Dear Friends and Classmates of ‘71,

Fifty years!  Has it really been that long? Seems like just yesterday when we arrived at Trinity and a quick four years later when we left.  As you may have already learned from messages from Trinity or our class Facebook postings, reunion planning is underway. Although a specific weekend for a campus-wide reunion has yet to be confirmed, planning is well underway for the Class of 1971 Reunion Class Gift and the reunion committee has been working with Patrick Kellogg, Chief Development Officer and Director of the Office of Alumnae/i Relations.

We would like to acknowledge and thank Mary Evelyn Tucker for initiating the push for the study of environmental justice and sustainability at Trinity, and for making an early lead donation to jump start the effort last fall.  Our class gift will be dedicated to Environmental Studies at Trinity — to support student scholarships, faculty research and other cross-curricular programs in environmental studies related to social justice, sustainability, conservation and other areas of environmental impact and import.

Ultimately, we seek to raise at least $250,000 in total funds to support Environmental Studies at Trinity. To date, over $106,000 in early contributions for our Class Gift has been received, with about 15% of the class participating so far.  Most recently, we received a new $50,000 challenge from an anonymous classmate, who promises to match all gifts received between now and June 30, 2021.  The matching donor wishes to encourage participation among classmates, with a goal of achieving a minimum of 50% class participation before June 30th.

Many of us have funded IRAs for years and we are approaching the age for required minimum distributions (RMDs).  RMDs can be donated totally, or in part, directly to a non-profit (Yes! Trinity qualifies!).  Also, if you are fortunate enough to own appreciated stock, you can gift the stock directly to Trinity and you will not be taxed on the gains.

Every dollar helps and your gift provides two times what you give because of the challenge.  You can be good to Trinity and good to yourself.  To make a gift, please use this link www.trinitydc.edu/give , or you can access and download the Class of 1971 Pledge Form.  Checks should be made payable to Trinity Washington University and indicate Class of 1971 – Environmental Studies on the memo line. If you have questions regarding your gift, please call: Patrick Kellogg at 202-884-9721.

We hope that conditions permit us to party like 1971 this fall and we can see each other face to face!  Our best wishes to all of you!!

Sincerely,

Paula Gizzarelli Lettice

On behalf of the Reunion Committee:

Mary Stevens Brady
Lois Carolan
Judy Brown Carlson
Francie Glennon Dunlop
Dawn Keenan
Ann Marie Hallahan Peters
Beata Welsh

Class of 1971 Pledge Form