I’m so pleased to share this first edition of Enduring Connection with you this fall. It’s been on my “to do” list since starting as Director last year. Gathering the stories together has been a joy. We all have “to do” lists kicking around, but have you ever thought about what it would be like if that “to do” list became a “get to do” list?

For many of us, estate planning fits squarely into a “to do” column. We know it’s important because it ensures that our children and resources are cared for in the future, nonetheless, it feels like an arduous project. 

When we think about estate planning with philanthropy in mind, the exercise changes. When we “get to” plan what happens to our resources, our imagination also is allowed to wander. We get to think about our wildest dreams for the future—a lasting scholarship that supports STEM students at Bates, funds for students facing emergency expenses, an endowment that covers the cost of your favorite varsity team, a professorship in the field of your choice. 

Gifts that come to Bates through beneficiary designations, wills, and estate plans have historically been Bates’ largest source of endowment support. So when you start thinking about that “to do” list. I hope you will remember that taking that next step in your planning could be a “get to” for you and for Bates’ future.