In the fall of 2008, the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) launched a new ten-year, $10 million major giving campaign titled the Marco Polo Society to complement the current Pocapalia Bronze, Mountain Monarch and Wild Sheep Patrons Club programs.

The Marco Polo argali is considered by many the penultimate wild sheep. Appropriately, membership in the WSF Marco Polo Society represents the ultimate in WSF giving. To achieve membership in the Marco Polo Society, a member will have donated and/or pledged a minimum of $100,000 to the Foundation payable within a maximum of 10 years. A $10,000 minimum first year donation is required. Donations can be donor directed to the WSF Endowment fund, Operations, specific Advocacy campaigns, Grant in Aid or Greatest Need. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

The first year objective was ten donors or $1 million pledged with an overall program goal of 100 donors representing a $10 million capital campaign. We achieved our first year goal and conducted the inaugural Marco Polo Society induction Ceremony Society during the Donor Appreciation Reception held Friday evening, February 5, 2010 at the National Automobile Museum during 2010 Sheep Show convention and international Sporting Expo in Reno. For every ten Society donors, a drawing for a $25,000 convention hunt credit to be used with convention exhibitors will be drawn. MPS Inductee Scott Jesseman won the $25,000 show floor credit and quickly used his credit purchasing a sheep hunt the next day.

Marco Polo Society members are presented a custom blazer with custom Marco Polo Society blazer buttons, a lapel pin as well as a crystal vase with the Marco Polo Society logo as recognition for their generosity to ensure the lasting legacy of “Putting and Keeping Sheep on the Mountain.”

The inaugural ten inductees recognized in 2010 are:

1.    John and Jane Babler (Minnesota)
2.    Dan and Kathy Boone (Texas)
3.    Russ Young (Illinois) and Debi Mills (Texas)
4.    Walt and Joan Coram (Texas)
5.    Guinn and Betsy Crousen (Texas)
6.    Scott Jesseman (Illinois)
7.    Denis and Diane Dale (Alberta)
8.    Don and Penny Schmidt (Texas)
9.    Gary and Penny Young (West Virginia)
10.    Kevin and Janine Rinke (Michigan)

The second ten inductees (to date) are:

1.    Oscar and Valerie Carlson (Minnesota
2.    Mark and Janice Dickson (California)
3.    Monty & Becky Davis (Texas)
4.    Lee & Penny Anderson (Florida)

Please consider joining this “elite” society of WSF donors and join us for the 2011 Marco Polo Society induction ceremony during the Saturday, February 12, 2011 Grand Finale Gala & Auction.

Thank you all for your exceptional support of the Wild Sheep Foundation and our mission!

For more information on the Marco Polo Society, or if you wish to join this elite group of men and women, please contact a current inductee or Gray N. Thornton at 307-527-6261 or email on gthornton@wildsheepfoundation.org.