winter 2007 - Concord Academy

A Planned Gift“To Keep Talented Kids Coming to Concord Academy”Patty Wolcott Berger ’47 still speakswith enthusiasm of her favorite classat Concord Academy, an entirecourse on Hamlet taught by Head -mistress Josephine Tucker. “We discussed everyline,” she recalled. “Since then, I’ve gone toevery production I can find.”Still in touch with several of her classmates,Patty said one of the things she valued mostduring her four years at Concord Academy wasthe respect students showed to those whostudied hard and did well. “I got a wonderfuleducation here,” she said during a visit tocampus last fall. “The school really taught mehow to study.”together as an example of the readings of atwentieth-century lawyer. The collectionhas been housed in the seminar room of theJ. Josephine Tucker Library.Two Concord Academy students, ClaudineLott ’01 and Jeff Fabre ’00, helped Raoulinventory his library, and Patty said she andher husband were enormously impressed withthe intelligence and kindness of the pair. Oneday, Claudine and Jeff found a rare treasure atthe Berger home, a first edition of the Englishtranslation of Albert Einstein’s Relativity—signed by Einstein himself. Because ofClaudine and Jeff, said Patty, Raoul includedthat rare book in his gift to Concord Academy.Everett Wallace ’07A former teacher and the author of seventeenchildren’s books, Patty recently decided tomake a contribution to Concord Academythrough a charitable gift annuity. In return, shereceives a fixed, lifetime income. Beforehe died in 2000, her husband, Raoul Berger—a noted attorney, Constitutional specialist, andviolinist—made his own gift to the school,donating his entire library to ConcordAcademy. Raoul wanted to keep his libraryWhile appreciating the tax advantages andthe secure, lifetime income the annuityprovides her, Patty said she made her plannedgift to Concord Academy because “it wasimportant to give to a place that is going tocarry on with the best. The caliber of studentshere is terrific. They will be future leadersin one way or another. It is good to know mygift will help keep talented kids coming toConcord Academy.”Patty Wolcott Berger ’47Concord AcademyCharitable Gift AnnuityIn return for a gift of cash or appreciatedstock, CA will pay you a specified annuityfor as long as you live. Other benefitsmay include an income tax charitablededuction and income that is partly taxfree.The annuity amount depends on theage of the beneficiary and the amount ofthe gift. Sample rates:Age Rate of Return65 6.0%75 7.1%85 9.5%For more information, please contact:Diane Spence, Director of DevelopmentConcord Academy, 166 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742(978) 402-2237diane_spence@concordacademy.org