September 2021
In nine months, if all goes well, according to hopes and plans, we will be together in Northampton, celebrating our 60th Reunion. Reunions are a time for renewal of friendships, the making of new friendships, and the re-telling of memories of our days at Smith. Reunions are also a time for us to show our gratitude for the education we received at Smith through enhanced support of our beloved alma mater.
To that end, we have chosen “Thank you, Smith” as the theme for this milestone reunion year. In addition, thanks to the great generosity of a classmate (who wishes to remain anonymous) we have established the Class of ’62 Scholarship Fund as our legacy and thank you to Smith in honor of our 60th Reunion!
You are probably aware that raising money for scholarship and financial aid has been President Kathy McCartney’s primary fundraising goal. As a result, major alumnae donors have recently given gifts that can be used to match scholarship funds set up by a class or by individuals. The college has also established a baseline figure for the establishment of these funds: If a single donor gives $100,000, the gift will be matched with another $50,000. The total of $150,000 will meet the required baseline figure and the scholarship fund can be established. Now that our baseline goal has been met, we have been informed that subsequent individual gifts of $100,000 will also be matched with another $50,000!
You may also be aware that the college estimates that it takes an endowed fund valued at $1.5 million to fully fund a student for one academic year at Smith. Thus the establishment of the class scholarship is just the beginning. Our goal will be to raise the $1.5 million by the time of reunion in either direct gifts or multi-year pledges.
Soon, someone will reach out to you to talk about how you can help us reach this goal. I hope you can be as generous as you can. We are the GREAT Class of 1962! We can do this! And we will!
With best wishes to all of you. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Northampton in May, 2022. Please stay safe; stay well.
Joan Sigel
President Class of 1962