Congrats to Young Philanthropist of the Year Alex Haunty
This Friday is National Philanthropy Day, and the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will host a luncheon and awards ceremony right here at Overture Center.
We’re proud and pleased that one of this year’s honorees is someone we nominated!
Alex Haunty, named Young Philanthropist of the Year, is truly an inspiration, and the name of his business — Inspiring Art by Alex — fits perfectly.
Alex, now a student at Edgewood College’s Cutting Edge Program, started painting as a student in Middleton High School’s Best Buddies Program. In 2011, he used the proceeds from an award to buy tickets for more than 30 friends — all students with disabilities — to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast here at Overture Center. And with that, the philanthropy bug bit.
Alex began selling his artwork, and notecards featuring his art, at shows around the area and through his website, InspiringArtbyAlex.com, and used the proceeds to bring more groups of students to shows — Mary Poppins, Sister Act, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The project has now grown into a full-fledged nonprofit organization, Alex Haunty’s Theater and Arts Fund.
The simple act of sharing the gift of the arts with his friends has made Alex a bit of a local celebrity. The Wisconsin State Journal featured him, and Overture commissioned him to create a gift for Jerry Frautschi and Pleasant Rowland on the occasion of Overture’s 10th anniversary. He presented his painting, Take a Bow, at a private reception, and it now hangs prominently in the reception area of our administrative offices, reminding all Overture staffers and visitors what the arts — and philanthropy — are really all about.
Congratulations, Alex — we’re proud to call you a friend of Overture and a friend of the arts!
