THE JOHN JOST SOCIETY

BLUME HAITI’S LEGACY GIVING CIRCLE

John Jost is the inspiration behind so much of the work we do in Haiti. A passionate educator, musician, and humanitarian, he believed in the power of music to transform lives and build community. It was John who first introduced our executive director to Haiti in 1996, setting in motion a journey that would lead to the founding of BLUME Haiti and a lifelong commitment to supporting Haitian musicians and music education.

The John Jost Society honors his legacy by recognizing those who choose to make a lasting impact through planned giving. By including BLUME Haiti in your will or estate plans, you help ensure that future generations of Haitian musicians will have access to the education, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive. Your legacy will sustain the work that John so deeply believed in—nurturing talent, fostering resilience, and using music as a force for hope, joy, and change.

Join us in carrying John’s vision forward.

To learn more about the John Jost Society and how you can leave a lasting gift, please contact us at info@blumehaiti.org.

Three powerful ways to leave a legacy

Each of these options empowers you to make a transformational gift to BLUME Haiti without any immediate out-of-pocket cost:

  • Name BLUME Haiti in your will or living trust. A bequest is flexible, easy to set up, and can be adjusted at any time. You can leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder after other obligations are met.

  • Designating BLUME Haiti as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give. These assets are often heavily taxed when passed to heirs, but they can support our mission tax-free when donated to a nonprofit.

  • A modest annual premium can result in a substantial future gift. You can name BLUME Haiti as a full or partial beneficiary of an existing policy—or transfer ownership of a policy you no longer need.

Blended Gifts:
Give Now and Later

A blended gift combines the joy of seeing your impact today with the satisfaction of knowing your legacy will continue long into the future.

For example:

  • Make a current gift to support scholarships or instruments today

  • Pair it with a bequest or beneficiary designation for even greater impact

These gifts allow donors to deepen their commitment without compromising current financial security.

Getting started is easy.

We’re here to help you explore the giving options that make the most sense for your values, your goals, and your legacy.

  • Let us know if you’ve included BLUME Haiti in your plans—we’d love to welcome you into The John Jost Society.

  • Talk to your advisor to discuss your estate and financial goals.

  • Contact us to discuss your vision and how you want your legacy to take shape.

Why your legacy matters

Your planned gift will sustain the work that John Jost began—nurturing young musicians, building resilient communities, and lifting up Haitian voices through the universal language of music.

John with Haitian American composer Sydney Guillaume and BLUME Haiti Executive Director, Janet Anthony Holy Trinity Music Camp - Cange, 2012

A Note from John

Why I Support Music in Haiti

While much of what one hears or reads in the news about Haiti is negative, I’ve been privileged to experience firsthand the expressiveness of Haitian musicians, the beauty of Haitian painting, and the stamina with which Haitians work when given the opportunity. When I began teaching at the Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince over 50 years ago, there were about 30 students in roughly the equivalent of a junior high school orchestra. Within several years, this group had become a fine youth symphony of about 60. We started a three-week summer music camp and recruited high-quality volunteer music teachers from the U.S. and other countries to work with the students, and the skill level began to rise.

Eventually hundreds of students were playing instruments, and the better players were earning scholarships to schools including Temple University, St. Olaf’s, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Redlands, Duquesne, and even Juilliard. Some of the musicians have become members of professional orchestras. The orchestra directors at three American universities are Haitians who came through the Holy Trinity program. Whether the students went into music as a profession or not, they were transformed by their experiences and became leaders in their communities.

I spent four years living and teaching instrumental music in Haiti full-time and continued to return for music camp each summer for decades; it was always the highlight of my year. Formal music-making has exploded in Haiti: there are now over 120 different music programs teaching children to play instruments or sing in choirs. Much of this expansion is due to the tireless work of Janet Anthony, professor emerita from Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) who, along with former students and colleagues, co-founded BLUME Haiti, and who spends much of her time teaching in Haiti. 

Haitian students are passionate about music once given the opportunity, and are rewarding to teach. It is gratifying to have played a small part in cultivating such talent, and while my health no longer allows me to travel to Haiti, it brings me great satisfaction to now invest in the growth of music programs across the country - and the opportunities they offer young people - through my philanthropic support. I invite you to join Suzanne and me in making your legacy commitment to BLUME Haiti. Together we can empower successive generations of Haitians through the transformative and unifying power of music education.

-John Jost