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A gift can be planned to support your charitable interests while maximizing your personal objectives. A Gift Planning Officer would be glad to work with you and your advisor to determine the best option for you.
- By phone at
(619) 744-3352 - By our online form to request additional gift planning information
- By mail at:
P.O. Box 120551
San Diego, CA 92112
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by mail, click here or contact us at:
(619) 744-3352.
Gift Planning
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Virginia Thompson - An Extraordinary Octogenarian 
Virginia is as comfortable and adept at researching the stock market on the Internet as she is exploring Papua New Guinea with a world-renowned adventurer. With a sparkle in her eye and a smile in her voice, she delights in sharing colorful stories about her exotic travels, providing insightful investment tips and introducing the wondrous artwork she displays in her home. As a native Californian, Virginia was born in Long Beach and lives in its Naples area today. When she was a child, Virginia’s family often dropped by the San Diego Zoo when they visited friends in La Jolla or went on outings to the desert. Her life-long love of animals inspired her to travel the world to see them in their native habitats and visit zoos wherever she went. Whether she was soaring in a hot air balloon above a herd of elephants in a Kenyan forest, surveying a camel market in Egypt or mingling with monkeys in Nepal, Virginia captured those memories with exquisite photographs that she displays in her home. Virginia attended Long Beach City College, studied architecture at the University of Southern California (USC) and became the first female to work in that field in Long Beach. Her specialty was designing residences but when a friendly stockbroker from a neighboring office dropped by for coffee on occasion, he piqued Virginia’s interest in the stock market as well. Virginia enrolled in night classes about investing, taught by her stockbroker friend, and she hasn’t stopped buying and trading stocks and bonds since then. Ten years ago, Virginia and two dear friends founded the “Lucky Ladies,” an all-female investment club that continues to meet monthly to analyze, discuss and purchase stocks. “I’m a firm believer in the stock market,” said Virginia. “If a young person doesn’t become interested and involved in investing, everyone else will pass that person by. If you have determination, you can make the stock market work for you. You just need to get the best information by researching the various options. “I also feel strongly that all people, no matter how old they are, must have a computer and know how to use it. In addition to reading the Los Angeles Times, I do much of my research on the Internet.” Because of her successful investing and a ballooning stock market, Virginia faced both income tax and capital gain issues. She chose to establish a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT), naming the Zoological Society of San Diego as beneficiary because it would provide her with an immediate income tax deduction, avoid capital gains tax, give her income for the remainder of her life and will ultimately support the Zoological Society’s wildlife conservation efforts. In addition to her CRT, Virginia is a member of the Zoological Society’s President’s Patrons and the sponsor of a bench at the Wild Animal Park’s Lion Camp that honors her late brother. The Zoological Society is grateful to special friends like Virginia Thompson. Because of her generosity, wildlife everywhere will benefit.
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