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Donor Profile:  Lila Lee Schmidt

A Rewarding Relationship

Equally important as the fiscal contribution itself, the act of giving creates a valued relationship between the donor and The Huntington that can make a profound difference for both parties.

Lila Lee Schmidt has been a garden docent for the past 19 years, carrying on her own special love affair with the institution. Partial to the Desert Garden, she radiates the same natural warmth as an aloe in bloom. Her contagious enthusiasm for the gardens rubs off on every visitor lucky enough to join her for a tour.

After hearing President Steve Koblik describe The Huntington’s fiscal needs at a meeting for volunteers, Schmidt began wondering how she herself might help. Even though the numbers presented were in the million-dollar range, she knew that all gifts, small and large, resonate with equal importance. Her philanthropic tradition had been to make one significant gift each year. For 2005, Schmidt chose The Huntington. Without fanfare or ceremony, she used the “Annual Fund” tear-off card in the fall Campaign newsletter to transmit her gift of $10,000 for unrestricted support. Her remarkable generosity is a vote of confidence for the Campaign and its appeal for fiscal sustainability. Schmidt’s contribution exemplifies stewardship of the Huntington legacy, helping preserve it, improve it, and expand on it for generations to come.