Marcy Friedman

Honorary Degrees
 
 

Marcy FriedmanMarcy Friedman

Arts Supporter/Philanthropist

California State University, Sacramento

Marcy Friedman has been a champion in the arts community in the Sacramento region and throughout the state for nearly four decades. As co-chair of the Crocker Art Museum's largest-ever fundraising campaign, she is leading a $100 million, 100,000- square-foot transformation of the facility into a world-class attraction befitting California's state capital. She and her husband, Morton, donated $10 million to the project.

Mrs. Friedman has advanced the cultural and philanthropic missions of numerous non-profit associations as a board member for The California Museum, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, the United Way, the Leland Stanford Mansion Foundation, the California Alliance, and the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region. She also served as director of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation for 12 years.

During her two terms on the California Arts Council, Mrs. Friedman was a strong advocate for public art and the beauty and benefits that such works bring to public spaces. She helped select works that are displayed at many government buildings and at the Sacramento International Airport.

Her legacy includes contributions to education that have enhanced opportunities for all ages. She established the Capital Unity Center which promotes racial and ethnic understanding in Sacramento. She founded "The Magic of Reading" program to foster a love of reading in elementary schools and led a literacy initiative that helped Sacramento's Jefferson Elementary School become a California Distinguished School.

In support of higher education, she has served on Sacramento State's School of the Arts Advisory Committee. The Morton and Marcy Friedman Foundation has provided gifts to the University for student scholarships, campus beautification and a speaker series in memory of the late Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna.

In recognition of her personal and professional accomplishments and meritorious service to society, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, Sacramento are proud to confer upon Marcy Friedman the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.