Planned Giving

Cindy and David Palmquist first felt connected to their community after receiving a gifted membership to the Coolidge over a decade ago. Since then, the Coolidge has remained a fixture in their lives. From annual The Big Lebowski screenings and RZA’s live performance, to drive-in movies during the pandemic and learning something new at Science on Screen®–there are too many favorite memories to choose from.

Thinking about places that bring them joy, it made sense for the Palmquists to include the Coolidge in their planned giving. “We wanted to do something that would benefit the whole community, and it’s important for us to see places like the Coolidge remain independent,” they say.

“We feel that now more than ever community and belonging are essential. The Coolidge gives us that and if we can do anything to help foster that for others, it’s really a no-brainer.”

Larry Ruttman’s first time coming to the Coolidge was in 1938 for a film called The Baker’s Wife. Now, tens of thousands of moviegoers look up at the same art deco details in Moviehouses 1 and 2.

After a career in law, Larry pursued his love for storytelling and became an accomplished author of five books, ranging from the history of Judaism in major league baseball to profiles on world-renowned musicians.

As lifelong Brookliners, Larry and his wife Lois want people to keep coming to the Coolidge. “It’s a source of inspiration and knowledge. Movies have something to say about the universal human experience,” Larry says.

Having included the Coolidge in their plans, they envision a new generation finding inspiration, knowledge, and solace in the theatre. “The movie theatre is one of the few forms of community we have left,” recalls Lois, “my parents used to go out to the movies every week. We want to keep that form of community alive.”