A group of generous classmates has offered to match each gift made, totaling up to $1.373 million. All types of gifts count toward this effort, whether outright gifts, 5-year pledges or planned gifts (see below).

Gifts can be devoted to any Colgate program, but we hope you will consider making a gift to the Colgate Fund or to the Class of 1973 General Endowment Fund.

It is our hope that 73% of the Class of 1973 will make a gift of any size, which will then unlock an additional $173,000.  So far, over 64% (about 220) of class members have donated, which means we still need at least 31 classmates to make a gift to meet our participation goal.

Use this link to make a gift: colgate.edu/makeagift. If you’d like to discuss a gift, please contact Jen Stone at 315-228-6928.

Class of 1973 50^th Reunion Class Gift Priorities

Our class gift has three sources: The Annual Fund (The Colgate Fund), Capital/Endowment Gifts and Planned Gifts.

The Annual Fund
The Annual Fund has two sources – the Colgate Fund (unrestricted support) and the Restricted Annual Fund (which includes spendable gifts made to any specific campus designation like Athletics or an Academic Department). The Colgate Fund is a priority for Colgate and touches every aspect of the Colgate experience. We urge each of you to make The Colgate Fund your priority. Go to colgate.edu/makeagift.

The Class of 1973 General Endowment Fund

You can also contribute to the Class of 1973 General Endowment Fund.  This was established by one of our classmates in honor of our 50^th Reunion.  Annual interest from this fund will be credited from our class to the Colgate Fund, providing unrestricted funds to the university in perpetuity.

The Third-Century Plan
As you know, Colgate’s Third-Century Plan is a long-term roadmap to guide actions and resources across all parts of the University in service of a significant transformation of Colgate. Under the Plan, Colgate will enhance its academic program, complete its campus, attract and support new levels of talent, and fully realize Colgate’s potential to become a national leader.

Colgate has launched The Campaign for the Third Century to support the Third-Century Plan. Any gift you make to support our 50^th reunion will also count for the Campaign.

Here is a link to information on the Plan and theCampaign:  https://thirdcenturycampaign.colgate.edu/

Planned Gifts
Planned gifts provide many options to participate in your 50^th Reunion Gift: gifts that can come through your estate – via your will/revocable trust or by beneficiary designation from your IRA or life insurance – or gifts that provide you income in return, such as a charitable gift annuity or charitable trust, or gifts of illiquid assets, such as unneeded real estate. Each can be tailored to your needs. Planned Gifts will be a vital component of our 50^th Reunion Gift and for meeting the priorities of the Plan. Colgate’s Planned Giving Office is ready to assist with your philanthropy.

Another way to donate to Colgate is using an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).  These gifts can be a way for those over 70 ½ years old to make a non-taxable distribution of funds directly to Colgate from Qualified IRA’s.  For more information about these giving options, please contact Andrew Coddington, who is leading our Class’s efforts in the planned giving arena.  He can be reached at acoddington@colgate.edu.

How Our Class Gift Is Determined
Our overall 50^th Reunion Class Gift is the total of all gifts made in the years after our 45^th Reunion Year, as well as all pledges paid in installments over the next five years. Included in this total will be all gifts to any designation, including the Colgate Fund, capital and endowment projects, and planned gifts. Every gift will also be included in The Campaign for the Third Century. To date, our class has raised more almost $4 million.

Participation
As noted above, we have set an ambitious – but achievable – participation goal for our class of 73% in honor of our 50^th Reunion year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023).

Leadership
In keeping with Colgate tradition, we identified “class captains” for many living units, fraternities, athletic teams, etc. to assist with Reunion planning. Some class captains will help with fundraising for our Class Gift. Please respond enthusiastically when contacted.

Check back here from time to time for updated information on our progress as we move toward Reunion.

Sincerely,

’73 Class Gift Committee:

Ron Joyce
Fausto Miraglia
Paul Raeder
Howard Schiffman
Tom Seligson

Class Captains:

Bill Barnaskas                        Jerry Jasko
Mike Barnes                          Tony Johns
Dave Brask                            Bill Johnston
Debbie Ciampi                       Bob Litts
Bill Cornachio                        Steve Maloy
Bruce Feron                           Michael Marinaccio
Rob Gould                             Daniel Ornt
Leslie Hathaway                    George O’Shea
John Hecker                          Rich Sarajian