Partners

Ms. Margo Bindhardt, who dedicated her life to promotion of and access to the arts, passed away May 20, 2009. People were drawn to Margo. She had great warmth, fierce determination and a tremendous sense of humor and fun. Margo was born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio on March 19, 1942 five minutes before her twin brother, George. Margo graduated from Briarcliff College in New York. Margo was the daughter of Gilbert and Louise Humphrey and is also survived by her mother and her brothers Watts (Sally) and George (Patience). Margo created a wonderful life for her family and left the world a better place by being a tireless leader of countless nonprofit organizations. Margo was extensively involved in the arts and education in both Canada and the United States.

A former chairman of the Florida Arts Council, she has also served as President of the Art Gallery of Ontario, President and Chairman of the Canadian Opera Company and President of the Toronto Arts Council. She served as Great Lakes Regional Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Margo also was the Chairman of the Thomasville Cultural Center, Citizen for Florida Arts, Tallahassee's Seven Days of Opening Nights, Pebble Hill Foundation, and the Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival.

Margo's involvement also spanned numerous educational institutions. Notably, she helped found The Country Day School, a leading independent school in Ontario along with chairing funding campaigns for Queen's and Trent Universities in Canada along with Florida State University. Margo's leadership and dedication came from examples in her own family. Her paternal grandfather served as Secretary of the Treasury under President Eisenhower. Her maternal grandmother was the first female Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare for the state of Ohio. Her father was Chairman and CEO of Hanna Mining Company and her mother was the first female President of the Metropolitan Opera Association.

Margo always had a twinkle in her eye and once she put her mind to something, she thoroughly enjoyed engaging people to achieve a mutual goal. Margo was an active leader until the end. On May 1st, she helped with the groundbreaking of the Arts Exchange complex and also was honored to have "Margo Bindhardt Day" proclaimed in Florida's capital on May 1st, 2009. Margo was blessed with a large range of interests from opera, to horses, to art, and her beloved Labradors. Margo's proudest achievements were her family and her deep friendships.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 274 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The members of The Links, Incorporated are influential decision makers and opinion leaders.

The Links, Inc. has attracted many distinguished women who are individual achievers and have made a difference in their communities and the world. They are business and civic leaders, role models, mentors, activists and volunteers who work towards a common vision by engaging like-minded organizations and individuals for partnership. Links members contribute more than 500,000 documented hours of community service annually - strengthening their communities and enhancing the nation. The organization is the recipient of awards from the UN Association of New York and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for its premier programs The outstanding programming of The Links, Incorporated has five facets which include National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, International Trends and Services and Health and Human Services. The programs are implemented through strategies such as public information and education, economic development, and public policy campaigns.