Community College of Rhode IslandCCRI Foundation – Turning visions into reality
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Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the CCRI Foundation has grown through the years into a multi-faceted organization that provides much-needed funds to the community college, and promotes the college's role as a major provider of high quality, innovative education to the local community.
The growing success of the foundation's work was reflected in the recent announcement that a record $768,000 was given to the college in fiscal 2003-2004. More than $40,000 of the total was awarded to students for scholarships and loans, with the remainder going to much-needed capital improvements like the new dental hygiene clinic and student success centers.
Julie White, dean of Institutional Advancement and College Relations at CCRI, said fundraising is becoming more successful because citizens are noticing CCRI's success as well as the achievements of its students.
"We are committed to do all we can to acquire funds to help provide scholarships for students, new equipment for instruction, funding for faculty and staff development and campus beautification and preservation," White said. "In partnership with the community, the college is breaking new ground toward an ever-improving quality of life for residents of our state."
The CCRI Foundation was created in 1979, and for the next several years was primarily involved in promoting the annual Hall of Fame dinner that recognized distinguished Rhode Islanders for their support of the community college. It was no coincidence that with the arrival of President Tom Sepe in 1999, the foundation embarked on a major new initiative to raise funds for the college.
In 1999, Julie White was named executive director of institutional advancement; soon the impact of a professional fundraiser was felt throughout the college. In 2000, an off-site strategic planning meeting resulted in the development of a fundraising strategy as well as a mission statement. This new initiative involved nearly 40 interested alumni and friends, including publisher John Howell, educator Gus Capotosto and businesswoman Betty Capaldo.
The initial campaign exceeded its comprehensive campaign goal of $1.1 million by nearly $100,000. A part of the funds was earmarked to build a $400,000 state of the art dental hygiene clinic located at the Lincoln campus. Serving one of the most popular programs at CCRI, Dental Hygiene has a new facility that is the envy of many similar college programs throughout the country. The remaining funds were used to establish an endowment for an arts and humanities program and to bolster the college's general endowment.
Following on the heels of the initial campaign, the Foundation is now beginning to construct its platform for the future. White acknowledges that the stakes are high. "CCRI is clearly under-funded and we have no choice but to aggressively continue our fundraising efforts," White said.
"For donors, there is a substantial return on their investment as the majority of our CCRI grads are living and working in the state."
The future priorities of the foundation represent several diverse interests, including the conclusion of the $1-million capital campaign for the Newport County campus, long overdue support to library facilities on all campuses, and the preservation of the Knight Farm estate on the Warwick campus.
For ways in which you can help, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 333-7150 or e-mail foundation@ccri.edu.
