Priscilla Endicott (right) shares a song with granddaughter Haley and daughter Cricket. (Courtesy photo)

Indian Hill Music of Littleton has announced that longtime benefactor Priscilla Endicott of Littleton County Road has created a charitable lead trust to benefit the organization. The trust will generate $100,000 in unrestricted income to Indian Hill Music for each of the next 20 years.

“This is an extraordinary gift that will have a long-term impact,” said IHM Executive Director Susan Randazzo, who added that Indian Hill must rely on the generosity of community leaders like Endicott to survive in this challenging economy. Ticket and tuition revenues cover only about 70 percent of operating expenses.

A charitable lead trust is a planned giving tool that is designed to pass assets to heirs at a lower estate tax rate, while making a significant gift to a charitable cause.

“When I thought about my family and what I’m going to do in the next several years of my life, I realized that I also had a tremendous feeling of ownership and caring for Indian Hill Music,” said Endicott, who describes the organization as a “high caliber, vibrant, and exciting musical community right at my back door.”

A current member (and past-president) of Indian Hill Music’s Board of Directors, Endicott studies piano at the community music school, subscribes to the Orchestra of Indian Hill, and attends a variety of other events, from chamber music concerts to fundraisers. She recently served as a volunteer model at Indian Hill’s fall knitwear fashion show and also attends recitals with her 8-year-old granddaughter, who is enrolled in piano lessons. “Music is a necessity, not just a luxury,” she said. “It has been food for my soul and a real part of my life.”

In addition to supporting the organization as an Annual Fund donor, Endicott had decided that she wanted to provide Indian Hill Music with a meaningful gift that would take care of her family as well. She explained that the most important aspect of giving financial support to Indian Hill is being able to share the joy of the musical experience with as many people as possible.

“The charitable lead trust works for everybody,” she said, adding that it offers the luxury of providing for both her family and Indian Hill Music well into the future.