Y. David Scharf Appointed Director of the Board of Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Morrison Cohen Chair and Co-Managing Partner Y. David Scharf was unanimously elected by the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County’s Trust Board to serve as Director of the Board.

This is a great honor for Scharf, who believes strongly in the mission of the Arsht Center, which offers free community-based performances and programs designed to make the performing arts accessible to all. Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has served more than 50,000 young learners through its collaboration with Miami-Dade County public schools and has offered more than 100 culturally diverse and inclusive education programs. The Arsht Center is also a home stage for three resident companies – Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, and New World Symphony.

Scharf previously supported the Arsht Center’s original production of I am Me, a mixed-media theatrical work that tackles teens’ mental health and wellness issues, that began its tour of Miami-Dade County public high schools this earlier this year, performing at no cost to every ninth grade student and teacher in the county.

“Study after study show that kids who are engaged in the arts have deeper listening skills, greater empathy and self-esteem, marked improvements in class participation, and higher test scores over kids who are not arts engaged,” said Scharf. “I am delighted to serve on the board of the Arsht Center, an incredible organization that understands that sharing the arts with young people means contributing to their intellectual and emotional development and investing in healthier and smarter future generations.”