The J. Howard Wood Educational Endowment Fund –
Ensuring the Future of Florida Rep
To ensure continued and expanded educational programs at a fine arts institution like Florida Rep, financial infusions beyond the normal funding sources are needed. The J. Howard Wood Educational Endowment Fund is directed toward specific programs and projects that allow monies to be invested and the dividends utilized without disturbing the principal. With this in, the J. Howard Wood Educational Endowment Fund was established and is growing.
As we grow and expand into more complex projects, it will be important to see our Endowment Fund grow proportionally. Mrs. J. Howard Wood, in memory of her husband, has planted the seed for Florida Rep’s Educational Endowment, in order to ensure the future of educational programs here at the theatre.
J. Howard Wood, former publisher and chairman of the Chicago Tribune, was a part-time resident of Southwest Florida. He became a winter resident of Sanibel in 1935 and was instrumental in the establishment of various entities on the island, such as the Island Inn Association, the Shell Museum and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. Continuing her husband’s philanthropic mission, Mrs J. Howard Wood has been key in establishing the Educational Endowment Fund at Southwest Florida’s finest professional theatre in memory of her late husband.
Gifts to the J. Howard Wood Endowment Fund can be made in many forms, all mutually advantageous to both donor and the theatre. Gifts of cash, property, stocks and bonds, cash bequests or insurance proceeds can be made to the Endowment Fund, which will provide ongoing revenue for many years. The Staff at Florida Rep would be happy to discuss your options with you, and your accountant or attorney can identify the tax savings that can result from such an arrangement.
Individual Giving
As a nonprofit professional theatre serving Southwest Florida, Florida Rep relies on the generosity of its patrons who donate funds for each production and program.
“Ticket revenue only covers two-thirds of operating costs and cash donations are essential if the show is to go on.”
-John Martin, Managing Director
Each season, hundreds of individual patrons make modest to large cash contributions that are fully tax-deductible to the donor.
In addition to cash donations, tax-deductible contributions may be in the form of tangible property such as automobiles, vintage clothing, computer equipment and building materials. Increasingly, donors to Florida Rep prefer to give stock, or to make the theatre a beneficiary in a will, trust, pension or annuity.
The Education Endowment Fund
The theatre maintains an Education Endowment Fund, created by Mrs. Barbara Wood, in memory of her husband, J. Howard Wood, Publisher and President of the Chicago Tribune. Donations to the Endowment Fund provide income that underwrites children’s theatre education and performance.
Wonderfully, thousands of American corporations and retail businesses match gifts made to Florida Rep by their employees, both present and retired. Check to see if your employer or company has such a matching gift foundation and be sure to make your donation to the theatre double.
Cash gifts can be made by check to Florida Repertory Theatre, and mailed to P.O. Box 2483, Fort Myers, FL 33902. You may prefer to use a charge, credit or debit card to make your donation. If so, Box Office staff would love to hear from you at 239-332-4488. Personal property and other donations can be arranged by phoning our administrative offices at 239-332-4665. With so many ways to give, please consider making that tax-deductible contribution now. It will do a world of good and your hometown theatre will thrive for seasons to come. Thank you from all of your friends and fellow patrons at Florida Rep.
Details
Florida Rep is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with Employer Identification Number 65-0827621.
