GREENFIELD — Another generation of future Greenfield Community College students will see themselves benefit from scholarships and bolstered academic programs thanks to the generosity of area donors.
As of early Wednesday morning, Regina Curtis, the Greenfield Community College Foundation’s executive director of resource development, said the organization’s annual fund drive had reached $824,578, or 99.48 percent of its $825,000 goal.
“In every way, we have reached our goal,” she said.
The campaign kicked off March 31.
Curtis noted that a series of last-minute donations came in at the 11th hour on the last day of the drive, and more came in Wednesday morning. She expects to meet or exceed the goal when last-minute donations are factored in.
Curtis said the drive had double the number of volunteers making calls to prospective donors this year, and that made a big difference.
“I’m very, very excited at the turnout we’ve had in terms of participation of campaign volunteers this year; we doubled the number,” she said. We used to have about 35 people deployed, now we have about 75. They’re local people who decided they wanted to help.”
She said about $200,000 of the money raised could be attributed to that group, led by co-chairs Rich and Nicole Fahey. “It’s really great, it’s amazing what a whole bunch of small gifts can add up to. The biggest thing we can count on each year is GCC’s impact on and connection with the community. It’s what makes this job do-able,” said Curtis, who graduated from the school 30 years ago.
“You just never know how people are going to be moved, but GCC impacted their lives and they know important it is to the community, so they step up,” she said. “It’s a great affirmation of the work this college does and the work the community does to support it.”
Curtis said the largest portion of the funds — about 40 percent — goes to scholarships. About 20 percent supports running the college’s programs, while the rest goes into the endowment to generate future scholarships or toward general support. Just 4 percent is used to pay administrative staff.
“People know when they make a gift to GCC, it goes straight to GCC — to resource counseling or helping pay the bill,” she said. “It directly impacts students to make them successful.”
You can reach Tom Relihan at:
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