Editorials / Opinion

Seattle Times letters to the editor

Thanks to Poncho

It is with sadness and deep gratitude that we note the loss of Seattle’s longtime friend Poncho [“Pioneering arts patron Poncho to fold into larger fund,” NWSunday, Feb. 24].

Organized exactly 50 years ago, Poncho’s philanthropic volunteers stepped up to help the Seattle Symphony erase debts incurred in its 1962 production of Verdi’s “Aida” during the Seattle World’s Fair. Poncho’s efforts succeeded in retiring the debt, and provided an additional $50,000 for the following season’s production of “La Traviata” and the founding of Seattle Opera.

The Seattle Symphony is proud to have partnered with Poncho during its long history of support for arts and culture, and joins with the entire community in thanking all those who served at Poncho to help make Seattle’s cultural life as vibrant as it is today. In honor of this enormous contribution, the Symphony’s Masterworks Season performances on June 27-30, 2013, will be dedicated to Poncho.

–Simon Woods, executive director, Seattle Symphony