On Wednesday, November 17, Andy Smith will be honored at the 33rd annual Obelisk Awards hosted by Business Council for the Arts as the Business Champion for the Arts, an award recognizing a single business leader for their long-term commitment to arts and culture. North Texas is fortunate to have Andy Smith because of his dedication to promoting the betterment of our city and state.
Andy Smith, Director, Giving & Volunteering at Texas Instruments
Personally, and professionally, Andy Smith is one of our region’s strongest advocates for arts and culture. Mr. Smith is the Director of Giving and Volunteering for Texas Instruments (TI) and is the Executive Director of the TI Foundation.
His work there aims to build strong communities within TI’s major site communities, primarily Dallas their headquarters, by investing in education, human services, racial equity and arts. Mr. Smith’s impact is greatly furthered by dedicating his own time and talent to local arts and culture organizations, which are a key component to thriving communities. A short list of his very active local service includes the Dallas Education Foundation, Dallas Theater Center (DTC), Dallas Thrives, Commit Advisory Council, Dallas Assembly and SMU Dedman College Executive Board. Additionally, he and his husband, Paul von Wupperfeld, chaired the 2021 Dallas Symphony Gala.
Andy Smith especially advocates for the importance of art and theater, and DTC proudly nominated him for this award. They said, “By championing the work of the theater, as well as other local arts organizations, Andy has ensured that, through TI’s generosity, the companies continue to thrive and create innovative work that both reflects the community and brings it together.”
Thanks to Andy Smith, DTC survived the pandemic, supported in large part because of his incredible fundraising efforts the year before as chair of DTC’s Centerstage (along with his husband, Paul von Wupperfeld). Mr. Smith’s total commitment and collaboration made the 2019 annual gala the company’s most successful ever. He will continue to make a long-term impact on the organization as he fulfills his third three-year board term.
Andy Smith’s impact reaches other organizations too. Through the TI Foundation, he brings together arts leaders from around the community, hosting regular luncheons (pre-pandemic) for the organizations’ leaders, along with the Communities Foundation of Texas and PNC Bank. Jeff Woodward, Managing Director of Dallas Theater Center, shares that these gatherings have created an unprecedented level of collaboration, and Mr. Smith inspires new business support for the arts. Andy Smith believes that “the arts are a key building block of a strong community. Having a thriving arts scene helps connect us and is among our greatest assets to keeping North Texas a vibrant place to live and work.”
The 2021 Obelisk Awards Co-Chair Philip Silvestri says, “Now more than ever, collaboration is a catalyst for creativity in both business and arts. It an honor to recognize Andy as the Business Champion for the Arts, rightly deserved!”