DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC

THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL GRANTS TO AID AND ADVANCE THE WELFARE, DEVELOPMENT, PURPOSE AND PROGRAMS OF DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND ITS STUDENTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED GRANTS THAT SUPPORT DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND EMERGENCY NEEDS GRANTS, THE FOUNDATION AWARDS SMALL GRANTS TO FACULTY IN SUPPORT OF PROJECTS RELATED TO ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. EACH YEAR FACULTY MEMBERS ARE CHOSEN FOR THE CHAIRS, AN HONOR FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE. THE FACULTY MEMBERS RECEIVE A STIPEND AND ARE ALSO GIVEN A SMALL AMOUNT THAT THEY CAN USE TO BRING IN A SPEAKER TO CAMPUS, ATTEND AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE OR DO A PROJECT. LECTURES ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHILE PROVIDING AN EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT TO THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE. SOME OF OUR SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN PULITZER PRIZE AND NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES THE COLLEGE WITH FUNDING TO SUPPORT STUDENT TECHNOLOGY NEEDS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO CAMPUS FACILITIES. DCC CARES/THE PANTRY: BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY THE FOUNDATION TO OFFER WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT TO SOME OF DCC'S STUDENTS THAT HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS. DCC CARES OFFERS STUDENTS GRANTS FOR BOTH PERSONAL EMERGENCIES AND ACADEMIC EXPENSES. THE PANTRY IS AN ON-CAMPUS FOOD PANTRY WHICH SUPPORTS FOOD-INSECURE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF DCC. BY PROVIDING THESE PROGRAMS WE ARE ABLE TO HELP RETAIN STUDENTS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE. CRAFT FAIR: DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOSTED THE ANNUAL DCC FOUNDATION HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR WITH CLOSE TO 100 ARTISANS ON THE WEEKEND FOLLOWING THANKSGIVING. THE CRAFT FAIR HAS BECOME A MUCH-ANTICIPATED EVENT AS IT ALLOWS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO GET A HEAD START ON THEIR HOLIDAY SHOPPING BY PURCHASING ONE-OF-A-KIND GIFTS FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE ON NOVEMBER 25-26, 2023 ON THE DCC POUGHKEEPSIE CAMPUS IN FALCON AND DRUMLIN HALLS. THE JURIED FAIR FEATURED WORK FROM ARTISTS WHO HAND-CRAFT THEIR OWN ITEMS, SOME OF WHICH ARE CONSIDERED FINE ART, AND MANY SPECIALTY FOOD VENDORS. THE DCC FOUNDATION ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR BRINGS OVER 2,000 ATTENDEES TO CAMPUS FOR THIS 50+ YEAR COMMUNITY TRADITION.GALA: THE DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY'S BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE GALA WAS HELD AT THE GRANDVIEW IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NY ON APRIL 6, 2024. THE COLLEGE TRULY IS THE BRIDGE THAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY NEED TO REACH THEIR GOALS. THERE WERE 306 PEOPLE AT THE EVENT THAT HONORED: JOHN GENOVESE '74, EDWARD PITTMAN '80, GERALDINE LAYBOURNE AND BRIAN DOYLE. JOHN AND EDWARD WERE INDUCTED INTO THE ALUMNI HALL OF FAME FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. GERALDINE WAS HONORED WITH THE BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE AWARD, RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE MADE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND WORKERS IN THE MID-HUDSON VALLEY. BRIAN RECEIVED THE BERNARD HANDEL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD, WHICH IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN DUTCHESS COUNTY BY IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERISM WITH LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. OUR COMMUNITY'S BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE GALA RAISES MONEY TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION. GOLF TOURNAMENT: THE 34TH ANNUAL DUTCHESS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT AND DINNER IN MEMORY OF JACK ORCUTT WAS HELD ON MAY 20, 2024 AT THE MCCANN MEMORIAL GOLF COURSE IN POUGHKEEPSIE. THERE WERE 21 FOURSOMES AT THE GOLF TOURNAMENT. THIS EVENT HELPS TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO SUPPORT IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES.