From the Foundation: Spring Newsletter

Spring Newsletter

2023 V1

QUICK LINKS

Foundation Website

Give Now!

ACC Dean of Students Office

A Note From...

Hello Courtney,

Did you know that for every $1 donated to the ACC Foundation $0.91 is used for Foundation programs? Talk about ROI and bang for your buck! Foundation programs include:

Scholarships – over $1 million awarded last year; Nearly 60% of recipients are First Generation College Students and over 83% persist. 40% of degrees and certificates conferred in 2022 were ACC Foundation Scholars!
Student Emergency Fund – nearly $50,000 provided to students to assist with life emergencies (food, shelter, transportation, childcare, and more). Nearly 70% persist.
Mini Grants for Innovation - $25,000 annually to fund new projects or special initiatives that support ACC’s mission such as the creation of a student food pantry, the purchase of a robotic arm for the Robotics Program and care packages for student workers.
Sturm Campus Lift the Gift - In March 2019, Arapahoe Community College received a gift of up to $10 million from the Sturm Family Foundation, the largest in the history of the 13-institution Colorado Community College System. With an over $5 million match opportunity, bringing the full potential of the gift in excess of $15 million, the funding will be used in its entirety for ACC’s new Sturm Collaboration Campus at Castle Rock. Matching dollars raised by the ACC Foundation will be used in three unique areas: 1)The program innovation fund, 2) an endowed scholarship fund, and 3) an investment in the future Phase II of the campus.

We are so very grateful to you - our ACC Family and Friends who continue to invest in this important work.

Please read on to learn about one of our board members who was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame, see how you can be a critical member of our scholarship program, find out why a donor invests in ACC, and read about a NEW and super fun event we are having in May.

Cheers,

Courtney

Executive Director of the ACC Foundation

FEATURE

Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame Gala!

The ACC Foundation is honored and privileged to be able to attend the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame Gala this month to support its long-time board member and friend, Libby Bortz.

In June of 2022, the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame announced that Libby Bortz, along with 16 other pivotal Colorado women, was chosen for induction into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.

Bortz has been an ACC Foundation Board of Directors member since 1998. Bortz received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health in 1957 from the University of Michigan and Masters of Social Work from the University of Denver in 1967. As a civil rights activist, advocate for women and the elderly, and social worker, Bortz has had been involved in several boards in and around Denver including the State of Colorado’s Victim’s Compensation Board, Associate of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities, and Council on Post Secondary Education to name a few. Among other accomplishments, her efforts led to Littleton, Colorado becoming the first suburban community nationally to create a Housing Authority (1971).

Learn more about Libby Bortz and the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame HERE.

WHAT WE DO

Scholarship Readers Needed!

After attending the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) last month, it came to our attention that several colleges and universities have been using the term Readers and not Reviewers to refer to those who score scholarship essays… it made sense to us, so we decided to follow suit. So, same gig, just a different name.

Do you have 30-60 minutes to spare to read student scholarship essays? We will start assigning applications in April.

It’s that time of year again!

Each year, the ACC Foundation receives over a thousand scholarship applications, and reading them requires all hands on-deck. To ensure an equitable process, we need three readers for each scholarship essay, and for that, we need your help. And we mean YOUR help! YOU, as an ACC Foundation supporter, understand ACC and its students best. We encourage you to ask your friends and family for help in reading these essays as well; please take the opportunity to be an ACC Foundation ambassador; share your ACC experience and why you continue to support ACC students. Reading essays is a great way to get to know ACC students and learn more about our community!

To volunteer, register HERE

Please share the link!

Further Reader instructions and guides will be provided after registration.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Scholarship Update

Information about our Fall 2022 scholarship recipients:

380 ACC students received an award in the fall semester
$490,450.32 was awarded
Average GPA of student recipients: 3.1
Scholars earned 3,272 credit hours with during the Fall semester with an average of 8.6 per scholar
30 scholars earned degrees at the end of the Fall semester
23 scholars earned certificates

GIVE LATER

Do We Owe You a Thank You?

Although Arapahoe Community College created the Forever ACC Society to honor and thank people who include us in their estate plans, we also know that some people like to remain anonymous. Independent studies have also confirmed this. Each year, non-profit organizations across America receive more estate gifts from people that did not share their intentions during life, than gifts from those who did.

