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Wills and Bequests
Jean and Russ Blomberg share a life long love
of music. When they moved from San Francisco to the East Bay and
discovered the world-class California Symphony, they were thrilled.
Over the years they enjoyed the concerts, special events and friends
they met through the symphony.  Through
her work on the Board of Directors, Jean became very aware of the
needs in the community, such as Music in the Schools, that were
filled through the work of the symphony, and looked for a way to
give back to the community by supporting her preferred cause.
Jean: "Seeing how the symphony has
grown over the past 20 years and being a part of that through volunteering
and serving on the board has been most rewarding for me. We have
met wonderful people; introduced our children to fine music; hosted
many clients at symphony events; and enjoyed being part of the symphony's
many outreach programs in East Bay communities. Participating in
the Barry Jekowsky Heritage Society was a natural next step for
us in our involvement with and commitment to the California Symphony."
Russ: "Enjoying an evening at the
symphony has always been a welcome respite from our busy schedules.
We especially enjoy introducing new guests to the concerts, as they
are always impressed with the maestro's excellent commentary, talented
artist performances and overall high quality of the whole experience.
It gives us pleasure to share in our guests' enjoyment."
By instructing their attorney to name the California
Symphony in their estate plan, Jean and Russ are creating a lasting
legacy that commemorates their family name and instills a sense
of stewardship among their family members.
Also, by naming the California Symphony in
their estate plan, Jean and Russ were invited to join
the Barry Jekowsky Heritage Society.
This invitation is extended to all who include a planned gift for
the California Symphony.
There is some additional information available
about the benefits
of utilizing a charitable bequest and how bequests enable you to
keep control of
your assets.
Using funds from a retirement account to
make bequests is often a good strategy. If there is a balance in
your retirement account at your death, not only is there a potential
income tax burden, but there may be estate taxes as well. Taxes
can eat up as much as 70-75% of retirement assets under certain
circumstances.  Careful
planning concerning retirement funds needs to be done. Some additional
information regarding retirement assets
is available.
Another option to consider in making a gift
is to use life insurance policies that are no longer needed or necessary.
There are some different ways to make a gift
of life insurance.
Jean and Russ found their experience enriched
their hearts and lives. Often donors are surprised by just how wonderful
the giving experience is.
Please note, individual
financial circumstances will vary. The information on this site
does not constitute legal or tax advice. Donor stories and photographs
are for purposes of illustration only. As with all tax and estate
planning, please consult your attorney or estate specialist. All
material is copyrighted and is for viewing purposes only. Use of
this site signifies your agreement with the terms
of use. The content in this Planned Giving section has been
developed for the California Symphony by Future
Focus. Please report any problems to webmaster.
Revised: May 8, 2007 14:07.
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