Couple Donate $1.3 Million To Corvette Museum (And Buy Their Sixth Corvette)

[matcom]

nothing like donating to a worthy cause :eyes:

<snip>


SHERWOOD — Ivan Schrodt had a simple explanation for the appeal of the Corvette.

"You get into it because of the car, but you stay in it because of the people," he said Monday.

Passion for the car and the people led Sherwood's Ivan and Mary Schrodt to recently donate $1.3 million to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.

The gift was the largest in the museum's history. The money will go toward a planned $14 million expansion, museum director Wendell Strode said. The project is slated for completion in the summer of 2009, Strode said.

The Schrodts, members of the Valley Vettes Corvette Club, said they gave the money to the museum because they have no children and have an affection for the cars.

The museum held a reception in the couple's honor Saturday night, while the Schrodts were in Bowling Green to pick up their sixth Corvette, a 2007 black Z06 model.

"We expanded our garage so we can house them," said Ivan Schrodt 60, a retired research director for Kimberly-Clark Corp. "We drive them all."

Strode said fundraising efforts to expand the Corvette museum by 50,200 square feet will increase soon. The project calls for a larger store with attached warehousing space, a library archive, an embroidery shop and a Corvette Cafe, which will be a basic diner.

Ivan Schrodt said he and his wife have always enjoyed cars, but started specializing in Corvettes about 10 years ago.

Their collection includes a 1966 convertible, a 1980 coupe, a 1996 convertible and now three Corvettes from the 2000s. Their latest is a high- performance model. Each drives differently, and they love each one for different reasons, Schrodt said.

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061114/APC0101/611140613/1003/APC01

[lizziegrace]

1. My parents have two

'67 big block and a 2006 convertible. :eyes:

[GOPisEvil]

2. They could have donated 1.2 million to the 'Vette museum, and given me 100K.

I'd have put that to better use. :eyes:

[rug]

3. The Yugo museum needs more help.

[azmouse]

4. Corvettes are great cars but

I could see that money being better used to actually help feed or house people. Or maybe medical research.
But it is their money and they have the right to do with it as they see fit.

I should say that my husband and I do own a 'Vette. A 2001 Z06 in electron blue. Swwweeet!