3 MILLION IN NEW GIFTS FOR THE BERMAN FAMILY ERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The realization of the new Berman Family Performing Arts Center would not be possible without the unwavering support of our community. In 2025, Stevenson University received more than $ 1,300,000 in new gifts to advance the Center’ s construction.
In September, Stevenson proudly announced a $ 1 million naming gift from Phyllis and Louis Friedman for the 400-seat concert hall within the new Performing Arts Center. In honor of this generous contribution, the venue will be named the Phyllis Cole Friedman Concert Hall.
Louis and Phyllis Friedman
Phyllis and Louis Friedman are longstanding friends and dedicated supporters of Stevenson. Their generosity has been vital to many projects that have transformed our campus and enriched our students’ educational experiences.“ Stevenson University, with its focus on the skill sets most needed in the modern world, holds a unique position among institutions of higher learning in the Metropolitan Baltimore area,” the Friedmans shared.“ The new Berman Performing Arts Center will offer enrichment opportunities not only for the university but for the entire community. It is our great honor to participate in this project by sponsoring the Phyllis Cole Friedman Concert Hall.”
The Friedmans are partners at Friedman & Friedman, LLP, a Towsonbased law practice. Louis holds a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law and an LLM in Taxation from Georgetown University. Phyllis is an alumna of Goucher College, Peabody Institute, Tufts University, and the University of Maryland School of Law.
Both individually and as trustees of various charitable foundations, the Friedmans have played an instrumental role in securing numerous gifts supporting Stevenson’ s expanding campus. As trustees of the Philip A. Zaffere Foundation, they facilitated the naming gift for Stevenson’ s Philip A. Zaffere Library and Philip A. Zaffere Amphitheater in 2024. Additionally, they helped secure gifts for several facilities within the new Performing Arts Center, including the naming of the 225-seat Herman and Walter Samuelson Foundation Theater; the Beverly K. and Jerome M. Fine Foundation Lobby; and the Peggy and Yale Gordon Trust Lighting and Audio Control Booth.
As Stevenson eagerly anticipates the dedication and opening of the Berman Family Performing Arts Center in 2026, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all donors for their steadfast commitment to this transformative project and to enriching our students’ educational journeys. Below, we recognize the donors and organizations who contributed in 2025 toward the Berman Family Performing Arts Center:
• Barbara and Thomas Bozzuto made a $ 150,000 gift to name the Bozzuto Family Charitable Trust Box Office.
• Rick Bastinelli made a $ 50,000 gift to name the Bastinelli Family Gallery Hall.
• Jim and Jackie Stradtner made a $ 50,000 gift to name the James and Jacqueline Stradtner Café.
22 | VENTURES / FALL 2025