Foundation History
What does 50 years of fulfilling potential look like?
The Westchester Community College Foundation was built through the efforts of many generous individuals, philanthropists, volunteers, corporations and foundations, all of whom committed time, talent, expertise, and funding to provide for the College and its students what public funding cannot.
Incorporation
Westchester Community College Trustees Harold Drimmer and John Kley realize that public support alone was not enough to provide for WCC students.
Medallion Dinner
First fundraising event raised a modest amount of funds for student scholarships
Era of Board Expansion
Ushering in an era of growth, Nina Jones Fink was elected to the Board, later serving as both President and Chair. She added several influential community leaders to the Westchester Community College Foundation Board, creating what would become a legacy for the college
Scholarships
$20,000 distributed in 1976 to 100 students
Endowment fund established with $100,000
As scholarship support was central to the Foundation's mission, the establishment of an endowment was vital to assure that funds would be available permanently to assist students
Alumni Program begins
Recognizing the value of developing strong relationships with alumni, efforts to develop a program began by identifying 2,500 alumni and establishing an Alumni Association steering committee
Professional Staff
Shirley Contino-Phillips was hired to be the Foundation’s Executive Director. Her 22-year tenure saw major growth and development of the Foundation; named Vice President Emerita, she now serves on the Foundation Board
Endowed Faculty Chairs established
39 faculty chairs were funded between 1990 - 2009, providing the resources for faculty to stay at the leading edge of their fields
Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards EstablishedThe annual awards for outstanding excellence are a commitment to recognize intellectual resources and dedication
Volunteer Corps created
Nineteen volunteers formed a core group who would provide critical support to help students through Conversation Partners, tutoring, workplace mentoring, and other important supplements to the classroom
Celebrity Salons
This series of celebrity appearances in private homes in Westchester County made its debut in 1995 - since then, over 250 guests have appeared in close to 150 homes, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for our students over the past 25 years
Virginia Marx Children’s Center opens
Affordable childcare of the highest educational standards was made available to student parents who were forging a better life for their families through education
Partners in Education campaign
First major fund raising campaign chaired by Harry Phillips and Betsy Stern, raised $3.5 million for scholarships, faculty development, and on-campus child care
Native Plant Center
Dedicated to preserving native plants in our region, the WCC Foundation established the first national affiliate of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Power of the Word campaign
Raised $2.5 million for library expansion, technology, and equipment
Collegium for Life Long Learning
This educational forum for retired adults was conceived by the Foundation in 2004; the program, now under the aegis of Continuing Education, has become wildly popular, and has a waiting list
Kathryn W. Davis Global Community Scholars program
Multi-year support from the Davis family created this innovative program that brings together an annual cohort of multi-national student scholars to participate in community service projects
$1 million in scholarship distribution
At the urging of Jack Stadler, the Foundation reached a significant milestone of awarding 900 scholarships totaling $1 million - a new annual distribution.
Study Abroad Program at Cambridge University endowed a gift of $500,000 created an endowment fund that permanently provides funding for top Westchester Community College students to participate in a two week summer program at England’s renowned Cambridge University
Gateway Campaign
Chaired by David Swope and Ellie Urstadt, this effort raised a record-breaking $20 million for a public-private partnership which built the Gateway Center, created to welcome, educate, and assimilate immigrants to Westchester County. It adds 70,000 square feet of new instructional space in Westchester County's first LEED-certified green building.
Benefits Access Center
The Benefits Access Center was established with funds from a generous anonymous donor. It provides a comprehensive variety of services to students and their immediate family members, including public benefits screening and application assistance, housing assistance, the On-campus Food Pantry, Emergency Aid grants, health insurance enrollment, and legal services
Veterans Resource Center
A significant gift from an anonymous donor enabled the Westchester Community College Foundation to establish this important office that provides veterans, as well as active duty, family members, and dependents, the support they need to make a seamless transition into the college environment
Scholarships
A new milestone of $2 million in scholarships were awarded to over 1,000 students beginning in 2018
Endowment funds
Almost $40 million in endowment funds support scholarships, faculty excellence and program development in perpetuity
Volunteer Corps
More than 600 volunteers provide over 18,000 hours of support each year
Alumni
With over 80,000 records, the Foundation hosts the College's Alumni Association, which celebrates a legacy of achievement and connects former and current students
Pathways Campaign
The Pathways Campaign for Student Success quietly began to raise significant funding in support of innovative programs that promote student readiness, retention, and completion. With a goal of $50 million, funds are already being used to pilot initiatives including the Honors College, StepUp High School Transitions, Viking ROADS, and more. We plan to conclude the campaign in 2021 in celebration of the College's 75th anniversary in 2021
