STCC exceeds $4.5 million goal

By Michael McAULIFFE

05/14/2008- The Republican

SPRINGFIELD - In May 2007, Springfield Technical Community College Foundation began its first Major Gifts Campaign, seeking to raise $4.5 million.

Last night a celebration that included a cocktail reception was held on campus after the fund-raising effort not only reached the goal, but now totals $4.6 million.

STCC President Ira H. Rubenzahl said the individuals and companies that donated to the campaign - the largest in the college's history - are helping to enhance the growth of Western Massachusetts.
 
"It's not just the money," Rubenzahl said. "It's the fact people are really committed to the college."

The campaign, which Rubenzahl said will continue for several weeks, is to raise money for the college's health programs, scholarships and equipment.

"It was very ambitious," Rubenzahl said. "It was a very ambitious goal."

"I don't want to let you believe it was easy, because it wasn't easy," said Michael F. Golden, chairman of the campaign committee.

William A. Kwolek, director of the foundation, said he would like to see the campaign conclude with $5 million having been raised.

Golden said a number of companies made their largest philanthropic gift of the year to the campaign. That group includes Springfield-based Smith & Wesson, where Golden is chief executive officer, president and director.

Smith & Wesson contributed $200,000.

The largest donations were anonymous gifts of $800,000 and $400,000. An alumna, who also wished to remain anonymous, gave $125,000.

Other Western Massachusetts community colleges have also been working to receive donations. The Greenfield Community College Foundation is seeking to raise $800,000 in its annual fund drive, and the Holyoke Community College Foundation has completed much of its Gift of Opportunity Campaign that began in 2004, raising more than $5.2 million to equip the Kittredge Business Center for Workforce Development; to provide funds for tutoring, mentoring and scholarships; and to provide funds for the library.

In addition, there has been a lot of public attention to fund-raising at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where a national survey showed that $28.7 million was raised for the university in 2006, ranking the flagship campus of the UMass system 33rd out of 50 universities included in the survey.