CCS Foundation Facts
Leadership
• 30 volunteer community leaders serve on the Board of Directors
• 2009-10 President, George Schillinger
• Executive Director, Gail D. Stevenson
Financial Information
• Assets currently total more than $25 million. Of that, $15.7 million is
unrestricted.
• 72 endowment funds total $7,073,269
Annual Projects and Events
Touch the Future House
CCS Foundation teams with students and faculty at SCC, and with area businesses, to build and sell a house every year. This project provides hands-on experience in the construction trades and in horticulture/landscape design for SCC students and has generated nearly $700,000 for scholarships and program support over the last 12 years.
Bigfoot Golf Classic
The foundation and the CCS athletics department host a golf tournament each spring, raising money for student athletic scholarships and community activities. A sold-out field of golfers, outstanding sponsors and a great group of volunteers have raised over $100,000 over the past six years. The 2010 Golf Classic is Friday, June 18, at Downriver Golf Course.
Annual Wine and Gourmet Gala
The foundation hosts its annual Wine and Gourmet Gala in March at Spencer’s Restaurant in Spokane. The event features a four-course dinner prepared by students and faculty from SCC’s hospitality management department and Inland Northwest Culinary Academy, working alongside the renowned chefs at Spencer’s. Regional wines complement each course, and a live and silent auction rounds out the event. Proceeds benefit the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy at SCC and supports the mission of the CCS Foundation.
Annual Mini-Grant Program
The CCS Foundation Board of Directors introduced a new annual mini-grant program in 2006, funding CCS projects that support student learning and cannot be funded by the colleges and the IEL. The program funds smaller grant requests, typically ranging between $250 and $1,500. Any CCS instructor or staff member can apply. The foundation awarded $15,290 to 14 outstanding projects for the 2008-09 academic year.
Annual Campaign
CCS Foundation’s Annual Campaign seeks to obtain gifts on a yearly basis that help ensure the quality of programs and services provided by CCS, while offering scholarship support to students. Our goal for 2009-10 is $1,000,000.
Funding Priorities
Scholarships
Supporting students is at the core of everything the foundation does. We are proud to have awarded $2,687,987 in scholarships to 12,203 students over the last 10 years. We are acutely aware removing financial barriers for students is a critical, ongoing effort. While the foundation manages a variety of projects and seeks funding for key initiatives, securing private support for educating men and women in Eastern Washington is its top priority.
Community Colleges of Spokane Alumni Association
When you study at and graduate from one of our colleges, you become a partner with Community Colleges of Spokane for life. Our alumni association is a great way to maintain, even enhance, this special relationship. Managed through CCS Foundation, the alumni association builds and fosters ongoing relationships with alumni and supports and promotes CCS’ mission by advancing higher education. If you graduated from one of our colleges — or earned 30 credits or more at one of our institutions — and left the college in good financial standing, you’re eligible to join.
For information, call 434-5063.
Planned Giving
Outright gifts of cash, securities, personal property or real estate are always appreciated. They have an immediate impact on critical areas of need at CCS. In some cases, potential donors might consider a gift for an appreciable amount, but are concerned about financial security. This is when making a planned gift is a good option. Several types of gifts fall under this category, including bequests and life income gifts, such as a charitable remainder trust. For more information, contact Gail Stevenson, foundation Executive Director, at (509) 434-5123, or gstevenson@ccs.spokane.edu