anniversary

Since it’s founding in 1976, SAMA has grown from a modest collection of 47 artworks into a distinguished cultural institution serving Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties. Over the past five decades, SAMA has enriched lives through art, culture, and education.

We sincerely appreciate any contributions to supporting our future exhibitions and 50th celebrations. Your continued generosity means so much as we enter this exciting new chapter.

HELP US REACH 100K

Your contribution to the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art is critical to our success. Serving the community through educational, cultural, and fulfilling opportunities requires assistance from a range of resources. Your gift to the annual giving campaign touches every aspect of museum operations and allows SAMA to continue to bring innovative Arts-in-Residence programs to our schools and celebrated American art to your hometown.

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SUPPORT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS

The 50th anniversary celebration will feature:

Special Exhibition: A retrospective highlighting key acquisitions and milestones over the decades. This exhibition will travel to be on display at each satellite museum within the year of our anniversary.
Community Engagement: SAMA has launched a tour contest designed to inspire art enthusiasts from each county to explore each of the other locations.
Educational Programs: Penn State Altoona interns are working on archival and exhibition design projects commemorating five decades of enriching the cultural fabric of Pennsylvania.
Signature Gala: The annual event in June 2026 will honor SAMA’s founders, supporters, and the communities it serves with an Awards Celebration.

50 Years of American Art Exhibition Schedule

SAMA JOHNSTOWN

SAMA BEDFORD

SAMA ALTOONA

SAMA LIGONIER

AUGUST 15, 2025 - DECEMBER 14, 2025

FEBRUARY 13, 2026 - APRIL 5, 2026

APRIL 17, 2026 - JULY 5, 2026

AUGUST 7, 2026 - NOVEMBER 1, 2026

Your contribution ensures you receive the following:

Announcements for exhibition openings and events
Exclusive invitations to annual fundraisers
The Gallery triannual newsletter of articles from directors on current programs
The Annual Review magazine measuring the success of the past year's programs

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS OF $1000 OR MORE WILL BE LISTED on this page.

Director’s Circle - $10,000+

Benefactor - $7,000 - $9,999

Connoisseur - $4,000 - $6,999

Enthusiast - $1,000 - $3,999

Sustainer - $500 - $999

Contributor - $200 - $499

Associate - $100 - $199

Friend - $50 - $99

Thank you to our 2024 Supporters!

GRANTS AND FOUNDATIONS

AVK Foundation

Altoona Curve Foundation

Bedford County Visitors Bureau

Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation

Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation-Altoona Rotary

Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation-Syra Bettwy Fund

Cleveland H. Dodge-In Memory of Mary Weidlein

The Colcom Foundation

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development

Community Foundation for the Alleghenies

City of Altoona

The Eamon Foundation

Emma Clyde Hodge Foundation

Frankenthaler Climate Initiative

The Glannon Family

Grable Foundation

Henry Luce Foundation

Hope Springs Eternal: the Holocaust Project

Jack Buncher Foundation

Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape

Laurel Highlands Visitor Bureau

Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor

National Endowment for the Arts

Pennsylvania ARPA Covid

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

Robinson Family Foundation

Rotary Club of Altoona: Grapes for Good

Scott and Diane Little Fund of the

Community Foundation for the Alleghenies

Walmart Foundation

Westmoreland Tourism Marketing Grant Program

The Wolf Kuhn Foundation

EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT (EITC) PROGRAM

Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery, Inc.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF $1,000+ DONORS

Cindy and Woody Acker

Altoona Grand Hotel

Jan and Dave Andrews

Dr. Magdi and Karen Azer

Kathy and Timothy Balconi

Bedford Borough

Ann and Bill Benzel

Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery, Inc.

Blair Companies

Blue Spark Financial

Maureen and Paul Calandra/JennMar

Nicole Carnicella

James Cayce and Tom Dosh

Centre Dental Care

Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation, Inc.

Coldwell Banker Town & Country Real Estate of Altoona

Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Joseph Coray

Courtesy Motor Sales, Inc.

Honorable Timothy P. Creany and Dr. Anne Creany

Fred Danziger

The Bruno & Lena DeGol Family Foundation

Debra Dellaposta

Lori Demko

Sandra and Paul Detwiler, III

DiAndrea Media

Doing Better Business, Inc.

Parie and John Duggan, Jr.

Everite Door Company

Fallingwater

Glenda and Michael Forosisky

Lynn and Steve George

Scott Gongaware

Helen Gorsuch

John Hammond

Joan and Jerry Hawk

Amber and Scott Hendershot

Jane and Lee Hite and Family

Holiday Pools

Timothy Inglis

Jersey Shore State Bank

Dr. Alice Joyce and

Cong. John Joyce, MD

Dede Kazmaier

Barbara and J. Martin Kooman

Kranich’s Jewelers

Laurel Auto Group

Elizabeth Lee

Paula and H. Dean Lemley

Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.

Diane and Dr. Scott Little

Dr. Renee Martin-Nagle, Esq.

McLanahan Corporation

McQuaide Blasko, Inc.

Richard A. Mellon

Susan Michael

Sandy and Thomas Minichiello

Joanne Morgan

Dr. Owen K. and Marian Morgan

Mount Aloysius College

Joan and Ted Mudge

Nestlerode & Loy, Inc.

Barry H. Newborn

Barbara O’Brien

Omni Bedford Springs

Catherine O’Neill

ORX Railway

Janet and Robert Pennington

Dr. Melissa Peppetti and Atty. Joel Peppetti

Pittsburgh Pirates

Bonnie Resinski

Bonnie and Dan Sandman

Lawrence Savino

Elliott Shaffer

Nancy and Steve Sheetz

Sheetz, Inc.

Florence and Mark Shuss

Smail Auto Group

Somerset Trust Company

Jana Standford Sidler

Margaret and Michael Strueber

Tiffany and Matt Stuckey

Stuckey Automotive

The Elmhurst Farm

Mrs. James Titelman

Tussey Landscaping, LLC

UPMC Altoona

UPMC Altoona Foundation

Debora Van Duren

Chantel Ventura

Ehrin and Bill Ward Jr.

Ward Transport & Logistics

Wessel & Company

Dr. and Mrs. Philip Woo, Jr

Wolf Kuhn Foundation

Laura Wray

Young Oakes & Brown Co.

Aileen B. Zollweg

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