 |
| Forty members of the Selig Legacy Society gathered at the Zoo for their annual behind-the-scenes tour and luncheon. This year's event included a talk by Keeper Megan Fox at the Red Ape Rain Forest where Selig members got a glimpse of the baby orangutan tightly clinging to mom, Kalim, on only her second day of being on view to the public. Members also watched as elephant keepers put Tina and Jewel through their daily training. |
Selig Legacy Society
Zoo enthusiasts who have included the Zoo in their estates are recognized as members of the Selig Legacy Society.
The name honors the legacy of “Colonel” William N. Selig, who opened his combination movie studio and zoo in 1915 with more than 700 animals – the largest animal collection in the United States at that time.
Inspired by Colonel Selig’s passion for animals, our Selig Legacy Society partners leave a legacy that will enable future generations to experience wildlife at our Zoo and promote the health and safety of animals in the wild.
While benefitting the Zoo in a lasting way, a planned gift may have great personal benefit by reducing estate taxes for heirs, avoiding capital gains, and increasing cash flow.
Selig Legacy Society partners receive special recognition in the annual report and on the Donor Wall in the entry plaza.
Legacy partners also enjoy an annual behind-the-scenes and luncheon with the GLAZA President and the Zoo Director.
For Selig Legacy Society information, please contact Suzanne Torgeson at (323) 644-4782 or storgeson@lazoo.org.
Save the Date!
GLAZA is pleased to invite Selig Legacy Society members to this annual behind-the-scenes presentation and luncheon just for them. By including GLAZA in their estate plans, Selig Legacy Society members permanently enhance the welfare of the Zoo’s animal residents and ensure the Zoo’s vitality for future generations. To learn how to include GLAZA in your will or estate plan, contact Suzanne Torgeson at (323) 644-4782 or storgeson@lazoo.org.
October 24 (Wednesday)
9:30 a.m.
How to Get Involved
Click here for additional descriptions of various charitable gift planning vehicles, and for further information on how you can become a Selig Legacy Society member, please contact Suzanne Torgeson at storgeson@lazoo.org or at (323) 644-4782.
A Tax-Savvy Suggestion
"I planned on giving to the Zoo this year anyway, but liked the idea of saving income tax by directing a distribution to GLAZA directly from my IRA." - Carloyne Lacy-Schwab
Individuals 701/2 or older must take a minimum annual distribution from their tax-deferred retirement accounts, which is taxable as ordinary income. Legislation initially passed in 2006 and extended through February 2012, allows retirees to donate up to $100,000 directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to qualified public charities without having to count the distributions as taxable income. This may be an effective way of lowering your income tax bracket thereby lowering your income taxes.
Donor Profiles from Past and Present Newsletters
 |
Gene Dudley |
You Don’t Have to Be Wealthy to Make an Impact
You might think that most bequest donors are millionaires, but precisely the opposite is true. Most individuals who include their favorite charity in their estate plans are of modest means. They may give $25 or $35 a year, but they do it routinely every year for many years. Their estate gift, on the other hand, can be substantial with important consequences for the organization.
Last year GLAZA received a generous bequest from the estate of Gene Dudley. Gene had been making small contributions to GLAZA every year for over twenty years. In 2007, he let GLAZA know that he had included the Zoo in his estate plans, and we were pleased to be able to acknowledge Gene as a Selig Legacy Society member.
An Inspired Legacy
Gene had grown up in Southern California attending local schools. He had a passion for helping and his first position with VISTA, the domestic version of the Peace Corps, launched a life-long career of public service working with low-income families, community action agencies, senior citizens programs and finally with Parks and Recreation for the city of Los Angeles.
Gene had an affinity for cats and the neighborhood felines were frequent visitors to his door. His cat, Tibo, was a companion for fifteen years, so it was not surprising that Gene wished to provide for the Zoo’s feline population in his bequest. Today the L. Eugene Dudley Fund for Felines exists as a permanently restricted fund for the “care and enrichment” of the Zoo’s cats. We are grateful to Gene for his thoughtful and meaningful legacy.
Please click here to read profiles of Madeline Taft and Mike Dee!
