Donor Spotlight: Jesse Eisner
From Green Day concerts on Long Island to supporting classical arts in Orlando
Jesse Eisner’s love for live performances started early. Growing up on Long Island, he still remembers his very first concert at just 13 years old: Green Day.
“After that, I just wanted more,” Jesse says. His next big show? None other than the piano man himself, Billy Joel. “Growing up in Long Island, seeing Billy Joel was more than a concert. Hearing him live, watching how he entertained the crowd — it was on a whole other level.”
Two very different concerts, but together they sparked something lasting: a deep appreciation for the variety, energy and creativity the arts bring.
Finding His Voice on Stage
In college, Jesse discovered another outlet: stand-up comedy. What started as a hobby quickly became a training ground for skills he still uses today.
“Once you’ve been on stage trying to make hundreds of people laugh for 20 minutes, a business speech feels a lot easier,” he says. Whether he’s emceeing a company event or giving a presentation, Jesse shaped his confidence and presence with those early experiences.
A New Arts Home in Orlando
When Jesse moved to Orlando in 2015, one of his first stops was Dr. Phillips Center. The impression was instant.
“I was amazed this was in Orlando — and then Steinmetz Hall opened. That was game-changing,” he recalls. “This is the kind of venue I’d expect to see in Europe or New York, and we have it right here.”
One standout moment was experiencing Beck perform with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Steinmetz Hall during the 2023 Residency Festival. As his family attended more shows, Jesse learned about the center’s mission and vision, as well as our educational programs for children at Dr. Phillips Center’s AdventHealth School of the Arts. That connection inspired him to get involved as a donor.
Donors and Devoted Fans
These days, Jesse and his family can be found in the audience for just about everything — comedy, orchestra, pop and Broadway. One of his favorite memories is taking his youngest to her very first theater experience in 2018: Disney’s The Lion King inside Walt Disney Theater.
Looking ahead, he hopes to introduce his children to orchestral music through Films in Concert, blending the familiar with the timeless.
For Jesse, it always comes back to one thing: joy.
“Having grown up with regular access to the arts, I want to make sure others have that same chance,” he says. “It’s that little bit of support that can allow someone to keep pursuing their art. It can open new opportunities for someone to find their place, purpose or just be inspired.”
Through Eisner Family support of Arts For Every Life®, Jesse and his wife Mary help ensure those opportunities reach others, whether it’s a child seeing their first show or a lifelong theatergoer discovering something brand new.
How You Can Join Them
Like Jesse, you can help share the love of the performing arts to more people in our community. Your gift can support our vision of Arts For Every Life®.
Interested in becoming a donor and gaining early access to your favorite shows? Enjoy exclusive benefits while supporting a cause you love. Learn more here.