American Council on Gift Annuities

“I left my heart in San Francisco” is a popular song, written in 1954 by George Cory and Douglass Cross, and best known as the signature song of Tony Bennett. It was released as a single by Bennett on Columbia Records, as the b-side to “Once Upon a Time”. It peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was later issued on the album of the same name.

On the northwest corner of San Francisco’s Union Square, just across the street from the Westin St. Francis, this red heart painted by Tony Bennett features the Golden Gate Bridge and the hills of Marin County. The purple/black silhouette ad on a building behind serves as an interesting reminder that Tony Bennett today is still part of our lives as he was decades ago.

There is much in San Francisco to love, and a great deal with which to share your heart. For those who are art lovers, there are the untold numbers of art galleries that dot the city. For those who love ethnic cultures, there is Chinatown and Japantown, as well as other special sections of the city that remind us of the various cultures that make up our land. For those who walk or hike, there are countless trails and waterfronts in this wonderful city that is surrounded on three sides by water. That water brings a constant source of wind to the city and keeps it much cooler than otherwise might be anticipated.

Seafood lovers will find a plethora of fresh seafood in every venue from upscale restaurants to street vendors. You can have clam chowder in a bread bowl, or if that is too “fishy”, you can also have chili in your bread bowl. Walk on Pier 39, and see the sea lions as they rest and relax and howl at one another and anything else that passes their way. Certainly they add a dramatic addition to the “sights and sounds” (and smells) of San Francisco.

Get your walking shoes ready, make your list of sights and sounds to experience, and plan now to come meet with your Planned Giving friends and family at the 30^th Conference of the American Council on Gift Annuities on April 18-20, 2012. “Come join us and see what part of the city grabs your heart”.