Keep the Music Playing

Established as a supporting foundation in 1998, it receives, holds, and invests permanent gifts in an endowment fund, with ongoing distributions that directly benefit the Hershey Symphony Orchestra. Governed by a board of directors made up of members of the community and the orchestra, it depends upon the support of friends like you who treasure the innovation and artistic excellence of the Hershey Symphony Orchestra. Gifts to the Foundation provide long-term support to the Orchestra.

In addition to making cash gifts, planned gifts can be made in a variety of ways, including beneficiary designations for your retirement plan, life insurance, investment accounts, or remembering the Hershey Symphony Orchestra in your will or living trust. Qualified retirement plans, such as traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 40l(k) plans, may be the most tax-efficient way to make a planned gift to the Foundation. These assets have never been taxed and, as a charitable organization, the Foundation would not have to pay any taxes on a gift from a retirement plan. Gifts of appreciated securities are another tax-efficient donation in which the Foundation receives the full market value of the securities. The donor claims the same amount on their tax return and avoids the capital gains assessment on a future sale. Lastly, if you are 70½ or older, you can instruct your IRA custodian to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). QCDs can fulfill some or all of your annual required minimum distribution. They are excluded from taxable income, but they do not produce a charitable contribution deduction.

Including the Foundation in your financial planning can increase and enhance your transfer of wealth. For further information on how you can help keep the music playing, please contact:

Brooke S. Petersen, CFP®, Foundation Chair,
4117 Kimbers Rd. Harrisburg, PA 17112
or by calling (917) 587-9341.