Dear Classmates, Our 50th reunion has presented a time for us to remember our W&L years, reflect on our lives, and consider what we value most about Washington and Lee. Beyond that, it provides an opportunity for each of us to give back. Our celebration together has been postponed for a while, offering more time for us to finish the work we started to make a class gift to our beloved alma mater that will be remembered long into the future. You will recall that on the occasion of our 25th reunion, our class created the Class of 1970 Robert E.R. Huntley Scholarship to assist deserving students with financial needs. As our classmate, Bob Herring reminded us, “Bob Huntley became the university president in 1968 and, we believe, successfully guided the school through one of the most challenging periods of social and political unrest in this country in our lifetime. He did so without any disruptions or confrontations, never requiring that we abandon our various beliefs on any number of issues. He earned our trust, and we received his. We were fortunate to have that relationship at W&L. It is fitting that our class, which benefited the most from President Huntley’s leadership, honored him in this way.” Today, the 1970 Hunley Scholarship endowment value is about $680,000. For our 50th reunion, our goal is to ultimately raise the 1970 Huntley Scholarship to a full-tuition fund of $1.2 million. Planned gifts to the scholarship will achieve our class tribute to Bob Huntley. Many of you have made generous financial gifts to Washington and Lee. Our class won the Trident Trophy last year for our collective support of the Annual Fund. We write to ask that you take another look at how you might be able to make a gift to the Huntley Scholarship. With Stacy Eastland ’71, W&L presents the 10 best charitable giving strategies for 2021-2025 in the attached booklet. Many have a minimal effect on a donor’s consumption needs and family. Based upon facts assumed in the examples, some of these techniques increase the resources available for a donor’s lifestyle and family. In addition to the materials included and the advice of your tax advisors, you may wish to use W&L resources to design your gift. Jamie Killorin, director of gift planning, is available to help tailor your giving to fit your specific situation. Visit https://plannedgiving.wlu.edu to learn more. You have your reasons for supporting W&L. It may be the Honor System or the fact that the student body essentially is self-governing. Whatever your reasons to give back, we believe those characteristics of this premier academic institution are uniquely Washington and Lee. We look forward to gathering with you soon.
John Nolan Tom Fechtel