Leaving a legacy is arguably the most profound impact one can have in their lifetime. Many share a desire to be remembered for leaving the world a better place than they found it, and for some this means ensuring the long-term viability of an organization they love, leaving it stronger, more productive, and more valuable than before. This approach to legacy is at the heart of The Lloyd and Farrally Society.
“Everybody wishes, wants to be recognized and have your name remembered,” says Leonard Offrowich, a long-time subscriber to the RWB and an esteemed member of The Lloyd and Farrally Society. “I want to ensure the continuation of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet into the future, and this is one way to be remembered and know that you’ve done some good too. I truly believe in it.”
The Lloyd and Farrally Society, named in honour of the RWB founders, was created to recognize donors who have included the RWB in their will or who have made a gift of life insurance to the RWB. Members of the Lloyd and Farrally Society are invited to special events and activities, such as viewing rehearsals, and will help to ensure that the RWB continues to play a leading role in Canadian arts and culture for years to come.
For Leonard, the perks of membership are a footnote to the larger matter of supporting the arts. He believes that individuals have a responsibility to support the arts that matter to them, to make certain that what gives our community it’s texture and identity doesn’t one day cease to be, and according to Leonard, ballet is one of the most superior art forms that exists in the world.
“The RWB is an internationally known ballet company, the longest continually running ballet company in North American, and what it provides to Winnipeg, the rest of Manitoba, and, indeed, to western Canada, is immense,” Leonard says. “The production value of the company is of a very high calibre, its school attracts students from all over the world, and their company dancers have appeared at Varna [International Ballet Competition] and garnered gold and silver medals on numerous occasions. I would call it the preeminent ballet in Canada, in terms of the company itself and its international stature.”
According to Leonard, the RWB’s connection to its prairie heritage was a key factor in his decision to make a planned gift. He highlighted the company’s numerous original creations, such as Nutcracker, Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation, and The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, along with other beloved ballets in its repertoire, such as Whoop de Doo, and Rodeo, as culturally significant offerings, particularly with respect to Western Canada.
As Leonard succinctly stated, “Winnipeg has always been the gateway to the West, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the gateway to the arts in Western Canada too.”
There are several options for members of The Lloyd and Farrally Society to choose how they want to give a planned gift to the RWB, it’s exceedingly easy to do, and it provides those without the means to give during their life another path to making a difference. In addition, Canada’s tax regulations allow those who wish to make a planned gift the option to give to charity what otherwise would be given to the Canada Revenue Agency in taxes, and if your net income in the year of your death is lower than the amount you give, your executor can claim a rebate against your previous year’s income and add that to your estate.
“Involvement is just jumping in and doing but contributing is how you partake in the growth of a community,” says Leonard wisely. “It’s painless, it takes little time, it makes one feel good about contributing, it’s so easy to do, and it’s one way of perpetuating your name and legacy well into the future.”
If you or a loved one is interested in more information about legacy giving, please contact Madison Harding, Donor Relations Officer at the RWB at 204-975-3442 or [email protected].