front range community college t c p a m i
TRANSCRIPT
IMPACT REPORT 2020/2021
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To get involved, please visit our website at
www.frontrange.edu/foundation
Special Thanks to Front Range Community College student, Amy Gurrentz, for the design of this annual report. See her work at wildlygrounded.studio, behance.net/gurrentz, & @grentz.graphics
Table of Contents
A Letter from the Foundation’s Leadership 5
A Proud Supporter of Our Military Veterans 7
The Unique Impact of One Caring Community 8
Foundation Creates a First 9
The Summit Society: Building a Pipeline for Student Success 10
Funds Generated by Foundation Golf Tournament Top All Previous Years 11
Welcoming Our Newest Board Members 13
Board Member Listing 14
FRCC Foundation by the Numbers 15
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A Letter from the Foundation’s Leadership
Together, we did it! The number of scholarships awarded by the Foundation for the 2020-2021 academic year was the highest in our history. Our fundraising golf tournament beat all records. Thanks to our generous donors, caring instructors and staff, the Front Range Community College (FRCC) leadership team, and the Foundation, students were able to continue their educations as the pandemic made a severe impact on jobs, businesses, and lives.
Our swift, decisive action to establish a High Needs Fund also had an impressive impact. A recent NPR poll on the financial pain on college students from the pandemic indicates that:
• 33-42% did not know where their next meal would come from,• 35-48% experienced housing insecurity, unsure they
would be able to pay rent, or facing eviction, and• 16% have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness.
Through individual grants, our High Needs Fund addressed similar devastating challenges our students faced.
This Impact Report includes news about our newly-established Summit Society for donors wishing to include the
Foundation in their estate planning. It also provides the details of our successful golf tournament, and introduces some very special donors and heartfelt observations of scholarship recipients. Also, meet our two new board members.
Our thanks to all of you.
Thank you for making a difference for our students. Thank you for making this a very
special year. Education builds futures and pathways to hope.
Expressions of Appreciation In appreciation for all it has done to help students during this difficult year, the Foundation was recognized as FRCC’s department of the year and Executive Director Ryan McCoy received the VP Excellence Award. Thank you!
“I wouldn’t have been able to make it as far as I have without the grants and scholarships that I have received.”
Jennifer N.
A Proud Supporter ofOur Military Veterans
The Foundation frequently partners with the McKee Wellness Foundation, whose goal is to enable physical and mental wellness across Northern Colorado by filling gaps between available resources and the needs of the community. McKee’s Blue Star Fund was created to specifically assist veterans and their families.
The Foundation matched the 2020 donation from the Fund, doubling the impact, enabling the Foundation to give 54 veterans either a scholarship or a grant through its High Needs Fund. The Blue Star Fund presented the Foundation with an additional $15,000 to continue its “amazing veteran support work” in 2021. The Foundation also collaborates with the dedicated Veteran Service advisors on each FRCC campus, who provide career counseling and help with financial aid to our student veterans. They also support out vets—both academically and socially—as they transition into college.
“Partnering with Front Range Community College allows us to come together as a community to support and impact the lives of veterans in Northern Colorado. Supporting their education in pursuit of their dreams and a transition into a new phase of life optimizes holistic health and wellness.”
Allis Gilbert, Executive Director McKee Foundation
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The Unique Impact ofOne Caring Community
The generous holiday donations of the Harmony community, including membersof its local golf club, demonstrates the effectiveness of a neighborhood’s sharedgiving. Everyone is eager to contribute because they understand that, together,their impact is so much greater. Suna Thomas lives in the Timnath communityand envisioned the approach a number of years ago. The annual holiday benefit is the Gift of Love Fundraiser (G.O.L.F.). Neighborhood “elves” get the wordout about the local nonprofit receiving donations each holiday and providehelp and information to their immediate neighbors. The Foundation wasthe recipient of Harmony’s generosity this year.
Once they heard monies were being raised for healthcare scholarships, additional neighborhoods and local businesses joined Harmony’s G.O.L.F. fundraising effort. “All of us wanted toshow through action—a significant, meaningful action—how muchNorthern Coloradans appreciate our local, frontline caregivers” Suna emphasizes. “These scholarships are in honor of them and their sacrifices to protect all of us during this Covid challenge.” She added,
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For the first time, any student who enrolls in the Optics Technology Program at FRCC’s Center for Integrated
Manufacturing will receive a scholarship. Two supporters of the program explain why this is so important. Paul
Kelly, the former President of Research Electro-Optics (REO), and its founder Robert Knollenberg
emphasize that the new scholarship program is about heart and hope—and economics. The production of optical components is a fast-growing business. REO was acquired by Excelitas Technologies and its business is growing 20 percent annually. The two stressed that an increasing number optical technology-based products has created a huge demand for skilled optics
technicians. “Companies need creative, talented employees,” they underscored, Optical technology is used in defense
and aerospace systems, fiber optic internet systems, semiconductor tools, medical systems
and life sciences instrumentation.
Both donors are delighted that FRCC hired Amanda Meier, PhD, to head the optics technology program. Her expertise in laser and optical design, diagnostics, and testing gives her an in-depth understanding of the training needs for laboratory technicians. And her relationships with critical players in the optics industry will help support the growth of the college’s relatively new program.
