Lyric Opera 2018-2019 Issue 8 Elektra

L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O 18 | February 2 - 22, 2019 planning. “We have about 600 planned givers – members of our Overture Society – who have loved Lyric over the years. ey want to give back and make sure future gen- erations have the same enjoyment in the company that they do. Opera gets more and more expensive, and we need these funding sources to do major projects. Planned gifts helped us produce Les Troyens and the current Ring cycle.” ere is no minimum planned gift, and gift planning can also mean strategic giving during your lifetime, explains Mike Biver, director of gift planning: “Often donations come in the form of cash (credit card or check), but there are many other opportunities for donors to be more strategic with their giving, and we try to make sure they are aware of all options such as transferring appreciated stock directly to Lyric and avoiding capital gains tax. Likewise, if you have an IRA and you’re of a certain age, you can transfer your required distribution directly to Lyric and avoid it being counted towards income taxes.” You don’t have to be a millionaire to create a gift plan that includes Lyric. “A few thousand dollars is a very meaningful gift,” says Biver. “I think of gift planning as being the democratization of donating. It’s a way of allowing all Lyric patrons to engage with supporting Lyric in profound, meaningful ways. We recently had a donor who sat in the upper balcony and gave a modest gift each year for decades who was able to leave a bequest to Lyric through her estate that will help ensure Lyric’s future for the next generation of op- era lovers.” Lyric’s donors become part of Lyric’s legacy through their generos- ity, and their contributions are not only a gift to Lyric today, but also to the future of opera. At Lyric, our generous donors who are passionate believers in the arts “can say ‘I helped put that onstage and helped share that amazing performance with others,’ ” says DelPilar. “ is is what a career in development is all about,” states Hurley. “My colleagues and I are called to create a connection between Lyric, the field of opera, and our audience--and we believe in this call deeply and personally.” Whether it is at a performance in the theater, at a gala in the opera house, or at a Lyric Unlimited activity in the great- er Chicago community, a member of Lyric’s development team is probably there. Start up a conversation and learn how you can become further connected. Yes, opera is expensive, but it is also inspiring, all-encompassing, and life-changing, so very much worth the effort. e work of Lyric’s development department and the incredible generosity of Lyric’s donors strengthens the arts in Chicago and secures Lyric’s future for generations to come. Roger Pines, Lyric's dramaturg, is a regular contributor to opera-company programs and music publications internationally. He has appeared annually as a panelist on the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts' Opera Quiz since 2006. “I think of gift planning as being the democratization of donating. It’s a way of allowing all Lyric patrons to engage with supporting Lyric in profound, meaningful ways.” — Mike Biver At a 2018 donor reception entitled “Costumes and Canapés,” Ring cycle costume designer Marie-Jeanne Lecca (right) explained the details of her costumes for Wotan. DAN REST