Our Class’s Continuing Outstanding Support of The College
The Class of 1973 continues year after year to enthusiastically support our alma mater. For Wellesley’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, 246 classmates made a gift to The Wellesley Fund--resulting in a participation rate of 70%. The number of donors came close to matching the number who made gifts during our 40th Reunion. Forty-two classmates were recognized as members of the Durant Society (signified by gifts of $2,500 or more). Yes, we have a remarkably supportive class and our financial loyalty is both appreciated and acknowledged by Wellesley. Our fiscal 2020-21 results were characterized as “remarkable.”
What is The Wellesley Fund?
And why does it matter? The Wellesley Fund provides the financial resources to meet both current operating and unplanned expenses. Virtually all gifts to the endowment have very specific designations, such as financial aid or faculty salaries. Endowment funds do not cover operating (such as information technology costs or utilities) or unanticipated expenses (such as the hundreds of thousands of dollars expended in response to the worldwide pandemic). The College must look to The Wellesley Fund to meet these annual needs. In other words, gifts to The Wellesley Fund keep the institution running on a day-to-day basis.
In the current fiscal year (ending June 30, 2022), our fundraising team--currently comprised of Jane Risser (Class Fund Representative), Elsie Dunlap Henderson, Lynne Miller, Pam Knight Wetherbee, Liz Tunney Williams and Margaret Yonco-Haines--hope that at least 265 classmates will donate to The Wellesley Fund. As always, gifts of any size count. (Many classmates’ gifts are $200 or less.) You may easily and securely make your gift on-line now: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/21746/donations/new. Thank you for your support and inspiring classmates to follow your lead. Your gift puts us one important step closer to this year’s donor goal. Thank you again.
If you have any questions about The Wellesley Fund or Wellesley fundraising in general, please contact Jane at risserjane@gmail.com.