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Riggs Estate Gives $1.8M to Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

2 min read

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra said Tuesday that it received the largest individual donation in its history — $1.8 million from the estate of the late Linda Garner Riggs.

The money, given to the orchestra’s foundation endowment, will help expand the organization’s educational program and “continue to attract outstanding professional musicians to the Natural State,” the ASO said in a news release.

“We are overwhelmingly thankful for this gift from a longtime benefactor and friend,” ASO CEO Christina Littlejohn said. “Linda loved the symphony. She was intelligent, kind and special to me and to all of us who recognize the importance of arts and cultural institutions like ours. 

“Through Linda’s generosity, we can position ourselves for the future with a strong, sustainable endowment fund that further solidifies ASO as one of our state’s cultural cornerstones. Our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will all benefit from this gift.”

Riggs died in November at age 70. A former chairwoman of the ASO Foundation’s board of directors, she was an Arkansas insurance commissioner and worked as legislative and budget director for Gov. Frank White. After working in state government, she joined Stephens Inc. of Little Rock, where she was a managing director of the company’s investment banking firm. She retired in 2010 after 25 years at the firm.

“Linda loved the sound of the orchestra and recognized the ability of its members and leadership,” her husband, Dr. Lamar Riggs, said. “Her gift commemorates her memory and its melody.”

The orchestra said the donation will endow the orchestra’s principal cello chair, which will be permanently named for her.

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