After the passing of her husband, Margaret Hahn found herself navigating more than grief. She began reflecting on the future — her values, her legacy and the people and causes she wanted to support long after she was gone. As time passed and healing took its slow but steady course, Margaret came to a simple but powerful realization: it was time to get her own ducks in a row.
Margaret knew she wanted her estate to reflect what mattered most to her. And, for her, that meant music.
Music always held a central place in her life — not just as entertainment, but as a means of connection, education and inspiration. In particular, she felt deeply about supporting the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and The Gilmore International Piano Festival, two organizations that brought her joy and enrichment for decades. She especially cherished the pre- and post-concert conversations with featured artists, which offered memorable opportunities for deeper engagement. As she reflected on the value of these experiences, she began to consider how she could make sure that others would have access to these opportunities long into the future. That’s when Margaret turned to her team of trusted advisors at Dement & Marquardt and Osborne Klein. Her estate lawyer, who was familiar with Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) and our philanthropic expertise, introduced the idea of partnering with KZCF. Her financial planner, who walked her through the details of her assets and long-term goals, confirmed that she had the capacity to make a meaningful impact. Together, they helped Margaret take the first step of reaching out to KZCF.
Ken Greschak, our estate & planned gift advisor, met with Margaret to explore her charitable vision and to talk through the options. What emerged was a thoughtful and heartfelt plan that aligned Margaret’s passions with a lasting philanthropic strategy.
Through her estate, Margaret will establish three designated endowed funds, each one crafted with purpose. One fund will support the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra’s educational and engagement programs. A second will do the same for The Gilmore, ensuring that its distinctive blend of world-class performances and community enrichment remains vibrant for generations to come. The third fund will support the music department at Kalamazoo College, where Margaret spent much of her professional career and where she developed a deep admiration for the department’s commitment to student development through the arts.
These endowed funds will be permanently invested, with annual distributions providing ongoing, reliable support to the organizations closest to Margaret’s heart. It’s a strategy that not only honors her legacy but also strengthens the cultural fabric of Kalamazoo for decades to come.
Margaret’s story is an inspiring example of how professional advisors, attorneys, financial planners and CPAs can work together with their clients and with KZCF to create meaningful, lasting change. These advisors often serve as the first to recognize a client’s charitable intent. KZCF, in turn, offers a suite of resources to help bring that intent to life, including charitable fund options, legacy planning expertise, investment stewardship and a deep understanding of the local nonprofit landscape.
For advisors like Margaret’s, we serve as a collaborative partner, offering tools that can strengthen client relationships and make philanthropy a joyful and stress-free part of estate planning.
In Margaret’s case, this partnership has created a beautiful, forward-looking solution. Her generosity will support live music, educational outreach and artistic engagement forever. While Margaret will one day no longer be in familiar concert halls or lecture rooms, her presence will still be felt by every student inspired by a guest artist, by every patron who stays after a concert to meet the musician who moved them, and in every note played with care and purpose.
