Stuart and Stephanie Bloch of Wheeling, long-time friends and advocates of the College of Creative Arts, have pledged $100,000 to the Art Museum of West Virginia University for its new Print Study/Collection Room.
The room will be one of the distinctive features of the new museum building, to be located near the Creative Arts Center on the Evansdale Campus. The groundbreaking for the new building will take place in 2013.
“We are deeply grateful to Stephanie and Stu Bloch for their generous gift in support of the Art Museum of WVU,” said Art Museum Director Joyce Ice. “The museum’s print holdings are clearly one of the strengths of the collection, in both historic and contemporary examples. In recognition of their generous gift, the Print Study/Collection Room will be named in their honor.
“This is just the latest in a series of gifts the Blochs have made to the College of Creative Arts and represents the thoughtful type of philanthropy for which they are known.”
The Blochs have been especially generous in their support of the College of Creative Arts. They created its Bloch Learning and Performance Hall, which was extensively renovated and outfitted with the latest audiovisual technology. It is now an exceptional recital hall and a first-class academic and lecture hall. Additionally, the Blochs have provided support for numerous student scholarships and computer technology upgrades at the College.
Stuart and Stephanie Bloch are charter members of the WVU Foundation’s planned giving donor group, the Irvin Stewart Society.
They were named Most Loyal West Virginians in October 2005 at WVU. Most Loyal West Virginians exemplify faithfulness to the ideals and goals of the state of West Virginia through business, professional and civic achievement, as well as support of WVU.
Stuart Bloch has enjoyed a successful career as president of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Co., of Mail Pouch fame, from 1968-75. Currently, he serves as executive vice president and director of Hazlett, Burt and Watson, Inc., an investment and securities firm.
Bloch has served on several high-profile committees, most notably as the 52nd president of the U.S. Golf Association. He has served WVU on the School of Medicine Visiting Committee and was a former member and chairman of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors. He is currently a member of the Foundation Directors Emeritus group.
Bloch is involved in his community through service to the Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corporation, the United Way and Rotary International.
Stephanie Hawkins Bloch is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. She is a member emeritus of the WVU College of Creative Arts Visiting Committee and a former member of the Board of Advisors of WVU’s Blaney House. She was a member of the Snowshoe Institute Board of Advisors and the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Foundation and a board member of the Oglebay Institute. She is currently affiliated with the King’s Daughters Child Care Center.
The Bloch contribution was made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $750 million comprehensive campaign being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2015.
