Orlando Ballet
Laurel Hayward is an accomplished professional in philanthropy and arts administration with extensive experience in donor relations and grant management. Currently serving as the Director of Philanthropy for the Orlando Ballet, Laurel has held various prestigious roles, including Senior Philanthropy Officer of Grants and Impact and Grants Manager at the same organization. Previous positions include Grants Administrator at Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation, Development Specialist at Health First Foundation, and Director of Development at Bishop Grady Villas. With a strong background in stewardship communications, Laurel has contributed to several institutions, including the Massey Cancer Center and the University of Richmond, where responsibilities ranged from managing comprehensive donor communication programs to organizing recognition events. Laurel holds a BA in Art History from Scripps College and an MA in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University, further reflecting a dedicated commitment to the arts.
Orlando Ballet
Orlando Ballet is Central Florida’s only resident professional ballet company providing an annual season of full length ballets, new works, and non-traditional programs, performing at the Dr. Phillips Center and in local venues. The company has been at the heart of Orlando’s artistic community since 1974. Orlando Ballet School (OBS) was created in 1982 to enrich the lives of children, train the next generation of artists, and build future audiences. The company was voted Best Dance Company in Orlando Weekly’s Best of Orlando 2016. Orlando Ballet’s vision is to Central Florida’s most creative and most loved ballet company. With a mix of classical and contemporary ballet, we enrich the cultural growth of Florida and attract stellar talent. Our community outreach programs impact tens of thousands of children each year and the Orlando Ballet School serves more than 1,200 students at three locations in and around the city.