Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation celebrated the generosity and dedication of the community, Gateway Founding President, Dr. G. Edward Hughes, and foundation board members over the past 14 years at an “Evening of Gratitude” last night.
“We specifically chose the word gratitude to express the purpose of this evening because we, as a foundation, have many things for which to be to be thankful,” said Jim Parsons, Chairman of the Gateway Community and Technical College Foundation. “The foundation’s mission is to advance Gateway through fundraising and friend-raising. We are here to celebrate the many accomplishments of the foundation, made possible through the generosity of this evening’s honorees and many who believe in the work of the foundation and Gateway.”
Through the work of foundation board members, Gateway has completed the state’s BuildSmart matching funds requirement of $3.75 million, which will give Gateway $15 million to further advance the Urban Metro Campus plan in service of students.
Also noted at last night’s event were the accomplishments of the foundation over the last 14 years:
Fourteen years ago the foundation had less than $5,000 in a checking account. Today its assets exceed $8 million.
Over $150,000 in scholarships are now awarded annually to students because of the collective actions of the foundation’s fundraising efforts.
The foundation has raised nearly $3 million to support the development of the Urban Metro Campus. Specifically with the purchase and/or renovation of the following properties:
* The former Marx furniture building that has been transformed into the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Enterprise (TIE).
* The former LINK building that will be opening as the Gateway Bookstore next month.
* The former United Immanuel Methodist Church that is planned as the Kaleidoscope Center for Urban Outreach.
* The former Robke property that will serve as the Gateway Transportation Technologies Center.
* Properties available for future development include several parcels including the former Point and adjacent properties.
In addition, the foundation supports excellence and leadership at the college by sponsoring the annual Night of Excellence event that recognizes Gateway’s best and brightest students; leadership development opportunities for college faculty and staff in high-quality external leadership programs; and the internal LEAD leadership development program that has graduated nine classes with over 80 faculty and staff.
From Gateway