Planned Giving

You would not think it is possible if you met them, but Eric and Ines Storhok have been Michigan Theater members for 20 years. They must have started when they were teenagers!

They became further involved when they joined the Towsley Society ten years ago and then made a significant gift to support the renovation of the State Theatre as well. Now they have capped it off with what is sometimes called The Ultimate Gift: Including the Michigan Theater Foundation in their will.

Why are they so enthusiastic about our historic theaters? According to Ines, “We like supporting the organizations that align with our values and the places where we have had extraordinary experiences. The Michigan Theater is a place where we have had many memorable experiences enjoying movies, something we love! We especially enjoy Michigan Theater’s support for independent films, and the Cinetopia Film Festival.” When they sat down with their financial advisor to discuss their beneficiaries, it seemed natural to them to include the theaters so that future generations will have similar experiences. “We hope our contribution will continue to support not only the operation of the theater, but the magnificent film festival where we have experienced the joy of watching amazing films that will live in our memories forever.”

Ines and Eric are intentional about what kind of legacy they want to lead. “Our most important goal is that our support will continue in the future to support the organizations that have touched our hearts during our lifetime.”

The Michigan Theater and the Cinetopia Film Festival certainly meet that requirement. Ines shared a personal entry she wrote following the 2017 festival: “We laughed, we cried, we were challenged, we learned….at the end of the journey (30 movies!) we had met new friends, shared the excitement of new filmmakers, and rejoiced in the wonder of movies. Forever changed…”

Their Legacy Gift will help unlock that same kind of excitement for moviegoers many decades from now.

Hillary and Bruce recently met with their attorney and had a conversation about supporting their favorite charities beyond their lifetimes.

Hillary: We went through an ordering process first to rank the organizations in terms of importance to us and what they have contributed to our lives. That allowed us to articulate our feelings about each one. We have had a close connection with the Michigan Theater for close to 40 years now. The Michigan Theater is our central address for arts and entertainment and is one of the keys to enjoying life in Ann Arbor.

Bruce: I like to think of Ann Arbor as this huge mosaic and what holds it together is the GLUE. The glue is what makes Ann Arbor special and desirable. The ingredients are football and other sports, the political gestalt, and the arts scene, with the Michigan Theater at its center.

Hillary: As we get older, we think a lot about what Ann Arbor will be like when we are gone. So a primary reason for making an estate gift to the theater is so that we can know that it will be here for future generations to enjoy. There is nothing like seeing the look on people’s faces, children and adults, when they first encounter the Grand Foyer of the Michigan Theater – that look of wonder and magic. That sums up what is so important to us.

Bruce: We are not interested in glorification, so we do not need to have a program named after us. We prefer to donate to an endowment fund that will generate operational support. The theater staff knows the best use of the funds, and can direct them to that.

A number of years ago, when writing my will, I decided to leave my estate to local charities or organizations that I cared about. Upon retiring after 31 years of teaching high school, I started ushering at the Michigan Theater. I had been a member for a number of years but didn’t feel I had the time to usher before my retirement. I have found it to be an activity I enjoy tremendously. I love the wide variety of events presented — the A2SO concerts, the Not Just For Kids series, the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the local productions, the Live Nation concerts, etc. It has also been great fun getting to know some of the ushers who volunteer at these many events.

I was especially impressed by the quality of the staff and their dedication to making the Michigan Theater an exciting and nationally recognized venue. Best of all are the many types of movies shown, especially foreign and independent. I feel very fortunate to live in a town with such a unique jewel. I chose to include The Michigan Theater in my will so that the wonderful staff can continue to provide us with unique and varied cultural opportunities.

Rainey Lamey has been an avid Michigan Theater supporter and donor for almost 22 years. Like so many supporters, she began as a Basic Member in 2000 before graduating to Premium Membership in 2008.

A warm and generous person, Rainey recognized early on that she needed to support the Michigan Theater. “Many years ago,” she says, “I spent a serious amount of time reflecting on how I was going to structure my annual giving, and I chose to focus on a few groups with my limited funds. By their very nature, the Michigan Theater and State Theatre need to maintain their historic appearance — and those lights! They are quintessential Ann Arbor.”

In 2011, she became a Gold Card member and she shared with us her wonderful decision to continue her support beyond her lifetime by including the Michigan Theater in her will. She wanted to help, in her words, “organizations [that] have filled me with life and help generate and create life in individuals and communities.”

Why the Michigan Theater?

“The final tipping point for me was that my early gifts were welcomed heartily, so I set financial goals to provide the most flexibility of funds to MTF. The decades of enjoyment of and growth through film and other Michigan Theater offerings made including the MTF in my estate planning an easy choice, and a natural progression. I feel I’m one small part of a larger community trying to keep our humanity shared, as only the arts can offer.”

The pandemic, and the difficulties it has wrought, have only deepened Rainey’s appreciation and gratitude for the Michigan Theater management and staff, “for staying hopeful and letting us travel in their wake of hope through a pandemic; for being creative in film and finance during a time that squelched much of what keeps us human; for being brave and of good cheer at the same time. Gratitude for a young generation of film enthusiasts (or simply job-needers!) meeting us with more hospitality (and popcorn!) at the door than circumstances merited. Gratitude for simple joys and fun, together.” What about her legacy? Rainey hopes that “when people interact with me they will remember they (we) are loved and loving creations, human beings. I know my daily practice comes up very short to my hope! But it is my hope.”