Museum Volunteer, Former Teacher Donates $1.7M To Detroit Institute Of Arts

DETROIT (WWJ) - A generous donation has been made to the Detroit Institute of Arts by a woman who devoted 19-years of her life volunteering at the museum's gift shop.

Eighty-six-year old Elizabeth Verdow, who was a Detroit Public Schools art teacher, died last June. The DIA announced Tuesday that Verdow left the museum$1.7 million.

In the bequest, she stipulated that $1.2 million be used to buy contemporary art paintings and sculptures, while $450,000 be funneled into the museum's endowment for annual operations.