Shari Gasper
Orange Schroeder: Planning a gift through your will
August 6, 2025
Everyone should have a will. Yet, for many, the thought of creating one can be stressful and emotional, something easy to put off.
Local business owner Carol “Orange” Schroeder, co-founder of Orange Tree Imports, a 50-year-old specialty shop on Monroe Street, sees the process of creating her will differently—it allows her to give meaningful gifts.
“What we gather in this lifetime can benefit our loved ones and the community after we’re gone,” she explained.
That mindset makes estate planning more approachable and meaningful. It provides an opportunity to consider how to leave a legacy to the people and places that matter most. For Schroeder, that includes a planned gift to Overture Center.
A longtime arts enthusiast, Schroeder has supported Overture since it was just a vision in the 1990s. She and her late husband, Dean, had been regulars at the Madison Civic Center, attending concerts by Madison Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and performances by the Madison Rep and Children’s Theater of Madison.
“The announcement of Overture Center’s creation was like a dream come true,” she said. “We realized it would make a huge difference in opening access to the arts to everyone in our community.”
Inspired by Jerry Frautschi’s transformative gift and their own experiences at Overture, the Schroeders began making annual donations. Today, Schroeder plans to leave a percentage of her estate to ensure Overture’s future.
While some choose to leave a fixed amount, Schroeder recommends giving a percentage: “It allows you to continue living your life, paying for care as needed and being assured that your estate will create a meaningful gift with whatever’s left.”
Schroeder also encourages notifying the organization of your planned gift.
“It inspires others,” she said. “And it shows you believe in the organization and its future.”
At Overture, donors who make planned gifts are welcomed into the Anderson Legacy Circle, a community of visionary supporters. Members enjoy exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to the Donor Lounge; invitations to special events, including an annual spring luncheon and Take the Stage; and recognition in our playbills and annual report.
For Schroeder, knowing her gift will support Overture’s diverse programming is deeply rewarding. From the resident company performances to galleries full of local artwork and from Broadway shows to free and low-cost community programs, she loves to see the variety of audiences coming to enjoy the performing and visual arts.
She subscribes to almost all the resident companies’ seasons but explains that she doesn’t subscribe to the Broadway series because her son, a co-producer of “Hadestown,” works in theater in New York.
“That allows me to see a few shows a season there, and a few in Madison,” she noted.
When Schroeder does attend an Overture Broadway performance, she often notices she doesn’t see many familiar faces—a sign, she says, of the center’s wide reach.
“People from other communities come to Madison to see world-class performances,” she said. “These visitors are a boon to locally owned businesses like mine.”
Schroeder is proud to support Overture’s community outreach—programs that serve all ages and help reduce barriers for those with sensory challenges, adaptive needs or limited financial resources. These efforts are vital to developing future arts audiences and building an inclusive, welcoming space.
“Overture is a vibrant part of our community,” said Schroeder. “As a longtime Madison resident, it’s a joy to see downtown become such a hub for the arts. To share live performances with others—and see their faces light up—is priceless.”
Her planned gift helps ensure more people can share that joy for generations to come.
Schroeder emphasizes the importance of creating a will: “It makes things easier for the people you leave behind, and it allows you to direct what you want your legacy to be.”
August is Make-a-Will Month—a great time to start your own legacy planning. Overture Center offers free access to Giving Docs, an easy-to-use online tool that helps you create a legally valid will or trust. Visit our Planned Giving page to learn more and get started today.