OUR COMMUNITY

T

he William Davidson 
Foundation announced 
two grants to honor the 
life and memory of Byron and 
Dorothy Gerson, the broth-
er-in-law and sister of the 
Foundation’s founder. Totaling 
$6.5 million, the grants to the 
Detroit Institute of Arts and the 
Detroit Symphony Orchestra 
will support two of Michigan’s 
arts and cultural institutions 
that held special significance to 
Mrs. Gerson and her late hus-
band, Byron. Mrs. Gerson died 
in April 2021 at age 99.
“These grants, in memory 
of my mother and father, are 
a reflection of both family 
and Foundation priorities,
” 
said Ralph Gerson, treasurer 
and director of the William 
Davidson Foundation. “My 
mother and my uncle had a 
very close relationship through-
out their lives, going back to 
their time growing up as chil-
dren living in Detroit. Together, 
they were introduced to world-
class art, music and creative tal-
ents beginning at a young age. 
It was important to them that 
families across the region enjoy 
similar experiences for genera-
tions to come.
” 
Ralph Gerson also serves as 
vice chair of the DIA Board of 
Directors and as officer at large 
on the DSO Board of Directors 
The grants include $5 million 
to the DIA. Mrs. Gerson was 
a longtime board member of 
the DIA and, along with her 
husband, Byron “Bud” Gerson, 

who passed away in 2013, 
donated and funded the acqui-
sition of many pieces for the 
museum’s collection. 
The Foundation’s new 
grant to the DIA
’s endowment 
will support the museum’s 
American Art department and 
its position of curator, which 
will now be named the Byron 
and Dorothy Gerson Curator 
and Department Head of 
American Art. The gift will also 
establish a new lecture series 
to bring prominent speakers to 
Detroit for free events to ben-
efit the DIA and metropolitan 
Detroit communities. 
“The Detroit Institute of 
Arts is fortunate to have had 
the Gersons as dedicated 
and passionate leaders,
” said 
Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA 
director, president and CEO. 
 “They were devoted and 
active members of the museum 
for more than 40 years, who 
generously donated a wide vari-
ety of objects to our permanent 
collection in addition to provid-
ing financial support. 
“We are grateful for this 
new gift from the William 
Davidson Foundation that will 
help continue the work that 

Bud and Dottie loved so much, 
and allows us to commemorate 
their legacy in the art world.
”
The grants also include $1.5 
million for the DSO. Mrs. 
Gerson served as a member of 
the symphony’s Development 
Committee, as she and Mr. 
Gerson were active fundrais-
ers, life-long classical series 
subscribers and regular attend-
ees of other performances at 
Orchestra Hall. 
This gift, to the DSO endow-
ment, will help ensure the 
symphony’s continuing artistic 
excellence — by attracting and 
retaining the best musicians 
and guaranteeing education 
and youth programs in the 
future. It also secures nam-
ing, in memory of Byron and 
Dorothy Gerson, for the DSO’s 
principal bassoon.
“My father and my aunt grew 
up going to youth concerts 
at the DSO, which created 
memories that lasted for their 
lifetimes,
” said Ethan Davidson, 
grants committee chair 
and director of the William 
Davidson Foundation. 
“Our family and Foundation’s 
commitment to music in 
Detroit spans three generations, 

and we want to maintain that in 
my aunt’s memory.
” 
“Dorothy and Byron Gerson 
were cherished members of the 
DSO family for decades,
” said 
Erik Rönmark, DSO president 
and CEO. “They shared our 
belief in the power of music to 
change lives, and for the DSO 
to be a powerful cultural bea-
con for the city and region. 
 “We are grateful for this new 
gift from the William Davidson 
Foundation that will have a 
transformational impact and 
allow us to maintain a high 
level of excellence both onstage 
and in the community, and 
we thank the foundation and 
Ralph Gerson for their contin-
ued partnership and leader-
ship.
” 
Darin McKeever, presi-
dent and CEO of the William 
Davidson Foundation, said, 
“Dorothy Gerson lived a 
remarkable life of service. As 
we seek to build on William 
Davidson’s legacy of generosity, 
it is fitting that our Foundation 
honors the memory of his only 
sibling — an extraordinary 
leader, not only for her family, 
but for this community.
” 

These new Detroit arts and culture grants are in 
memory of Byron and Dorothy Gerson.

Davidson Foundation Announces 
$6.5 Million in Grants

Dorothy Gerson

24 | FEBRUARY 17 • 2022 

Byron Gerson
Ralph Gerson
Ethan Davidson

