Long Wharf Theatre Receives a Transformational Gift

Sometimes, a single gift can change everything. In 2022, Long Wharf Theatre experienced such a moment when Carol Mihalik, a dedicated donor and former patron, left us an unexpected bequest of over $1.1 million. Carol’s generosity, revealed only after her passing, has created a lasting legacy that will enrich the New Haven community for years to come.

Carol’s bequest arrived at a pivotal time, just as Long Wharf Theatre was navigating the aftermath of the pandemic and embarking on a bold new model for regional theatre. A portion of her gift provided essential support for day-to-day operations, helping to sustain our productions and expand our community programming. These initiatives, central to our mission, have been made possible thanks to Carol’s foresight and generosity.

But Carol’s impact doesn’t stop there. The majority of her bequest was wisely invested in our endowment, ensuring that her contribution will continue to support Long Wharf Theatre far into the future. This financial stability allows us to dream bigger, offering innovative, boundary-breaking theatre that’s accessible to all.

Carol was a true lover of the arts—a brilliant scientist by profession, but an artist at heart. She spent her days managing FDA clinical studies, but in her free time, she painted, wove, and hiked the trails near her Hamden home. A dedicated patron, she began attending Long Wharf Theatre shortly after moving to the area, and even after relocating to Delaware in 2017, she remained a loyal supporter.

Long Wharf Theatre has been honored with many bequests over our 60-year history, each one deeply appreciated. If you’ve ever thought about how you might leave your own mark, there are several simple ways to do so. Like Carol, you can include a bequest in your will, name Long Wharf Theatre as a beneficiary of your retirement account or life insurance policy, or designate us as a payable on death (POD) beneficiary of a bank or brokerage account.

If you’re interested in exploring how you can create a lasting legacy at Long Wharf Theatre, please contact the development team, at development@longwharf.org. And if you’ve already included us in your plans, we’d love to thank you personally and welcome you to our Legacy Circle.