CSCC Foundation Hosts Dinner Reception to Honor Donors

CSCC Foundation Hosts Dinner Reception to Honor Donors

Holly Vincent
Tuesday, September 25, 2018 12:00 AM
Community, Students

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Cleveland State Community College Foundation hosted a dinner reception on Tuesday night at the Cleveland Country Club. The purpose of the event was to express appreciation to community members who have provided financial support to Cleveland State over the past year, while also giving them opportunity to hear how their support is impacting the success of the College and students.

Gary Fuller, Chairman of the Foundation Board, thanked the donors by saying, “I want our donors to understand that we consider you as our partners in the success of Cleveland State…

We commend you for your foresight and progressive thinking in recognizing that the single most effective vehicle for improving the quality of life of successive generations is to provide them better educational and career opportunities. We applaud your optimism in believing that we can help change the face and character of our communities, our state, and our country, one student at a time.”


According to Foundation Executive Director Cindy Dawson, donor gifts provide support for three categories of needs: annual programs, scholarships, and/or capital projects. A total of $1,222,523 was received during the 2017-18 Fiscal year. State appropriations provide 30.9 percent, and tuition/fees fund 33.2% of Cleveland State's annual budget of $22.1 Million. Gifts to the Foundation help to fund remaining unmet budget needs of the college.

A large portion of recent gifts to the college came as support of Cleveland State's Capital Campaign goal to raise $2.5 Million. The college was required to raise the ten percent match in order to secure state funds allocated in Governor Haslam's 2019 Budget to build a new Health and Science Building and to renovate the Mary T. Barker Humanities Building. The event provided another opportunity to celebrate that gifts and pledges toward this campaign exceeded $3 Million!

Dr. Bill Seymour, CSCC President, provided a “Year in Review” for the College and expressed gratitude for all who helped make this goal a reality, and recognized that gifts of all levels were very much appreciated and helped CSCC reach this milestone. He also recognized the top five major commitments of $250,000 each that made up half of the required match: Bradley County Commission, Cleveland City Council, Greg A. Vital, George R. Johnson Foundation and United Way of the Ocoee Region Healthcare Fund.

In addition to words of gratitude expressed from Seymour and Dawson, guests heard voices of appreciation from Trustees, faculty and students who all helped to tell the Cleveland State story. Guests in attendance were able to hear from faculty members Dr. Tim Wilson, Department Chair of the Advanced Technologies Department and Dr. Victoria Bryan, Director of the CSCC Honors program, who also expressed gratitude to the donors for their generous contributions.
CSCC students Amanda Garrod, Kaveri Patel and America Burnett spoke about the impact the donors have had on their education.

Garrod stated, “Cleveland State's Honors Program is directly responsible for changes in the lives of dozens of students. I am absolutely certain that without the guidance and knowledge it has afforded me, I wouldn’t be the person I am now—I wouldn’t be civically-minded, leadership ready and ready to take on the world's problems! Without it’s dedicated faculty, complex community, and support from donors like you, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today, and for that you have my most sincere thanks.”

Dawson stated, “We hope this program provided a sincere picture of how these financial gifts truly are impacting the College, our students, and the community. Meeting many of our donors at the event was so encouraging to me. I enjoyed watching them engage with the students who were present and offer their own personal encouragement and words of wisdom. They represent a community of people who believe in the mission of Cleveland State, and seem eager to support the success of the College and our students for the next 50 years!”

Some guests in attendance also represented endowments established in past years to honor friends and family members. These funds were invested years ago and the earnings generate funds for scholarships each year. Total scholarship dollars awarded last year was $436,865. The current value of the Foundation’s endowment is $7.5 Million.

Though this event was planned especially for community members who give, over 165 Cleveland State employees also made financial contributions to support the College. A special event is being planned to honor CSCC employees later in the year to express gratitude for all the ways they work and give to support the goals of the College.

 

About the Cleveland State Foundation:

The Cleveland State Foundation was established in 1971 as a separate not-for-profit entity to provide financial support to assist with meeting the strategic needs of Cleveland State Community College. Governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, the Foundation secures private contributions and bequests, and manages monies or properties given to the Foundation for the financial support of the College’s strategic mission.

Board of Trustees

Gary Fuller, Chairman                                                                                                 Bob McIntyre
Mike Griffin, Vice-Chairman                                                                                        Paul Moyle
Ann McCoin, Secretary                                                                                               Rick Platz
Veronica Fox, Treasurer                                                                                               Mark Smith
Amy Card-Lillios, Past Chairman                                                                                  Buster Stuart
Matt Bentley                                                                                                                Scott Taylor
Ron Braam                                                                                                       Debbie Thompson
Jonathan Cantrell                                                                                              Joe Waters
Nancy Casson                                                                                                  Jim Williams
Ron Hammontree                                                                                             Paul Willson
Summerfield Johnston                                                                                     Sherra Witt
Don Lorton                                                                                                      Melissa Woody
Joe Mason

 

Photo Cutline: Pictured from left to right: Amanda Garrod, CSCC Honors Student, Garry Fuller, Chairman of the CSCC Foundation Board of Trustees, America Burnett, CSCC Student Ambassador/PTK Member/Honors Program member and Cindy Dawson, Executive Director of the CSCC Foundation.

 

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