In a landmark philanthropic move, two prominent local families have pledged their enduring support to the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts, securing the future of its flagship concert venue and its arts and educational mission.
Effective July 1, the 1,500-seat limestone concert hall on City Center Drive will be renamed the Payne & Mencias Palladium, in recognition of a 10-year charitable agreement with Carmel residents Eric and Leah Payne and Ron and Suzanne Mencias.
The Payne and Mencias families, longtime supporters of the Center, previously co-chaired its annual Center Celebration gala in 2021. Their latest contribution reflects a deep appreciation for the cultural enrichment the venue has brought to their families and the broader community.
“The Palladium has been part of the landscape of our family,” said Leah Payne, whose four children have participated in arts enrichment programs at the Center. “We are honored to continue our relationship with the Center and see art and culture thrive in Central Indiana, so that other families, residents and visitors can continue to enjoy these same opportunities.”
Opened in 2011, the Palladium is the largest of the Center’s three performance venues and serves as the primary home for the annual Center Presents concert season. It also hosts performances by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, the Indiana Wind Symphony, and other arts groups. Beyond live entertainment, the venue accommodates a variety of public events, including educational programs, political debates, school commencements, weddings, business conventions, and U.S. naturalization ceremonies.
The philanthropic agreement will significantly strengthen the Center’s financial position, according to President and CEO Jeffrey C. McDermott. He said the funds will expand the organization’s ability to book nationally and internationally recognized artists while making its educational initiatives more affordable and accessible to underserved communities.
“Eric, Leah, Ron and Suzanne have been passionate supporters of our mission, financially and otherwise, since before the Palladium even opened,” McDermott said. “We look for partners who share our values and our commitment to enhancing quality of life in central Indiana, and these folks meet that description perfectly.”
For the Mencias family, the impact of the arts is personal. Suzanne Mencias recalled how her daughters participated in theater programs at the Center and the family has enjoyed performances by international artists without leaving Carmel.
“The arts can play such an important role in people’s lives, and particularly in the personal development of young people,” she said. “We’re so fortunate to have these facilities in our community, and that presence is worthy of everyone’s support.”
Both families have deep ties to the Center’s leadership. Ron Mencias serves on the Center’s Board of Directors, while Eric Payne, a founding member and former chair of the board, served for 10 years and was also on the board of the affiliated Great American Songbook Foundation. The two are wealth management advisors and managing directors of the Payne & Mencias Group at Merrill Lynch.
While financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, the gift is expected to leave a lasting legacy, ensuring that the Center continues to serve as a cornerstone of the region’s cultural and educational landscape for years to come.
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