Scott and Sharon Rankin have been advocates, stewards, and agents of change at the Walnut Street Theatre for several years.
Alexander Rankin 6, more commonly known as Scott, was penned this nickname by his parents as they never thought he would be able to spell Alexander. Scott Rankin is the president of Vulcan Spring & Manufacturing Company, co-owned with his wife, Sharon Rankin. Scott’s summary of his company is that “We make really cool springs that everyone uses every day, but they don’t realize it. We are in cars and toys and surgical tools and satellites in space and we are on the store shelves in your local stores. And we pop your toast up in your toaster!”
Scott and Sharon have both served on many boards around Philadelphia, mostly focusing on their passion for caring for children. The Rankins have supported children in various orphanages around the world and Philadelphia, and through their leadership camp, helped students from around the world become agents of change and leaders in their own communities.
Scott first came to the Walnut Street Theatre because he enjoyed plays and theatre as a release from everyday work and activities. As he became more familiar with their mission and how the arts benefit children, he wanted to be more involved. Scott soon after joined the board of trustees, and was not aware of how much the theatre family would become a part of his life. Since then, Scott has served as the chair of the development committee and is the board of trustees’ immediate past chair.
In addition to their work with the Walnut, Scott and Sharon are benefactors and stewards of other organizations and programs. Sharon is the chair of the education committee at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, where she assists in programming after school and summer initiatives, high school industry training, and apprenticeship programs. She also serves on the board of Children’s Health Defense, an organization dedicated to ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating toxic exposure. When she is not working as a philanthropist, she enjoys working as a photographer. Her passions include her husband and children, her relationship with God, her friends, feeding the forest animals, gardening… and wine!
Scott and Sharon specifically love working with Walnut Street Theatre because of the entertainment and variety of each day at the Walnut. They love the expertise and professionalism of each staff person, the actors and the magic they put into every show, to be able to change and become a new person with each play, and their education programs that bring the arts to the children of Philadelphia.
Scott says his goal in life is to “give back in the community in ways that I can see and help in a hands-on way.” His overall outcome is “to give far more than I take from this world. Walnut Street Theatre allows me to do this.”
