Philanthropist
Philanthropist
Patricia Anne Shaheen has worked tirelessly to revitalize Saginaw County and the Great Lakes Bay Region. Throughout her time managing business entities, residential apartments and office complexes, she and her family have kept major landmarks alive and have created new ones for the benefit of all the region’s residents.
Among Patricia’s major accomplishments is her support of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra (SBSO), for which she served on the Board of Trustees from 2001-2013, and as president from 2004-2006. She initiated and chaired the Holiday Housewalk, a signature SBSO fundraiser, from 2001-2014.
Patricia and her husband, Dr. Samuel Shaheen, were also responsible for the revitalization of the Temple Theatre. They purchased the decaying building in 2002, funded its $7 million renovation, and gifted the Shaheen Performing Arts Center back to the community in 2010. Their gifts included a $3.5 million endowment fund via the Temple Theatre Foundation, with $700,000 donated by the Shaheen family.
Patricia has been active in numerous local, regional, and national organizations. In addition to her work with the SBSO, she has served on the St. Mary’s of Michigan Advisory Committee and the St. Mary’s Medical Foundation Board of Trustees, the Saginaw Community Foundation Board of Trustees and several committees, the Junior League of Saginaw Valley Board of Trustees, the Nouvel Catholic Central High School Educational Foundation, the Saginaw County Osteopathic Society, and the American Association of University Women, among others. Patricia was a founding member of Saginaw Township’s Art in Public Places initiative.
Patricia studied at the University of Massachusetts at Amhers and the L’Institut Catholique Summer Program in Paris, France. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saginaw Valley State University. She and Samuel live in Saginaw, where they raised their three children.
