Donor Spotlight: Jackee Marks Finds Passion with Puppets

Ancient Chinese emperors with long beards, African dancers decked out in colorful cottons and even a life-like Phyllis Diller – all puppets – line the walls of a converted church parish hall in Pasadena, home to the International Puppetry Museum (IPM). To a knowledgeable puppet enthusiast, these are the show pieces of one of the finest collections in the United States – about
5,000 puppets and 1,200 books valued at approximately $2 million in the collection of Alan Cook. To CCF donor Jackee Marks, they are her passion and the cause to which she has dedicated herself over many years.

Jackee Marks discovered a passion for puppets, which she has supported through her philanthropy. (Photo courtesy of Jackee Marks)

Marks, an artist and major supporter of the IPM, will celebrate two milestones this year: her 80th birthday and a permanent home for the puppetry collection. The IPM is donating the collection to the Northwest Puppet Center (NWPC) in Seattle where the puppets will be used for exhibits and educational programs and stored more carefully. The first shipment of more than 200 puppets took place in May 2010, with additional shipments scheduled through 2011 once permanent storage has been arranged.

Marks discovered her passion for puppetry decades ago, making her own puppets and performing in many arenas, including a series at the Music Center with a full orchestra. “The thing I like about puppets is that it’s an all-inclusive art form, from the conception to the artistry of making the puppets,” Marks said.“I’ve taught puppetry to children and it’s just marvelous to watch them start with an idea and come out with a fi nished show. They learn public speaking and acting, music, lighting, engineering. It’s problem-solving.”

Sometime around 1990, her interest in puppetry extended to philanthropy. A group of supporters got together to help preserve and store collector Alan Cook’s extensive collection. Marks became involved as a volunteer and donor, ultimately providing the financial backing and leadership for the project. Marks’ philanthropy fulfills her: “Giving fills a hole. Like with these puppets, if I wasn’t involved in giving money and seeing that [the preservation] happened, those puppets would probably just be disseminated out in the wide world again and we’d lose a tremendous asset.”

For Marks, giving is a family tradition. Her father had a fund with the California Community Foundation in 1982 and she and her sister have continued giving through their own CCF funds. Marks’ father started his fund with a gift of property, and Marks likes to contribute appreciated
stock to her donor advised fund. “The thing I like best about CCF is it’s like a holding tank. So if you have a piece of property that you want to get rid of, get some tax benefits for, you don’t have to decide right away where the money’s going to go. You can think about it. And the same with stocks. The staff at CCF is extremely helpful in facilitating my philanthropic goals.”

To facilitate the transfer of the puppet collection, Marks has set up a series of grants including an initial gift of $125,000, a second gift of $125,000 when a definitive plan is in place to proceed with capital efforts to expand, renovate, build or buy additional space for the collection and $25,000 annually thereafter for 10 years. CCF helped facilitate the gift by conducting due diligence and legacy planning. “It will be secure over the years,” said Marks.“If I’m not here anymore then the NWPC will still be getting its money for a 10-year period.”

For Marks, this transition will be the culmination of years of hard work. “I like to be where I’m really needed, where I’m filling a niche that no one else is filling. I feel like I’m really doing a job that isn’t just putting another cherry in the pie.” When asked what it would feel like when the last of the puppets gets shipped, she said with a smile, “I will be delighted. I’ll retire. I’ll die happy.”

What’s your passion? Contact CCF for a philanthropic consultation and let us help you create a plan to realize your goals.