Toledo Opera and Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union (TUFCU) have announced an expansion to their longstanding partnership that aims to open up economic, educational, and cultural opportunities for residents of Toledo.

The Toledo Opera’s Endowment Committee, independent from Toledo Opera’s larger Board of Trustees, recently approved a $100,000 investment at the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union in order to initiate strategic financing as well as programming collaboration and outreach.

In a statement, the Toledo Opera Executive Director Suzanne Rorick said, “Toledo Opera’s relationship with the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union began several years ago when Dick LaValley introduced us to Suzette Cowell, chief executive officer of TUFCU. Five years ago, Toledo Opera also began working more closely with the Junction neighborhood, at the Mott Library and other locations, to bring accessible opera programming to Central Toledo. We are pleased to make this investment coinciding with TUFCU’s 25^th anniversary in the community.”

The Toledo Opera is set to open its 2021-22 season with Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” and is expected to showcase Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson and Verdi’s “La Traviata.”