The Milwaukee-based Argosy Foundation has given $500,000 to the Milwaukee Ballet’s capital campaign in support of its new headquarters.
The ballet company is in the middle of a $26 million campaign for the construction of its new Baumgartner Center for Dance in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward and to bolster its artistic, educational and community engagement programs.
The company is on track to open the new two-story, 52,000 square foot facility at 128 N. Jackson St. by September. It will house the administrative functions of the current Walker’s Point headquarters, as well as company rehearsals and the operations of Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy. The new facility will include seven studios and additional capacity for the School & Academy and new programs.
“The Argosy Foundation’s support better empowers Milwaukee Ballet to provide exceptional dance training while remaining accessible to students of various ages, levels and backgrounds,” said Rolando Yane, director of Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy. “With this gift, we can expand our reach to engage even more students and better support our mission to connect communities and transform lives.”
Milwaukee Ballet plans to name the student library in the new building in honor of the Argosy Foundation.
The Argosy Foundation was founded in 1997 by John Abele, co-founder of Boston Scientific. The Abele family members serve as the board of trustees.
‘The Argosy Foundation is proud to support this important project for our Milwaukee Ballet,” said Chris Abele, Milwaukee County executive and a foundation trustee. “The Baumgartner Center will allow an already world class institution to not only build on the incredible artistic work we are privileged to enjoy on stage, but also further expand their work partnering with the community and delivering ever more members of the next generation of great dancers. Extraordinary outcomes are only achieved when strong organizations with great leadership lean with confidence into ambitious goals; and we at the Argosy Foundation are always excited to help when that happens here in our home town.”
Philanthropists Donna and Donald Baumgartner, founder of Milwaukee-based Paper Machinery Corp., provided the campaign’s lead gift of $10 million in September 2018. The Herzfeld Foundation and The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation have also publicly announced donations.
