Anello Society
Named after the founder of the Florentine Opera, John-David Anello, the Anello Society is the group of special people who have provided for a gift to the Florentine Opera in their will or some other aspect of their estate plan. These are known as planned gifts.
The Florentine Opera is a thriving arts institution and important cultural asset that brings the joy of opera to thousands each year. This is Mr. Anello’s legacy to us all. A planned gift is a powerful way to preserve our outstanding performing arts organization.
To help assure that there are sufficient financial resources to perpetuate the Florentine’s good work for the enrichment of generations to come, you are invited to join the Anello Society by making a planned gift to the Florentine Opera.
Benefits of Membership in the Anello Society
- Immense satisfaction in knowing that you have helped the Florentine Opera to continue presenting quality grand opera to this community into the future
- Recognition in all Florentine Opera program books and annual reports
- Invitation to Florentine Opera social events
- Invitation to Florentine Opera annual meeting
Gifts that Qualify for Membership in the Anello Society:
Bequests in a Will
A convenient way to leave a lasting legacy is a bequest to the Florentine Opera in your will. Estate gifts are held and invested, unlike annual gifts that are used to cover the immediate annual operational expenses. Because only a portion of the income from the investment is expended each year, estate gifts continue to grow and never stop giving.
After providing for your loved ones, you may decide to bequeath to the Florentine Opera a specific amount, or a percentage of your estate, or all or part of what remains after other bequests are distributed. Your attorney or other qualified estate planner can help ensure that your promise to the Florentine Opera is fulfilled by appropriate instructions in your will. If you already have a will, it can be updated with a simple amendment called a codicil.
General suggested wording for a bequest is as follows:
“I give and bequeath to the Florentine Opera, a non-profit corporation in the State of Wisconsin, County of Milwaukee, the sum $________ (or ______ percent of my estate, or the remainder of my estate after other bequests are satisfied) to be used for its exempt purpose.”
We will be happy to provide you with other wording if you would like your gift to be used for a specific purpose.
Insurance Policies
One of the simplest ways to make a significant gift is to name the Florentine Opera as the beneficiary of all or part of the proceeds of an insurance policy. You may also give a policy that is no longer needed or you may consider purchasing a new one. Income and estate tax benefits may result.
IRA and Other Retirement Amounts
People who have an IRA or other retirement plan are required to designate one or more primary beneficiaries and one or more contingent beneficiaries. Contingent beneficiaries get the money if the primary beneficiaries die before you do. When an individual such as a relative or friend is named as a beneficiary, two taxes, estate and income, may be due at the time that the benefit is received. However, if a charity such as the Florentine Opera is the beneficiary, no taxes are paid because a charity is exempt from estate tax and income tax. With the exception of the Roth IRA, which is not subject to income tax, all IRAs and other retirement plans are eligible for double tax savings when they are given to a charity. Naming the Florentine Opera as the beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement plan is a very tax-wise decision as it relieves a double tax burden.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
A charitable remainder trust is a way to make a gift now, while retaining income for the life of you and your spouse, and receive a charitable tax deduction. Your funds are held separately and invested to pay a regular income. When the trust ends, the remainder comes to the Florentine Opera. A charitable remainder trust can be designed several different ways to suit your needs.
Charitable Lead Trust
Charitable lead trusts allow you to make substantial gifts to charity while ensuring that your property will ultimately pass to your children, grandchildren or others. Assets are placed in a trust that pays income to the Florentine Opera for a specific term. At the end of the period the assets pass to your designated heirs at significant estate savings.
Your Assets
Outright gifts may be made with a wide range of assets. These options include cash, stock, real estate and personal property. Outright gifts of long-term appreciated assets avoid capital gains and usually provide tax deductions for the market value of the asset. This allows donors to give larger gifts that effectively cost you less than a gift of cash. By using an appreciated asset to fund a life-income gift such as charitable remainder and lead trusts, you unlock a powerful way to give to the Florentine.
After including the Florentine Opera in your estate planning, please share this vital information with us. To both recognize you and show our appreciation for your thoughtfulness, you will become a member of the Anello Society. Planned gifts continue Mr. Anello’s legacy and assure that the Florentine Opera is here for generations to come. You will be listed as a member of the Anello Society in all program books and the annual report; you will also be invited to an exclusive annual event for Anello Society members.
A planned gift is a powerful way to preserve this outstanding arts organization. You will play a key role in perpetuating the fine grand opera that you enjoy at the Florentine for years to come.
When you decide to include the Florentine Opera
in your estate planning
… please share this vital information. To both recognize you and show appreciation for your thoughtfulness, you will become a member of the Anello Society. Planned gifts continue Mr. Anello’s legacy and assure that the Florentine Opera continues to enrich the lives of future generations. You will play a key role in perpetuating the fine grand opera that you enjoy at the Florentine for years to come.
For more information about joining the Anello Society or to notify us that you have made a planned gift, please contact Nancy Tawney, Director of Planned Giving, at
(414)225-1959 or ntawney@florentineopera.org
Leave a Legacy
Leave a Legacy is a national program to raise the awareness of charitable estate planning and its benefits. The Florentine Opera is a member of Leave a Legacy Wisconsin. The Leave a Legacy Wisconsin website gives an abundance of general information about planned giving. Please visit this website to learn more about various methods and advantages of planned giving. www.lal-wi.org
Leaving a legacy is making a difference in the lives that follow yours.
“It takes a noble person to plant a seed for a tree that will
one day provide shade to those one may never meet.”
- Unknown
For more information about joining The Anello Society, contact Nancy Tawney, Director of Planned Giving at (414) 225.1959 or ntawney@florentineopera.org |
