O Pioneers!
The classes of 1968 to 1972

We were an odd, selected, and self-selected crew at a special time and place. Rather than go to Berkeley, UCLA, Cal Tech or an Ivy League, we each decided to join an experiment in undergraduate education. No grades. Small classes. Direct relationships with faculty members (who had also self-selected to be there). Vietnam sparked self-reflection and political action. All this among the redwoods, Alan Chadwick’s garden, and a view of Monterey Bay and the Pacific, stretching to the horizon.

There were no traditions. We were pioneers. And, like pioneers in other times, we were both independent of and dependent upon each other. We created a community of seekers after truth. The luckiest among us found life-long partners. All of us found friends.

Now, Crown College is at a crossroads. Unlike the ‘60s and ‘70s, many college programs and activities that formed the unique college identities now require financial support from the colleges themselves. The college concept that we enjoyed will continue to shrink in importance unless the provosts have sufficient funds to maintain and enhance the unique college programs and activities. The distinctive features of Crown College that were most meaningful to us–the small classes, the friendships with faculty, the unique core courses, and the pleasure of living with, dining with, and attending classes and college nights with our Crown cohort–are all at risk of vanishing. 

THE WHOLE STORY

We want you to join us in preserving the best things about Crown College for future generations. We have set a goal of raising $1,000,000 for the Crown College Endowment Fund and the Crown College Current Fund in 2022 to ensure that current and future provosts have the funds to preserve Crown’s identity. As of today, we’ve raised $403,630 for the Crown College Endowment Fund and the Crown College Current Fund. We’re nearly halfway there! 

Thanks to an anonymous matching grant of $400,000 from a generous Crown alumni, for every dollar donated to Crown in 2022, 50¢ is added to the donation. The important takeaway is that $265,000 still remains in the matching grant fund UNTIL December 31, 2022. As you can imagine, we really want to take advantage of this gift which will help get us to our goal of $1,000,000. And we would like you to be part of this plan.

Since July, the three of us have been in phone contact with 30 of you who expressed an interest in making a contribution in 2022. In these conversations, we discovered that several of you want to give up to $10,000 but need to spread out the payments. The anonymous donor and the UCSC Alumni Engagement team gave their approval of a five-year pledge made in 2022 that would be eligible for the full 50% match. Here’s how it works:

1. Make a pledge of any amount to be paid over five years beginning in 2022. The most popular pledge amounts have been $2,000, $5,000, and $10,000.

2. Before December 31, 2022, pay the first installment of your pledge equal to 1/5th of your total pledge.

3. As soon as you pay the first installment, UCSC will apply the 50% match to your total pledge amount. For example, your $5,000 five-year pledge will receive the $2,500 match bringing us much closer to our goal.

4. Over the next four years, make the annual payments for your pledge.

If the above approach fits into your financial plans, you can make your pledge and earn the 50% match today. Please complete this form, enclose a check for the amount of your first payment, and mail the form and check to: UC Santa Cruz Foundation, Attn: Gift Administration, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.