The Program

The Rotary Club of Norfolk was honored to welcome guest speaker - Norfolk native Doug Perry, co-founder of Dollar Tree and a generous philanthropist. Introduced by Linwood Beckner, Perry shared how Norfolk has emerged as a national and international destination for glass art.

Best known for transforming the historic Royster Building into the Glass Light Hotel, Restaurant, and Glass Art Gallery, Doug and Patricia Perry have made their passion for glass a cornerstone of Norfolk’s cultural and economic growth. The Perry Glass Studio—featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal—and the Perry Glass Gallery have made world-class glass art accessible to the community at no cost.

Perry traced Norfolk’s glass legacy to Walter Chrysler’s extensive collection, which gave the Chrysler Museum of Art its reputation for antique, mid-century, and contemporary glass. Landmark events such as Art of Glass, which brought artists from around the globe, the opening of the Chrysler Museum’s Glass Studio, and the Barry Art Museum’s expansion have all fueled momentum. Major conventions, including the Glass Art Society gathering, have attracted thousands of visitors and solidified Norfolk’s reputation as the East Coast hub for glass.

Looking ahead, Perry highlighted the upcoming Dale Chihuly installation at Norfolk Botanical Garden and the Virginia Arts Festival’s expansion, both of which promise to further elevate the city’s profile. 

“Glass makes people happy,” Perry said. “Its impact here is not just cultural—it’s economic. You’ll see more growth because of glass art. People come here because this area is affordable, exciting, and where the action is.”