Nearly tripling the amount raised in previous years, the Augusta Technical College Foundation recently announced the annual Family First campaign fundraising a grand total of $60,000 in gifts and pledges.
First created in 1987, the Augusta Technical College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, which focuses on raising and appropriating resources that will support the college in carrying out its “mission of excellence in workforce education that leads to the career advancement and economic empowerment of its students,” according to a press release from Augusta Tech.
Recently completing the foundation’s yearly effort, which encourages faculty and staff to make charitable donations to support the college between Sept.18-29, the 2023 campaign focused on ways to directly impact students.
Donors were asked to contribute $1,200 to fill the funding gap experienced by hundreds of students each semester. Other amounts included $511 to cover a student’s fees, $250 for books, $200 for a laptop or $50 for a new student emergency fund.
“In the past, only a couple of people opted to contribute over $1,000,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Cheryl Ciucevich. “This year, 25 individuals made gifts at that level or higher.”
However, this year, the foundation also invited its Board of Trustees and the College’s Board of Directors to make gifts throughout the campaign. Similar to faculty and staff involvement, many of them also decided to increase the amount of their annual gifts.
Additionally, Trustee Chair Randy Hatcher, CEO of MAU Workforce Solutions, made a matching challenge pledge of $10,000 that enabled faculty and staff to double their contributions to the project of their choice.
As a result of the campaign donations and pledges, the foundation is establishing several new funds, including: the Cougar Scholarship Fund for students who have financial hardship, the Student Laptop Fund for those who need a laptop to access coursework, the Student Transportation Fund for those who need transportation assistance to get to campus and the Lend A Paw Fund, which will provide immediate micro grants to students who have financial emergencies.
“The faculty and staff are truly invested in our students’ success every day,” said President of Augusta Tech Jermaine Whirl. “Their support of the Family First campaign demonstrates how much they believe in these students and in Augusta Tech’s mission of transforming lives by building a skilled workforce.”
To find out more about the Augusta Technical College Foundation or donate, please visit: https://www.augustatech.edu/about-us/about-the-foundation.cms
