“You look for common things you both like to do and explore,” said Larry Klaben, recalling the post-college days when he and Marilyn Lieberman first began dating. “We both liked museums and music, and she was involved in theater which was intriguing to me. When you’re in your 20’s, not everyone enjoys the arts.”
Happily for our region, Marilyn and Larry Klaben have continued that enthusiasm and commitment to the arts throughout their 32-year marriage. For more than 20 years, Marilyn has served as the Human Race Theatre Company’s director of education — designing classes and workshops, supervising summer theater programs. She’s been an adjunct instructor at Wittenberg University and has taught Shakespeare to homeschoolers for more than a decade. At the moment, she’s excited about an Arts Coalition For Education that aims to bring more arts education to the Dayton Public Schools.
“Art can totally transform children,” she insists. “And it can help them figure out who they are and who they want to be.”
The Klabens have also made the arts and arts education an integral part of the business philosophy at Morris Furniture Company, which is slated to receive the Ohio’s Business Support of the Arts Award this week. In addition to providing leadership and financial support, it’s not unusual to see Morris donations of media equipment at community fund-raisers and Morris furnishings and accessories decorating local stage sets.
The company’s name honors Marilyn’s grandfather, Morris Lieberman, who founded Morris Furniture Mart with her father, Bert, in 1947. The family business — purchased by son-in-law, Larry Klaben, in 1998 — has become one of the largest privately owned furniture retailers in this area with four Morris stores and 11 Ashley stores.
Business and the arts
“There’s a strong belief in our company that it’s really an obligation to support the community in the same way the community supports us as a business,” according to Larry, who said he’s happy to leverage his business contacts in order to help grow arts and culture in the region. Because his company’s mission is “making homes great,” he said in a broader sense the concept of “home” also includes individuals, families, and communities.
Over the years, the Klabens have spearheaded and helped to fund a variety of innovative arts projects. One recent example is TEDxDayton, the day-long learning experience designed to spread new ideas on a wide range of topics. “We were so inspired by our son’s experiences with TEDx at the University of Michigan, we wanted to bring it to Dayton,” Marilyn remembers. “We brought together a group of leaders from the arts and universities and pitched the idea.”Nine months later, the Victoria Theatre opened its doors to a sold-out crowd.
Now, after two wildly successful TEDxDayton events, there’s a third in the planning. “Morris Home Furnishings played a significant role in terms of leadership, financial support, strategic planning, industry expertise and volunteerism,” wrote Sean Creighton, president of the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) and TEDxDayton co-chair. Larry Klaben said he feels blessed to be part of a community in which, after hearing a new idea, so many people come together to make it happen.
Morris is also a key supporter of Wright State University, Larry Klaben’s alma mater. He chairs the school’s board of trustees and has been involved with the annual ArtsGala since its inception 15 years ago. The special evening, one of our city’s most entertaining fundraisers, showcases the talented arts students who benefit from the monies raised. The event, which attracts more than 700 patrons each year, has raised over $1.8M for needs-based student scholarships.
“When we first supported the ArtsGala, we were just one of many small sponsors, but you never know what can happen over time,” Larry said. “Now we’re a Presenting Sponsor. I’m optimistic that all businesses can make a difference in a lot of different ways. And I can’t tell you how many times people come in to buy at Morris because they know we support organizations in this community.”
Morris participates as a major sponsor of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and also lends its support to a variety of other arts organizations including Muse Machine, the Victoria Theatre Association’s Broadway series, and the Dayton Art Institute. In 2013, the company provided a gift to Culture Works to launch the first phase of the Regional Community Cultural Planning process. “We have this tremendous heritage of creativity and arts and culture in our region and through Culture Connects 20/20, we want to strengthen it,” said Klaben, who will serve as a co-chair for the ambitious project. “The arts aren’t just in the theaters and museums, but in the neighborhoods and street fairs as well.”
The Klabens, who reside in downtown Dayton, can often be seen around town at arts events ranging from dance and music to visual arts and movies. “We go as a couple or with a group of friends. It’s stimulating,” Larry said. “It makes you think about things in a different way or understand different perspectives. It helps broaden your perception of the world.”
He said he and his wife want to see that creative base grow and be around for future generations. “We want to see that our community is an incubator for the arts and creativity,” he said. “It adds to that quality of life that separates a community like Dayton from other communities.”
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