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The Summit Society: Building a Pipeline for Student Success
The newly-formed Summit Society recognizes and honors thoughtful donors who have gifted the Foundation through their wills or estate plans. Their bequests will provide generations of future FRCC students scholarships that will help them climb life’s mountaintops and succeeding both professionally and personally. A charitable gift to the Foundation in an estate plan can provide tax benefits to the giverand enables the Foundation to continue its important work for years to come. These funds serve our state and local communities by creating leadership opportunities through high-quality education and professional training. The Summit Society encourages individuals to include the Foundation in their estates and celebrate those gifts now.
Please visit our website
www.frontrange.edu/about-frcc/frcc-foundation/summit-society
or, scan the QR code:
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Funds Generated by Foundation GolfTournament Top All Previous Years
Each year, the Foundation hosts its golf tournament to bring together the local community to have fun while raising funds for the college’s programs and students. The 36th annual tournament was held June 11 at Thorncreek Golf Course in Thornton. This year’s proceeds, more than $75,000, topped all previous years and will help provide scholarships, emergency funds for students who are struggling financially due to the pandemic, program
support, and so much more.
The Foundation is so appreciative of the 37 sponsors of this year’ s golf tournament, and we want to give a special thank you to the top sponsor, Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP). The company also supported the Foundation’s High Needs Fund with a $10,000 contribution. A long time FRCC supporter, AP has
helped the college expand and offer more educational services and operational efficiencies. In addition to AP financial
support, the company also built the new lab for FRCC’s
Emergency Medical Technician certificate program, providing EMTs the essential skills needed by Colorado’s fire departments, ambulance services,hospitals and emergency rooms.
Tom Stone, AP’s Vice President of Project Procurement, began his college experience at a community college and fully supports the opportunities FRCC provides to communities and future professionals. “I can’t emphasize enough the significance of the skilled workers FRCC graduates, who are critical to the growth of Colorado businesses and the economic future of our state.” As he notes: L ife offers difficult decisions. Supporting the Foundation’s golftournament and contributing to its High Needs Fund were not among them.
A warm thank you to all tournament sponsors.
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“ I am the first in my family to go to college and I am also a first generation American on my mom’s side of the family. This money will allow me to get the education I need to take care of my family and I am so grateful.”
Angela M.
Welcoming Our Newest Board Members
Suzanne Miller has long been dedicated to helping people. Her volunteer work includes Women Give, which provides childcare scholarships to single moms pursuing college educations. She has been a part of many area organizations that have benefited from the work of the
Bohemian Foundation, which supports local, national, and global efforts to build strong communities. She has served on the advisory board for GiveNext, a project that teaches
middle and high school students about philanthropy. After her daughter Liz passed away unexpectedly
from epilepsy at age 24 in 2008, Suzanne created a local movement to promote acts of kindness and support for others. #DoALizThing encourages people to focus on helping others—the way Suzanne’s daughter always did. As the site emphasizes, kindness inspires.
Sid Simonson is an FRCC alumnus and the deputy finance lead at L ock heed Martin Corporation for a NASAasteroid study. The goal is to help scientists learn more about the formation and evolution of the solar system, planet formation, and the source of compounds that led to life on earth. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at Colorado State University and graduated with honors from the University of Denver with a MBA in Finance and Economics in Public Policy in 2014 and a Master’ s of Science in Management in 2015. He was the first Chairperson ofthe Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation and interned in the Colorado Senate. Sid currently serves on FRCC’s Business School Advisory Board and has received five President’sVolunteer Service Awards from the White House.
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Board Member Listing
Ryan Tharp Chair Since 2019
Rick Samson Treasurer
Kate Kimball Secretary
Micheline Buger
Tom Cassady
Terry Dye
William Hillen, III
Marty Marsh
Marilee Menard
Suzanne Miller
Heidi Williams
Alvina Vasquez
Sid Simonson
Teri DePuy Director Emeritus Since 2005
Nancy Hamilton Director Emeritus Since 2011
Harold Henke Director Emeritus Since 2011
Jeffrey Knight Director Emeritus Since 2008
Martin Ruffalo Director Emeritus Since 2005
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FRCC Foundation by the Numbers
We awarded
mormore than $1.9 millione than $1.9 million in both scholarships and program support—ourour gr greaeattest impact eest impact evver!er!
End Of Year Financials 2021
2020
Total Assets
$5,064,616
$5,285,555 Cash & Cash Equivalents
$1,688,165
$2,034,004
Operating Investments
$416,889
$319,971
Promises to Give
$1,546,073
$1,297,265
Endowment Investments
$1,413,489
$1,634,315
Giving by Constituency Type
Government 13.7%13.7%
Corporation 12.6%12.6%
Individual 27.8%27.8% Foundation/Organization 45.9%45.9%
Scholarship Success Data
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For fiscal year 2021, the FRCC Foundation awarded
more than 1,600 scholarships including both merit- and need-based grants.
1,482 Students Awarded
1,1,146146 Certificates
336336 Associate Degrees
Completion Rate
89%89% Median Age
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Demographics
Applicant Type
Veteran 3%
Demonstrate Need 55%
First Generation 42%
Gender Male 26%
Female 74%
Race
4% Unknown
0% Pacific Islander
3% Black 4% Asian
1% International
52% White
4% 2 or More
1% American Indian
31% Latinx