LIZ LESHIN: Bill, can you tell me a little bit about yourself and why you’re interested in preservation?

BILL COUNTER: I’ve been fascinated by commercial architecture for decades. I got started doing tech theatre work in high school and quickly became obsessed with how theatre buildings were put together, how they differed depending on use and other factors, and how they were equipped. I’ve worked as a projectionist, electrical contractor specializing in theatre renovations, and as a theatre consultant helping old movie palaces convert to performing arts centers, including the Wiltern.

Now I’m retired and just play all day looking at vintage photos and exploring hundreds of L.A. area theatres in a documentation project that includes the website losangelestheatres.blogspot.com and a Facebook page: facebook.com/losangelestheatres. Being obsessed with theatres, I help out with Last Remaining Seats because it’s a vital project for the health of Broadway. And, of course, it’s fun exploring all the theatres and answering questions about their construction and history.

LL: You’re a Pillar Society member, which means putting the Conservancy in your estate plans. What motivated you to do this?

BC: If you believe in the mission of an organization, I think it’s important to support them on a long-term basis. Of course, at my age of 78, that doesn’t mean just during the next couple of years while I can still write that annual check. Being serious about this means support after I die, by putting the Conservancy and other organizations as death beneficiaries on various accounts. It’s easy to do.

LL: Last year, you made a generous gift to the Conservancy’s Preservation Annual Fund from your Qualified Charitable Distribution. Can you please describe briefly, in layman’s terms, what that is – and what tax benefits you get by making a gift in this way?

BC: As an old guy, I’m obligated to take Required Minimum Distributions from IRA accounts each year. That number keeps going up as account balances grow and the multiplier used to figure the distribution, based on age, results in having to withdraw more money each year. It’s all taxable as current income. I don’t need it all for my current expenses, so why pay taxes on it? A better option is giving a chunk of it to organizations like the Conservancy as what the IRS calls a QCD — a Qualified Charitable Distribution. It goes directly from your account administrator to the charity you choose — and that amount is deducted from your taxable income.

LL: This year you offered to use some of your QCD – $25,000 – as part of a matching fund to encourage others to support the Conservancy’s Preservation Annual Fund. Why?

BC: I‘ve been increasing my annual membership level for the last few years but a larger gift makes more of an impact. People like matching funds, and putting money in that pot is one way to encourage people to make a donation beyond their annual membership because it goes farther with a match.

LL: Anything else you’d like to share?

BC: Yes. See you at the Million Dollar Theatre for Last Remains on October 17.

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVANCY
You can support the Conservancy now via a Qualified Charitable Donation or a Donor Advised Fund, and later by joining the Pillar Society and leaving a planned gift. To learn more about ways to give now and in the future, contact our Director of Development, Liz Leshin, at lleshin@laconservancy.org.