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Red Rocks Society
Our community continues to support us as we grow stronger, and more adaptable, each year
Twenty-three years ago, at the Gulch’s 75th Anniversary celebration, a group of alumni expressed interest in establishing a planned giving group for Cottonwood Gulch. In my remarks at that time, I made the case for raising at least a million dollar endowment for the organization for which we all care so deeply. As of today, we have reached and exceeded that goal, with a current endowment valued at more than $1.2 million. Those funds help support scholarships, facilities, and land protection projects, providing more than $600,000 to date toward these essential components of our organization.
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After my remarks in 2001, several guests came up to me and advised that they already had named the Gulch as part of their estate plans. A few others said they would consider making a bequest. There was a great deal of enthusiasm at the time for increasing the number of trekkers receiving full or partial scholarships because of endowment income. It is wonderful to think of what an impact a substantially increased endowment would have on our current New Mexico-based programing. Of course, endowment dollars can also support facilities, staff salaries and general expenses. We also learned at the time that many people are hesitant to give large cash contributions during their lifetimes but love the idea of the Gulch benefitting when they die.
Out of this spirit, the Red Rocks Society was created with a handful of charter members. As we approach our 100th anniversary, we are making a renewed effort to energize this group. We always encourage our donors to consider different ways that they can include Cottonwood Gulch in their estate plans, and I encourage you to join me in becoming a member of the Red Rocks Society.
If you, too, would like to make a planned gift to support the Gulch, please reach out to Jordan Stone, Executive Director: jordan@cottonwoodgulch.org, or (505)-248-0563.
Jameson French Trekker 1968-69 Staff 1970-71 Board Chair 2004-2010
