What about a silent auction with the proceeds to a charity of the family's choice.

I would present it to the oldest family member...

I think you should have a raffle for a quilt every year you have a reunion, or an auction and use the money to set up a saving account for the youngest member of the family or put the money to the care of the eldest member of the family. It would be nice to give the quilt to the eldest, with the rule it has to be handed down to the next person in line, but sometimes things don't go as planned, when other family members are in charge of the person who passed away belongings.

We made one for my folks 50th anniversary. 15 years later they still have it, but I've also wondered what will happen to it when they are gone. Fortunately, whichever of us sibs get it will take good care of it. For historians I have a question. Has anyone ever microchipped a quilt? I've researched it and apparently you can add information through the years, which would be a neat way to track it's "travels."

Here is what I did, I made the quilt, I paid for all the fabrics. On the day of the family get togather I had everyone sign it leave messages etc. Even the little ones were able to make their scribble(someone just wrote who had made the scribble. I had who ever was interested to put their name on a dollar bill as many as they wanted. The money went to pay for the fabrics and had the youngest child pick out the dollar. That person got the quilt. They seemed to all like that idea. I really like the quilt pictured it has plenty of places for autographs.
JeanneZ

Here is what I did, I made the quilt, I paid for all the fabrics. On the day of the family get togather I had everyone sign it leave messages etc. Even the little ones were able to make their scribble(someone just wrote who had made the scribble. I had who ever was interested to put their name on a dollar bill as many as they wanted. The money went to pay for the fabrics and had the youngest child pick out the dollar. That person got the quilt. They seemed to all like that idea. I really like the quilt pictured it has plenty of places for autographs.
JeanneZ

Interesting topic for sure, enjoy reading everyone's thoughts on this.

This is really interesting...I think I will make one and do a free raffle at my family reunion...saves me from making everyone a quilt..just one a year... ; ) I just enjoy making them...if I can donate to strangers than I can donate to family. ; )

I made one when my son got married and gave it to him as a wedding present to be passed to the oldest child and so on

We had the one we made professionally photographed and each family member has a photo of it.