Elaine Rosen
Giving in Many Ways

Elaine has also made a planned gift to the CSO through a provision in her will. She comes from a family that always valued and enjoyed classical music and, over the years, appreciated the opportunity to interact closely with some members of the CSO. Having concluded a productive and satisfying career teaching biology in the Cicy Colleges of Chicago, Elaine views a gift to the CSO as a sound investment in its future, a gift that will always be productive.

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Naomi Borwell
Growth and Appreciation

To further support the endowment, Naomi has made a planned gift to the CSO and in doing so, joined the Theodore Thomas Society. "I think it's extremely important that an organization has the means to do the things it wants. A solid endowment offers a greater degree of flexibility." She is so passionate about the idea that she has convinced several organizations to establish endowments of their own. "When making my estate plans, I have been quite clear: if you don't have an endowment fund, you don't get the money!" she chuckles.

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Ellen and Paul Gignilliat
Friends of the Family

"I think that planned giving is extremely important, as it will be the life-spring for a lot of organizations. Feeling this way, Ellen and I decided to include the CSO in our estate plan." This is in addition to the support they provide as contributors to the CSO Annual Fund. Ellen added, "Anything that helps to perpetuate the institution is vital to its future."

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Nancy and John Rutledge
Cultural Connection

In gratitude, the Rutledges intend to make a difference of their own through a planned gift to the CSO. "The arts are so important," says John. "Giving back is essential." Not everyone has millions and millions of dollars but almost everyone has something to give."

Nancy agrees, noting that the Theodore Thomas Society welcomes members of modest means. "People think you have to be rich, but what is rich? It's just a different philosophy about savings. What's important is that you do something now so that down the road things go as you want them to. We need to get away from the idea of money. It's more than money. It's stewardship. If you find your passion, you can make an impact. That's how I feel about the CSO."

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Mrs. Marie Burnside
The Legacy of Passion

"I have been so fortunate in my life to have found three great passions - my church, the Northwestern University Settlement House and the CSO. When I received a portion of my grandfather's trust fund, I wanted to do something that would ensure the CSO's continued success in its musical vision. So I decided on a charitable remainder trust, an uncomplicated way of transferring the trust's stock funds to the CSO and avoiding capital gain taxes."

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Kelli Gardner Emery
Love Match

"My mother raised me to believe that it's my responsibility to give back to the organizations for which I have a passion. Making a planned gift is the natural extension of that giving. I always thought of estate plans as something people do when they get ‘old.' I didn't even know about the Theodore Thomas Society when I made my bequest to the CSO and I had no idea how much the Theodore Thomas Society valued and appreciated its planned givers."

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Josef Faerber
A Priceless Gift

Mr. Faerber served as assistant concertmaster, as principal second violin, and as member of the first violin section. He also taught at the American Conservatory of Music and coached members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He passed away in September, 1999. In the months preceding his demise, Mr. Faerber revised his estate plan to provide that the CSO receive the gift of his collection of fine instruments, most notable of which is a rare Guadagnini violin from 1776.

A gift of tangible personal property allows a full fair market value charitable deduction if the property has "related use" to the Orchestra, such as the instrument donated by Josef Faerber.

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Robert and Leah Hamman
The Legacy of High Standards

"We learned a lot about different trusts over the years putting seven grandchildren through college. When it was time for us to consider investing in the future of the CSO, we had pretty high goals for our planned giving: provide for a sizeable donation, earn a good rate of interest, reduce capital gains taxes and enjoy the benefits of tax deductions. Believe it or not, the decision-making was easy and our gift annuity is already providing financial security for the Orchestra. This gives us immense satisfaction."

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