The Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota, has announced a $3 million pledge from board member Brian Hayer.

The pledge in support of the museum’s Connecting Campaign is the largest the organization has ever received from a single donor. Currently in its planning phase, the campaign aims to support physically connecting the museum to the Katherine Kilbourne Center for Creativity and expanding space for galleries, classrooms, and collection storage.

Hayer, who is co-chairing the campaign, grew up in Fargo and graduated from South High School. He worked in many roles at Warner and Company Insurance before becoming owner of the business, which is now part of Bell Insurance.

“I’ve been connected to Plains Art Museum since the ’90s,” said Hayer. “This gift was sparked because I have seen the Plains Art Museum be a museum for everybody. I’ve been working downtown for over 30 years, and when I came out about 20 years ago, I was profoundly grateful for the acceptance and warmth this community extended to me. With my gift, I want to make sure everyone encounters the same generous acceptance I experienced by helping to create a Welcome Center at Plains. This gift will open doors to a world of possibilities for business leaders, kids, students, tourists, indigenous artists, and countless others impacted by Plains Art Museum—the museum that warmly embraces and welcomes all.”

(Photo credit: AJ Leon via Wikipedia, creative commons 2.0)