Working as the Major Gifts intern in the development department at American Ballet Theatre this past Fall Season was an incredible experience and opportunity, an experience that I will most certainly never forget. As an intern in the Major Gifts department, I was able to attend each and every Fall Season event as part of the development team, something that I truly loved! I felt like such a vital and helpful part of the work team, taking part in the organization, planning, set-up, and actual course of every memorable event. From the Tempest production reception at the home of one of ABT’s finest donors where Alexei Ratmansky himself spoke of the artistic process of creating a new ballet masterpiece, to sneak peek studio visits prior to the opening evening of Fall Season, each event was carefully and beautifully orchestrated with a team of talented and dedicated ABT staff. It was amazing to not only work such fantastic events, but to also have the opportunity to meet with donors, board members, and essential parts of the American Ballet Theatre community that help facilitate the ballet and allow art to come to life on the stage. I was blown away by the dedication and commitment of the donor community, seeing true passion for the arts come to life.
Amanda Moretz at the David H. Koch Theater during the Fall 2013 Gala
The opening night gala that marked the beginning of a remarkable Fall Season was a glamorous and wonderful evening, a night that I will surely never forget. Upon arrival to the Koch Theater on the afternoon of the Gala, I was immediately busy helping with last minute organizational details, changing into my formal gown, and embarking on an evening of hard work and incredible amounts of rewarding fun. I helped with coat check, the overall gala check-in process, distribution of personalized notes to donors, as well as the gift bag table, packed sky high with Badgley Mischka and Clinique brand handouts. It was an incredible evening to say the least, and I cannot thank ABT enough for this amazing opportunity. Throughout the rest of Fall Season, I was able to help with other events such as dress rehearsal viewings, an exclusive Partners evening pre-show talk and reception, and the Chairman’s Council Curtain Call post-show dinner, events where I was able to view ballet and mingle with donors and essential members of the ABT community. All of the events during the course of my internship really allowed me to see hours and weeks of hard work come to life, experiences that I will never forget. My internship in Major Gifts was more than I could have ever hoped for, an opportunity of a lifetime that I will always remember and cherish. I could not have asked for a better experience or better co-workers. ABT is a remarkable organization, and I have learned so much from this wonderful and compassionate team of artistically passionate workers.
Amanda Moretz
Major Gifts Intern
Fall 2013
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