Orlando Museum of Art receives 'biggest ever' $510,000 donation from Council of 101

The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) has received a donation of $510,000 from the Council of 101, a volunteer fundraising committee of 300 women dedicated to furthering cultural development and education of the visual arts in central Florida.

The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) has announced the receipt of a significant donation of $510,000, contributed by the Council of 101.  The Council of 101 is a volunteer fundraising committee of OMA, established in 1965 to provide financial support to OMA and to further cultural development and education of the visual arts in central Florida.

Since its inception, the Council of 101, a dedicated group of almost 300 women, has donated over $14.5 million to OMA to directly support the acquisition of art and exhibitions, facilities enhancement and museum programming for children and lifelong learning.  Their donation of $510,000 is the largest in the history of the Council of 101.

“We are profoundly grateful for the continued support and generosity of the Council of 101.  Their dedication to the museum, as demonstrated by their countless volunteer hours, has been unwavering for nearly 60 years,” says Cathryn Mattson, Director and CEO.” Their generous donation will play a crucial role in supporting our education offerings and bringing innovative exhibitions to a wider audience.”

The Council of 101 presents two annual fundraising events, including Festival of Trees Orlando in November and Art in Bloom in the spring.  This year, the Festival of Trees attracted 14,000 attendees over a ten-day period and Art in Bloom attracted 2,000 attendees over three days. The events have become treasured traditions for the Orlando community, as confirmed by record attendance rates.

In addition to these fundraising events, the Council of 101 purchases, through its Corporate Leasing Program, museum-quality prints created by contemporary artists and gifts them to the Orlando Museum of art.  Prints from this collection may be leased by local businesses through the program administered by the Council of 101. 

“We are delighted to support the Orlando Museum of Art with the proceeds from Arts in Bloom and the Festival of Trees.  It’s our mission to ensure that the arts remain a vital part of the community,” said Lisa Sheppard, President of the Council of 101. “Seeing how these funds translate into tangible benefits for the museum and its visitors is incredibly rewarding.”

This donation will directly benefit a variety of programs and initiatives of OMA, including educational workshops, outreach to underserved communities and special exhibitions that will attract visitors from across the region and beyond.

For more information about current and upcoming programs, please visit OMA’s website at www.omart.org.

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