MAJOR GIFTS AND GIFT PLANNING ND04
Norman and Jan Marwitz Become Diamond Feather Society Members
Norman and Jan Marwitz of Pine Mountain, Georgia, recently named Ducks Unlimited as a beneficiary of their charitable remainder annuity trust. This gift of $2.5 million qualifies them as Diamond Feather Society members, DU’s highest planned giving recognition level.
The Marwitzes first encountered DU at the Cherokee Rose Sporting Clays Shoot at Griffin, Georgia. This event began their long-time involvement with DU, beginning with local chapters around Atlanta. Norman worked with DU’s national shooting committee, and also served on DU’s national finance committee. Conservation-oriented people, the Marwitzes are impressed with how DU efficiently handles its money and the ratio of money that actually goes into projects on the ground.
“When Jan and I first got involved with DU, we met good local volunteers and DU staff who were very dedicated,” Norman said. “We both have an appreciation for nature, and we really like to see children learn about conservation and how to live in the environment.”
Putting their beliefs into practice, the couple created a wildlife haven, complete with nature trails and two garden railroads, on six acres around their home. Included are eight, 1/24th-scale model railroads operating at the same time. Three of these trains can be operated by children of all ages. Twice a year, the Marwitzes host an open house for the public, an increasingly popular event that last attracted 734 visitors. “We have to press all of our friends into service to keep things moving smoothly,” Jan said.
For more information about this one-of-a-kind event and to join their mailing list, call the Marwitzes at 706- 663-8304. “We would love to have anyone interested come and see the trains,” Jan and Norman said.
Paul and Sandi Bonderson Pledge $2 Million to Ducks Unlimited
In May, at Ducks Unlimited’s annual convention, Paul and Sandi Bonderson electrified the crowd when they announced their most recent commitment to DU— a $1 million pledge to The Pintail Initiative: A Race Against Time and a $1 million estate pledge to the Feather Society. These gifts qualify them as Diamond Legacy Sponsors and Diamond Feather Society members, DU’s highest donor recognition levels.
A California native, Paul grew up hunting pintails with his father in northern California. “When I was a kid, we were covered up with pintails in the Pacific Flyway,” Paul said. “Now that they’re not recovering from population declines, Sandi and I decided that we needed to step up to help get their recovery on track.” In addition to their generous philanthropic support, Paul, a long-time DU volunteer, recently was appointed to serve on the Wetlands America Trust Board.
Ducks Unlimited is grateful to Paul and Sandi for their exemplary leadership. Their generosity helps further DU’s conservation mission of protecting and restoring critical habitats for the pintail.
Milt Cooper Honored for His Support of DU
Milt Cooper, the founding father of DU’s Eastern Sussex chapter, was honored at a tribute dinner on April 25, at the Indian River Lifesaving Station in Rehoboth, Delaware. Cooper served as the station’s final commanding officer before the Coast Guard absorbed the U.S. Lifesaving Station. More than 125 of Cooper’s family and friends gathered to celebrate his dedication and service to DU. Pledges and contributions made at the tribute dinner will be used to designate a wetlands conservation project in eastern Sussex County in Cooper’s name.
Milt Cooper, who is 89 years old, has been an active volunteer for DU since the early 1950s. The Ocean View, Delaware, resident was recruited by Bill duPont, who was the Wilmington, Delaware, DU president at the time. In 1969, Cooper started the Rehoboth Beach chapter, now known as the Eastern Sussex chapter. Milt Cooper is also recognized in Delaware as a champion goose caller. He won the Delaware State Goose Calling Championships in 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965.
DU thanks the 14 new Life Sponsors who pledged in support of this event: Walter F. Carlsten; Frank Carter; John P. Devlin; Gerald W. Hocker Sr.; Alton and Mona Jones; Richard T. Keck; Wayne R. Keck; Darin and Rebecca Lockwood; Paul and Pat Mylander; Robert W. Oggenfuss; Kenneth Simpler; Roger and Sherry Smith; Charles and Carmen Sockriter; and David W. Wharton.
St. Cloud, Minnesota, Shows Major Support
On April 20, the St. Cloud, Minnesota, chapter hosted their annual sponsor dinner. Of the 125 DU supporters in attendance, the chapter recognized eight new Life Sponsors and three Diamond Life Sponsor upgrades. Major Sponsors present were: Life Sponsors Ken and Tami Spanier; Diamond Life Sponsors Stephen and Kathy Upgren and Annie and Randy Hagen; Life Sponsors Alice and Bill Patton; Benefactor Sponsor Lauretta Helgeson; Life Sponsors Boni and Rick Poplinski, Judy and Len Wohlman, John and Nancy Hall; Diamond Life Sponsor Leo Henkemeyer and Life Sponsor Allen Keller (not pictured: Life Sponsors Charles Sanvik and Roger and Bobbie Schmid).
The Mark and Rebecca Pine Family Pledge $1 Million to Grasslands for Tomorrow
The Mark and Rebecca Pine Family recently pledged $1 million to Ducks Unlimited’s Grasslands for Tomorrow initiative. The Pine family, residents of California’s Bay Area, are avid conservationists and waterfowlers who enjoy the rich diversity of wildlife at their northern California duck club.
In April, Mark was appointed to the Wetlands America Trust Board. During his first board meeting, Mark said he was stricken by reports about the ongoing conversion of native prairie to cropland in the Missouri Coteau, the heart of duck production country. “Even though the Dakotas don’t provide a large number of waterfowl that come to California, Becky and I recognize that we must help keep North American waterfowl habitat systems intact,” he said.
Through Grasslands for Tomorrow, DU is working to conserve 2 million acres of grassland in the Missouri Coteau, which provides critical breeding habitat for pintails and other waterfowl. The generous support of the Pine family will help DU to preserve this critical habitat before it’s lost forever.
Wildlife Artist David Maass Honored for Service to Ducks Unlimited
David Maass’s career as a wildlife artist spans more than five decades. In recognition of his dedication to wildlife, nature, and the mission of Ducks Unlimited, Maass was honored at a tribute dinner held March 13, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. More than 150 people gathered to honor both Maass’s personal support of DU and the millions of dollars he has raised for conservation by donating his original and limited- edition artwork.
Maass’s artwork has appeared in countless magazines, journals, calendars, and books, and over 300 of his images appear in limited-edition form. He has designed 36 duck and conservation stamps, including two federal duck stamps. DU recently honored Maass as its 2004/2005 International Artist of the Year, and a few years ago, US ART awarded him the prestigious title of Master Artist.
Proceeds from the dinner totaled more than $80,000 and will be used to support DU’s Grasslands for Tomorrow initiative. Ducks Unlimited is grateful to the Major Sponsors at this dinner: Huntington Eldridge, Heritage Sponsor; Joe and Judy Breidenbach, Diamond Life Sponsors; Ken Greenwood, Life Sponsor; Harold and Pam Grems, Life Sponsors; Dean and Kathy Trauger, Life Sponsors; and Wild Wings LLC, Life Sponsor.