City, Downtown Arlington and Texas Trust Credit Union Celebrate Legacy of Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch

By Office of Communications

Posted on September 20, 2024, September 20, 2024

The City of Arlington, Downtown Arlington Management Corporation and Texas Trust Credit Union recognized the legacy of philanthropist Elizabeth “Liz” Levitt Hirsch this week.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross proclaimed Sept. 17, 2024, as Liz Levitt Hirsch Day. Levitt Hirsch, known as a champion of the arts, community and social justice, died in May at age 72. In the proclamation, Ross remembered Levitt Hirsch for her gift to connect and inspire people to achieve a shared vision and for channeled her lifelong passion for the performing arts into a source for positive social change in towns and cities across America, including Arlington.

The Levitt Pavilion Arlington, established in 2008 thanks to the generous support of the Levitt Foundation, has become a cornerstone of Downtown Arlington, offering more than 50 free concerts annually, creating a gathering place for residents and visitors of all ages, and providing an inclusive platform for diverse local and national musical talent.

 Also this week, the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation and Texas Trust Credit United awarded Levitt Hirsch with its 2024 Dream Builder Award. This is the ninth year for the award, which honors individuals who have made the greatest contributions to revitalizing downtown Arlington and making Arlington The American Dream City.

 In 2001, Levitt Hirsch took over the reins of the family foundation – the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation – that was her father’s dream, bringing free music under the stars to people across America. Within her first year of overseeing the foundation, Levitt Hirsch led the first venture philanthropy effort to develop the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena, Calif. In addition to the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena, her engagement in other communities helped bring the Levitt program to life in Los Angeles (2007), Arlington, Texas (2008), Memphis (2008), Bethlehem, Pa. (2011), and Sioux Falls (2019).

 Levitt Hirsch came to Arlington for the first time in 2006, meeting with local leaders and embracing the vision of building a Levitt Pavilion here as a new centerpiece for the City’s downtown revitalization strategy.

 “You cannot tell the story of Downtown Arlington’s revitalization without talking about the impact that the Levitt Pavilion has had on our downtown, creating a beloved citywide destination where all feel welcome, while sparking economic growth and new businesses in every direction,” said Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation.

 The Dream Builder Award was presented to the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation and the Levitt family on behalf of the DAMC by Jim Minge, CEO of Texas Trust Credit Union, during the DAMC’s annual meeting and luncheon. Texas Trust is actively involved in the DAMC and conceived of the Dream Builder Award as a way to honor and recognize the visionaries that are making downtown Arlington a thriving destination.