With our 40th Reunion is just around the corner, our Save the WILD Life Fund (SWLF) takes on greater importance for the Class of 1971.
Since its founding, the Fund has become a lasting memorial to its co-founder, the irrepressible Ed Milne, our original Class impresario.
Before he died, Ed talked about perpetuating this fund and fully realizing its goal to provide direct and indirect support for the Princeton University’s Class of '71, while reducing the cost of Class of '71 events for all Classmates.
Since then, SWLF has been a reliable source of support for the Class, to the benefit all its Classmates and to Princeton University. Did you know that SWLF has provided nearly two hundred thousand dollars to support the Class and University-wide functions at which the “charitable giving message” was delivered? Without SWLF support, fees for our 25th and 35th Reunions would have been $100 to $250 more per Classmate. This includes direct support for Classmates and the spouses of deceased Class members to attend Class events by underwriting all or part of their cost. The sad truth is that as the years go by, this role will grow.
In part through these efforts, the Class of ‘71 has raised over $10 million for Princeton, for the Class of 1971 Foundation, and for other Class-sponsored charitable causes.
SWLF promotes Princeton with three annual Class events now etched over the past 20 years into 1971’s collective Class memory: The pre-P-Rade Class lunch at off-year Reunions; the Class off-year reception at Prospect House; and 1971’s Annual Class Meeting after the home Big 3 football game each Fall. Each of these events is free to all Classmates, their families and guests. Hundreds of Classmates and their families have convened at these events since SWLF began them, generating many new friendships among our Classmates and rekindling many old ones. As much as anything, these events have helped bind the Class together. Through these events, many of us first met and can now also call Princetonians from different generations “friends.”
SWLF has already accomplished a great deal. Ed’s vision that all off-non-Major Reunions be free for the Class of 1971 became a reality. He witnessed the Class of 1971 “invent” the Reunions beverage cup, which has been served on Campus over 2 million times.
Not only does SWLF hope to continue to support Class giving efforts and our Class scholarship program, but to attain Ed’s vision: Increase attendance at Class of 1971 events, participation in Annual Giving, while directly or indirectly reducing costs for all Classmates.
To achieve these goals, SWLF needs your support.
You can also donate by making your check payable to: “Princeton University, Class of 1971,” and note in the memo line, “Save the Wild Life Fund.” Send your check to:
Stu Rickerson ‘71
Founding Chair, SWLF
P. O. Box 510
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067-0510
E-mail: dfensnet@pacbell.net
CLICK HERE to contribute to the STWLF ... on-line!
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