This is always a bittersweet moment. While we’re obviously grateful for a person’s support, we’re also saddened by never having the chance to say, “thank you.”

If you have remembered Arapahoe Community College in your estate plans, please know we are grateful – regardless of whether or not you decide to share the good news. Although we would appreciate the chance to thank you, we also deeply respect every person’s wish for anonymity.

So, thank you. And please know that we are grateful, both now and in the future.

For more information about the Forever ACC Society, please contact Courtney Loehfelm at [email protected] or 720.440.4666. There is never any expectation or obligation to complete a gift.

The Forever ACC Legacy Society has been created to honor and thank those who remember the College with a gift in their estate plans. There are many ways to do this. Some have named Arapahoe Community College to receive a future gift in their will or living trust, while others have named us as a future beneficiary of a life insurance policy, IRA or charitable trust. A variety of options exist.

For more information about the Forever ACC Legacy Society, please click the button below or contact Courtney Loehfelm at [email protected] or 720.440.4666. There is never any expectation or obligation to complete a gift.

Learn more

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Foundation Board Member Matt Sieger shares his motivation for donating monthly to the ACC Foundation.

" I believe we all have a responsibility to give when and what we can."

I believe we all have a responsibility to give when and what we can to charities and non-profits that are important and in alignment with one's values.

I remember when I was 22 and the president of my alma mater was speaking to our class at commencement. He said something to effect of:

Now that you've graduated and have the benefit of a superlative education with the opportunities it affords, you have an obligation to give back. Others gave so you could attend. Now, it's your turn. We'll be asking you, so don't be surprised.

While being half tongue-in-cheek, it was also true and rang deep within me as a way to view life.

Yes, we give because we have some extra cash available and yes, we get tax credits. But that's a side benefit and not the motivation. The feeling that we CAN give and align that giving with our own values is the motivation.

Matt Sieger

Monthly giving donor since 2021

Become a Monthly Donor Today!

Our Spring Event Will Be Art, Wine, & Design

This Art, Wine, & Design event will raise funds for ACC's Art & Design programs and ACC Foundation general scholarships.

The ACC Art & Design Center and ACC Foundation are hosting a soiree of creativity and exploration! Art programs at the Art & Design Center will be hosting 30-minute hands-on projects in various mediums including photography, silk-screening, ceramics, jewelry and more, as well as art exhibitions featuring ACC’s talented students and fashion show! Tour ACC’s amazing studios, while enjoying light fare and spirited (or not!) beverages.

Come experience the wonder of the world of Art & Design! Click HERE to view descriptions of each experience.

Tickets are required to attend. To purchase tickets, complete a registration form, HERE.

#IT'S A PUMA THING

ACC FOUNDATION

Climb Together,

MOVE TOGETHER!

The ACC Foundation has moved - our social media channels and our offices!

As we are settling in you can now find all things ACC Foundation within the ACC social media channels, linked below.

Look out for our hastags!

#ACCFoundation

#ACCStrong

#Itsapumathing

#ACCAlumninetwork

Our new offices are located in the

ACC - J.F. Sato Building. Please keep in mind that our mailing address remains the same.

WHAT'S NEW ON CAMPUS

Summit’s Supply Shelves Are Accepting Donations

ACC’s Summit's Supply Shelves food pantry is a great program to help reduce food insecurity among our ACC student population, and it relies on regular donations of shelf stable items to keep them fully stocked.

Preferred donation items are:

Microwavable Meals (on-the-go meals)

Chef Boyardee ravioli, Spaghetti-Os, etc.

Ramen Noodles

Macaroni and Cheese

Soups

Beans

Canned Fruit/Fruit Cups

Canned Chicken

Peanut Butter/Almond Butter

Jelly

Spices and Condiments

Veggie Cups

Crackers

Mixed Nuts

Single-serve Popcorn, Chips & Crackers

Gluten-Free Fig Bars & Pasta

Cereal and Oatmeal

Beverages

To donate, please drop items off at the Dean of Students office: M2720 at the Littleton Campus. Email questions to [email protected].

To find all things ACC Foundation

Follow the ACC social channels

Please consider a gift for Arapahoe Community College in your will, living trust, or as a beneficiary of your IRA.

For more information on the Forever ACC Legacy Society please contact Courtney Loehfelm at [email protected]

or 720.440.4666