The Largest Gift in Community College History

California Community Colleges, which make up the largest higher education system in the nation, were created to provide affordable and accessible educational opportunities for all Californians. Today, the system serves more than 2.9 million students each year, educates the majority of the state’s workforce, and provides a stepping stone for students on the pathway to four-year and graduate degrees. In fact, one-fourth of all community college students nationwide are enrolled in a California Community College. But many of these students, who represent the workforce of tomorrow, are forced to abandon their education because of financial hardships. Even after all financial aid is considered, roughly half of all community college students struggle to meet their financial needs. In addition, continued cuts in state funding to the system have drastically impacted the services and aid the colleges can provide their students.

With its commitment of $50 million to the California Community Colleges, The Bernard Osher Foundation has inspired a new trend in community college philanthropy and has helped raise awareness of the need to increase scholarship support to California’s community college students. The Osher Foundation donated a lead gift of $25 million immediately establishing a scholarship fund—called the California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment, which has provided scholarships to 1,250 students this fall.

Here is where the historic fundraising effort comes in: The California Community Colleges and the Foundation for California Community Colleges are challenged with raising an additional $50 million by 2011 in order to receive the remaining $25 million committed by the Osher Foundation. The result? A $100 million endowment will be established to provide scholarships for more than 5,000 students per year—forever.

Since this announcement, nearly $5 million has been raised toward the campaign, and many colleges have risen to the challenge by contributing to the endowment and even meeting their individual campaign goals. However, there is still a long way to go toward the $50 million goal.

Supporting the California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment is vitally important, now more than ever. California Community Colleges enroll the state’s lowest-income students; full-time students have an annual median income of $16,223, with one-fourth having incomes of less than $5,544 per year. Students are drawn to the California Community College system for its affordability and diverse course offerings. Whether a student is seeking academic coursework for an associate’s degree, preparation to transfer to a four-year college or university, vocational training, English as a second language (ESL) courses, or enrichment courses, California Community Colleges make it possible for everyone to achieve their dream of higher education.

For more information, please visit
www.SupporttheEndowment.org or call 866.325.3222 ext. 144.