His Loyalty Leads to a Legacy at the Opera
In the words of Jean-Paul Sartre, "Commitment is an act, not a word." Mr. William "Bill" Pennington, an Atlanta native and devoted patron of The Atlanta Opera, is a person of action.
Among Bill Pennington's many virtues—generosity, passion, kindness—was a sense of loyalty. After earning his degree at Emory, he joined SunTrust Bank as a mainframe computer programmer. Bill moved up the ranks and became one of the bank's audit department data analysts. He worked for the bank until the day he retired.
Bill's loyalty and dedication extended to opera, an art form that provided him with joy and a sense of belonging for more than four decades. He remembered his first opera, a performance by The Metropolitan Opera during one of their last Atlanta tours, and how Boyce and Shepard Ansley made him feel welcomed in the opera family. Bill attended performances at The Atlanta Opera since their first season, and in 2008, he increased his commitment by joining the company's board of directors.
Bill was passionate about The Atlanta Opera's future. Beyond his board contributions, he sponsored a Studio Opera Tour performance for students in Atlanta public schools each year. He also believed in the importance of the Opera's Studio Artist training program, asserting, "If we want to see stars on our stage, we must help to develop future stars and provide the means for them to grow."
When considering future chapters in The Atlanta Opera's story, Bill joined the Barbara D. Stewart Legacy Society by including the company in his will. He shared how his choice came from both his head and his heart: "I love the art form, and to the extent that I am able, I want to help ensure that the company survives and even thrives for generations to come."
Our Atlanta Opera family was devastated when Bill passed away in 2023, and we will miss his wit, his dedication, and his passion for the transformative power of opera. We are deeply grateful for Bill’s bequest to the Opera, which ensures his legacy and supports the Opera’s mission to continue serving our Atlanta community.
Planned giving can offer considerable tax savings while providing lasting income for The Atlanta Opera. Legacy gifts include bequests, trusts, life insurance, and retirement assets. We are grateful to receive support from our faithful legacy donors like Bill Pennington. To find out how to become a member of the Barbara D. Stewart Legacy Society, contact Jonathan Blalock at 336-512-6832 or jblalock@atlantaopera.org.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.