History
Started in 1992 by Sarasota, Florida resident William E. Schmidt, the foundation is an extension of Mr. Schmidt's past philanthropic endeavors in the greater Evansville, Indiana area.
Recently, two organizations received tremendous support from the William E. Schmidt Foundation. In 2007, Sarasota Opera Company located in Sarasota, Florida, welcomed a $4 million contribution to its building renovation fund. In return for this amazing support, the renovated theater has been renamed the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater.
Mr. Schmidt, originally from Kentucky, then gave generously to the state of his birth through gifts to the University of Kentucky Opera Theater (UKOT) in 2007 and 2008. Since 2003, UKOT's outreach program has traveled to schools throughout the state of Kentucky, presenting short operas to children from elementary to high school. Due to Mr. Schmidt's generosity, UKOT's outreach program now offers performances at significantly reduced rates to children at schools that otherwise could not afford live performances. The University of Kentucky has honored his significant contribution by naming the outreach program the Schmidt Opera Outreach Program.
The impact of Mr. Schmidt's philanthropy continued in yet another form in the fall of 2008, when the UK School of Music broke ground on the renovation of a building recently renamed the Schmidt Vocal Arts Center. The renovated building provides practice rooms, rehearsal spaces and teaching studios for UK's voice faculty.