“Why I Give” – Janet Rodekohr


October 24, 2024

A woman in a black dress and a man in a white shirt stand close to each other and hold a ukulele.

This is part of a recurring series of articles about the people who support the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center.

Meet Janet Rodekohr, pictured here with ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. She is retired after 25 years with the communications office of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She is an avid watercolorist and a PAC usher. This season she is supporting the January 24 performance by Step Afrika! 

Sometimes it’s fun to play, “If I won a million dollars, what would I do?” Once you pay off debts and take your dream trip and splurge on a few items, maybe you would start thinking about ways you could do good. 

No, I didn’t win a million dollars. But I focus my charitable giving on things I care about: animals (Athens Area Humane Society), education, feeding the hungry, my church … and music. Music and dance and all the performing arts. 

The Performing Arts Center is this jewel in the middle of Athens in the middle of the University of Georgia. When I retired from UGA, I started ushering at the PAC and discovered how much joy and wonder and excitement this place gives to both adults and children. Watching the smiles and nods as people leave the theater, feeling their energy, knowing we all just shared something special — ushering made me appreciate the value of shared live performances. There’s nothing like it. 

The program lists the underwriters for each performance. When I saw some names of friends, I asked how to get involved. It’s easy. I just asked a PAC staff member and they introduced me to
the right people. It’s fun to look through upcoming performances and choose one that “sings” to me. And it doesn’t cost a million dollars.

Learn how you can support the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center here.

Photo: PAC Staff