Why I Give: Dr. Raymond Erickson
Musician, Educator, Philanthropist

Dr. Raymond Erickson is a professor of music at Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center. Since joining the music faculty in 1971, Dr. Erickson has left his mark. Whether as a professor, the founding director of the Aaron Copland School of Music, organizer of the first endowed music scholarships, or dean of arts and humanities, he has supported Queens College in every way that he can.

I’d like to share with you why I decided to establish a charitable gift annuity to benefit the Music Library at Queens College.

Why a Charitable Gift Annuity?

First, I wanted to complete the gift during my lifetime and work with Queens College to ensure the gift could be directed as I wished. Second, I received a gift-tax deduction that I could apply to my current income-tax filings. Finally, the gift is generating new income for my wife and me for the rest of our lives. Right now, we are using the annuity payments toward our grandchildren’s college costs. One philanthropic gesture is generating another, which is very satisfying.

Why the Music Library?

When I first arrived at Queens College, the Chair Howard Brofsky (later one of the founders of the Queens College jazz program) took me into the library and said, “This is the greatest thing about this place.” It was a true research library, the sort of asset that you could use to attract the most serious music scholars.

I have spent a lot of time in that library; and thanks to one alumni gift (from one of my Yale professors, in fact), the collection is returning to its former glory after lean budgetary years. I want to ensure that this will continue in perpetuity, which is why my gift is intended as an endowment.

Queens College is special. When I came to Queens from Yale, I was flabbergasted by the quality of the music department. At Queens the faculty not only have brains, they have talent. That made a huge impression on me because so many senior colleagues represented what I myself aspired to be.