College Fundraising Pays Off
Sonora, CA– Thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, Columbia College has nineteen $1,000 scholarships to award yearly.
Fundraising began in late 2008 when the Osher Foundation gave $25 million to the California Community Colleges, and pledged an additional $25 million as a match for funds raised by individual campuses.
Each of the 112 colleges throughout California were given a fundraising target based on student enrollment. Columbia’s initial target was $94,786. By the end of the three-year long campaign, the college had raised 206% of its target, or $194,995, placing second among all colleges in the state.
“We could not have achieved these results without the tremendous generosity of our community,” noted Mel Kirk, Foundation Board President. “Several key business leaders and other generous individuals saw the opportunity to make a difference, and jumped on board.”
Applications for Osher Scholarships will be available in the upcoming fall semester, and will be posted on both the College Foundation and Scholarship’s Office websites.
Basic criteria include: completion of at least 24 units, qualification for a Board of Governor’s fee waiver (based on income), and demonstrated progress toward a degree or certificate.
The Columbia College Foundation is a Sonora based non-profit organization that supports student success through scholarships, student activities, instructional programs, and other key campus-based projects.
For more information, call (209) 588-5055 or visit www.gocolumbia.edu/foundation.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
