The Wally Foundation has provided annual funding to the Los Angeles Opera totaling nearly $150,000.00 since the foundation was formed following the untimely death of Wally Russell in 1992. 2013 marks the 19th annual contribution of $7500 made to this excellent training program at LA Opera.
“This annual contribution has underwritten over 35 Wally lighting interns for the Los Angeles Opera who otherwise could not have afforded to spend the time working with the Opera to gain the experience needed to work professionally,” comments Jeff Kleeman, technical director of the Los Angeles Opera. “Most of these individuals are still in our industry, and many of them are still working in free-lance positions in the Opera”
“This has been an excellent partnership, and we are happy that the Foundation has had the financial resources to continue the annual support,” adds John Wiseman, Wally board member and CEO of Chaos Visual. “I would not be at Chaos if not for the support and mentoring that Wally provided to me years ago. He was a true visionary, and all about supporting the youth in our industry and presenting new technologies.”
The Wally Foundation also supports a similar intern program at the Canadian Opera and annually provides an award to the ‘newcomer’ of the year in the lighting industry and provides a Lifetime Achievement Award. These awards are traditionally presented at LDI.
Any and all contributions to the Wally Foundation may be made at:
Wally Russell Foundation, Inc.
16458 Bolsa Chica Street #221
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 USA
714-699-3573
714-442-8036 FAX