Thomas Schippers, whose life was tragically cut short, was Music Director from 1970 to 1977. He left us many wonderful memories, but his legacy is more than musical for he remembered his adopted city with a substantial personal bequest to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a strong endowment today because past generations of Cincinnatians - like Thomas Schippers - thought of the future and provided for the Orchestra in their estate plans and wills. Without a strong endowment, the CSO could not hope to achieve the stature it has today as one of the country's pre-eminent orchestras.

The Thomas Schippers Society recognizes those who contribute to the tradition of endowment giving exemplified by its namesake.

The Society welcomes as members individuals who have created a provision in their estate plans to benefit the Orchestra and have informed the CSO of their generous intent. Members include those individuals who have included the Orchestra in their will or who have established a charitable trust or other planned gift.

Provisions in the Internal Revenue Code make planned gifts attractive for those thinking of today, as well as the future. Many individuals, including those who never thought they could make a sizeable contribution to a charitable organization, can benefit from the tax implications associated with a charitable gift.

Planned giving vehicles can provide the means for you to make a consequential gift to the Orchestra that will, at the same time, result in benefits to you and your family. Some of the benefits you may realize are long-term financial security, increased income and the reduction or elimination of taxes (including income, capital gains and estate). In addition, these plans can help you provide for a dependent's education, increase income during retirement, or simply provide your heirs with an increased inheritance.

The basic idea is very simple, though the many variations possible make it a complex subject. In short, a planned gift of any sort can provide for a charitable organization while furthering the financial plans of the donor.

Planned gifts can provide you, or other beneficiaries you name, with an increased income stream and provide savings in taxes - income, capital gains, estate - which can be substantial. The old saying "you can't take it with you" is more valid than ever today as estate taxes can take as much as 55% of your assets (and this figure goes up substantially for assets in retirement plans). However, through an estate plan you can decide which organizations will benefit from your assets in the future. Those without a plan leave that decision up to the government to decide.