Program areas at Dutchess Community College Foundation
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 support needs. Dcc cares offers students grant for both personal emergency needs and academic. The pantry is a food pantry on campus 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 the security they need to be successful in College. Craft fair: Dutchess Community College hosts the annual dcc Foundation holiday craft fair with more than 100 artists on the weekend following thanksgiving. The fair has become a much-anticipated event as it allows people to get a head start on their holiday shopping by purchasing one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family. The event was scheduled to take place on november 27-28, 2021 but had to be cancelled due to the dcc campus being closed to the public because of covid 19. Invited participants would have included artists from our previous years, along with new artists. The juried fair features work from artists who hand-craft their own items. Some of the pieces are considered fine art. Additionally, there are many specialty food vendors. The dcc Foundation annual craft fair brings almost 2,000 attendees to campus for the opportunity to find items that you can't find anywhere else. Gala: the Dutchess Community College Foundation Community's bridge to the future gala was held at the grandview in poughkeepsie, ny on march 26, 2022. The College truly is the bridge that many in our Community need to reach their goals. There were 376 people at the event that honored individuals: shirley roberts brereton '88, anthony dimaso '65, joan dimaso '68, ellen m. gambino '74, martin charwat, and think ahead program partners: Dutchess county government, abilities first Inc., the arc of Dutchess, maplebrook school and taconic resources for independence. Shirley, anthony, joan and ellen were inducted into the alumni hall of fame for their outstanding professional contributions and their commitment to our Community. We honored martin with the bernard handel Community leadership award, which is presented to members of our Community who improve lives in Dutchess county through their leadership and volunteer work with local not-for-profit organizations. We honored the think ahead program partners with the bridge to the future award, which was established to recognize individuals and organizations who have had, and will have, a measurable impact on our Community and who have and will enhance the quality of life for those who live and work in the mid-hudson valley. Our Community's bridge to the future gala raises money to support the mission of the Dutchess Community College Foundation. Golf tournament: 32nd annual Dutchess Community College Foundation golf tournament and dinner in memory of jack orcutt was held on may 23, 2022 at the links at union vale. There were 24 foursomes at the golf tournament. This event helps to support the mission of the Foundation as well by providing the necessary funding to support important education initiatives.