Giving for the Next Generation

Ann Larson’s first memory of The Bushnell is coming to a show with her grandmother when she was just a little girl and being mesmerized by the ceiling. Even more than the performance, she was captivated by the mural, Drama and the experience of being somewhere extra special with her grandma.

Fred Larson recalls having that same feeling of awe in Mortensen Hall during his first experience at The Bushnell, when he came on a bus trip from Newington High School to see a play. It may come as no surprise then that Ann and Fred have become part of The Bushnell’s family in many ways, including as decades-long subscribers to the Broadway Series, where they now sit together under that same mural to experience Broadway, classical music and a host of other cultural presentations. Fred joined The Bushnell’s Board of Trustees in the mid-1980s and continues to serve as an Honorary Trustee today.

“There are too many ‘favorite’ memories of performances over the years,” he said. “Some highlights include bringing our grandchildren to see The Lion King, seeing Yo-Yo Ma in concert and experiencing Miss Saigon for the first time. Having been involved in the fundraising campaign that allowed us to expand our backstage and loading dock area so that The Phantom of the Opera would fit into The Bushnell, seeing Phantom for the first time took my breath away.”

The Larsons have supported The Bushnell as dedicated Annual Fund and capital campaign donors ever since they began attending as adults. Fred played a key role in leading The Bushnell’s creation of a planned giving program over 25 years ago—a program that has received over $30 million in gift intentions and gifts since it began. When they decided to include a gift to the Center in their own estate plans, they did so by making The Bushnell a beneficiary of a retirement plan.

“It was easy to do,” said Fred, “and our advice to anyone who is considering a legacy gift is to do it now. You will feel great knowing your plan is in place!”

“The Bushnell has provided us with a lifetime of memories, and we want to help ensure its future for generations to come as previous generations have done for us. We want our grandchildren to have the same opportunity to share in the Bushnell experience,” Ann said. “When I saw our grandson Sam’s eyes as the animals in The Lion King entered down the aisles I thought, ‘Well, this is what it’s all about.’”

Your gift ensures future generations can enjoy the Bushnell experience too. Learn more about how to leave a legacy at The Bushnell by contacting Ellen Nattila at (860) 987-6071 or enattila@bushnell.org.