Anne Catherine Murray has joined Piedmont’s Augusta Hub as executive director of philanthropy.
Anne Catherine had served as executive director of Augusta Symphony, Inc., since 2015, where she strategized the pursuit of all grants and fundraising, according to a news release from Piedmont.
n addition, she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Augusta Symphony and the Miller Theater, to include administrative and personnel planning, budgeting, marketing and working with the music director to maintain artistic excellence and exceed audience expectations. She oversaw the $23 million renovation of the historic Miller Theater, the fundraising and construction of the Knox Music Institute and was a driving force behind the implementation of a group music therapy program, now part of Community Chords Music Therapy for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the release said.
“Piedmont strongly supports keeping philanthropy local, with dollars raised in Augusta benefitting the Augusta community,” said Dr. Lily Henson, Piedmont Augusta’s chief executive officer. “For that reason, it was extremely important to our leadership team to find an executive director of philanthropy with deep roots in Augusta and a love for this community. We have found the perfect team member in Anne Catherine, and we could not be more pleased that she is joining the Piedmont family and will continue the great works of Piedmont Augusta’s Foundation to make a positive difference in every life they touch.”
Before joining the Augusta Symphony, Murray was vice president from 2010-2015 of Flywheel LLC, and led the rehabilitation and adaptive use of several historic buildings, including the LEED Gold certified Sutherland Mill for medical offices, the LEED Gold certified William Robinson School for condominiums, the Houghton School (now Heritage Academy) and the Widow’s Home (an early location of University Hospital, now Christ Community Health Services).
Other pertinent prior experience includes Turn Back the Block, Inc., Augusta, Ga., co-founder and leader of the nonprofit organization which works to revitalize Augusta’s Harrisburg community and promote homeownership therein. From 2003-2005, Anne Catherine researched residential building trends and developed and implemented architectural guidelines and a design review process for Blanchard & Calhoun Real Estate. She was project director of Enterprise Mill and director of Main Street Augusta, and prior to coming to Augusta, she worked in historic preservation in Atlanta and Athens.
“I’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Piedmont through the years as we’ve partnered on projects to benefit our community,” Murray said. “It’s an honor to now have the opportunity to further explore and expand the potential of Piedmont Augusta’s Foundation, while preserving and building on its great legacy.”
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