Be Part of What Will Last for Generations

The lights rise. The orchestra tunes. Families settle into their seats as excitement fills the La Porte Civic Auditorium — a building that has hosted memories, milestones, and music for almost 100 years.

And now, its future is brighter than ever.

On December 13, 2025, at the annual Holiday at the Pops concert, the La Porte City Park Foundation announced the creation of the Bowers Family Fund, established exclusively to support the Civic Auditorium for generations to come.

It began with an extraordinary act of generosity.

Edwin E. and Karen A. Bowers made a lead gift of $500,000, with additional contributions pledged for the future. In recognition of their transformational support, the Civic stage now carries their name: The Bowers Family Stage

But the Bowers family does not want this to be the end of the story.
They hope it will be the beginning — an invitation for the entire community to join them in keeping this community treasure viable for years to come.

The Bowers Family Fund will provide long-term support for:

• Operations and maintenance
• Upkeep and repairs
• Facility improvements
• Construction needs that preserve and enhance the Civic

A three-person Advisory Committee, appointed by the Foundation Board, will recommend how funds are used to sustain the building’s future. While contributions can be made immediately, the Foundation will launch a formal campaign for the Fund in 2026.

This is what generosity looks like in La Porte.
It’s a family stepping forward to invest in a landmark — and a community choosing to carry the legacy forward.

If the Civic Auditorium has ever given you a moment — a concert, a celebration, a graduation, a memory — now is the time to give back.

Give today. Because the Civic Auditorium deserve to last forever.