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LEGACY INITIATIVE RECAP
As you probably know, the Class of 1971 has formed an ambitious project, the ’71 Legacy Initiative, to potentially guide both classmates and other mid- to late-career Princetonians from the private sector to public service work. We’ve incorporated the venture as a 501(c)3 corporation, and its officers have been meeting and calling regularly. The goal of this recap is to tell you where we are and what we hope will happen in the coming months.
Born of a desire to extend a class community project into something far larger and more meaningful than the occasional one-day project at major reunions, the Legacy Initiative – sometimes also referred to as the Encore Service Career program -- has been inspired by Princeton Project 55 and a smaller, corollary program set up by the Class of 1969. PP55 places graduating seniors into a year-long stint with a nonprofit; the ’69 program places undergraduates in summer internships. Our concept is bolder and more ambitious: to establish a network that would facilitate full-time job placement with nonprofits for classmates and others inclined to move their careers (or post-career occupations) in that direction. More than that, we want to motivate them to move in that direction.
To date, most of the work has been done over the past three years by a small group of classmates, who have been appointed as officers in the organization. Bill Lewis, our class president, has had the longest and deepest involvement; David McI. Williams, who handled the incorporation, is the secretary; Judy Marshall, wife of Jeff Marshall, is the treasurer. Jeff, the class secretary, is communications director. Jim Ungerleider has been deeply involved, and Bob Douthitt has more recently taken a key role.
We now have a list of dozens of people who have voiced an interest in the ’71 LI. Most are classmates, but others are Princetonians in other classes who have been involved in PP55 or other nonprofit service programs. The officers have been emailing and calling these people and other classmates with the idea of: 1) identifying a skill or interest the person could bring to the effort; 2) fund-raising to really get the ’71 LI off the ground.
Fund-raising is particularly critical. Previous communications have talked about a joint venture with Project 55, but that group’s board has taken a more cautious approach. They have voted to back away from a formal commitment, and have essentially charged us with proving to them to this initiative is more than an idea hatched by a small group within in the class. They have urged us to raise roughly $30,000 – ideally, as soon as Reunions 2010 – to hire a part-time director in Princeton and set this person up in an office. Working with the officers, this manager would be setting up the framework for the placement work, which would include: outreach to and coordination with potential nonprofit employers; recruiting classmates and others for positions; finding mentors to guide the recruits; and more.
This fund-raising number is only a target, and is not etched in stone. Perhaps it could be considered a “stretch goal.” But it would signify to people both inside and outside the Class of ’71 that the LI is real and prepared to begin carrying out its mission.
David Williams’ letter last September spoke eloquently about what a Legacy Initiative could do, for classmates and for other Princetonians – and perhaps other college alumni, at some point – as well as for a class legacy. The groundwork has been laid; now it’s time to begin turning some of these ideas into action. It won’t be easy, and it will require a lot of help from classmates. We urge you to get involved or to contribute financially to this vision. It’s time for 1971 to step up to the plate.
-- Jeff Marshall, Class Secretary
Greg Conderacci has put some of this verbiage more succinctly:
If you’re like many of our classmates, you might be considering a change in focus – or maybe even a change in career – to working with non-profit organizations that embody the Princeton credo, “In the Nation’s Service.”
If so, we are designing the ’71 Legacy Initiative and its "Encore Service Career Program" for you. This exciting new program leverages the experience, skills and intelligence of Princetonians at this critical time when non-profits need it most.
If you’re interested, or know an alum who might be, please read the fact sheet below on this initiative. It could change lives – including yours.
The Princeton Encore Service Career Program
Make a Difference in Your Life – And Others’
The Encore Service Career Program is a joint venture with the Class of 1955 to inspire and motivate Princeton alums in their 40s, 50s and 60s to consider mid-life or "encore" non-profit service opportunities, particularly those dealing with “disadvantaged” social causes. (See: https://www.princeton1971.org/legacy/index.asp.)
It’s good for the non-profits and it’s good for us. As we age, keeping active prolongs health and vitality, particularly through the social connections of work. Importantly, we get to have the satisfaction of doing something truly meaningful in the “Princeton in the nation’s service” tradition: doing good feels good.
The Need Is Great and the Support Is There
Nor is there any shortage of opportunity. By 2016, nonprofits will need an estimated 80,000 new senior managers a year.
Our project’s initial resource for non-profits are those that work with the 1955 Fellowship Program, which places graduating seniors into year-long Fellowships, and also the '69 Class Foundation Program organized by the Class of ’69, which places Princeton juniors in summer internships.
The Challenge: Will You Help?
We will soon hire a full or part-time Program Manager in Princeton. The Class of 1955 will share its network of connections with nonprofit organizations and its access to committed volunteers and funding sources. This “head-start” will avoid our having to re-invent organizational wheels. Now, we sure could use your help:
- As a volunteer: Please contact David Williams (dmciw71@gmail.com) or Jeff Marshall (jeff@jjmarshall.org) to ask about opportunities. Let us know how you could help.
- As a donor: Of course, this project will need funding. Please consider a contribution. Even smaller gifts add up and show a broad base of support. Larger contributions get us to our initial $30,000 goal. You can donate to this tax-deductible cause on the website (www.pu71.org) “payment portal” or by check payable to: "71 Legacy Initiative, Inc." and mailed to our Treasurer, Judy Marshall, S’71, 9470 E. Mohawk Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85255.
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