Welcome to the Winter 2020 edition of the Hostos Community College Foundation Newsletter. This holiday season as we reflect on the historic challenges of the year, we also remember the moments that inspired us. In a difficult year marked by uncertainty, we witnessed so many people giving of themselves to help us provide much-needed relief to our students. We thank those whose actions have helped to ease the burdens of others during these trying times.
The Hostos Community College Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to each of our supporters for their commitment to our students and their positive impact on our community. We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well, and we wish you all the best for the coming new year.
Now, please enjoy reading the latest news and learning about what we have in store!
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CUNY Tuesday was a great success, raising more than $51,000 to ensure that students have access to the emergency support they need to persist through these challenging times.
The College is fortunate to have such fierce advocates who are dedicated to the success of our students. We extend special thanks to some of our most devoted supporters, Professor Gerald Meyer, who made a $5,000 matching gift, and Wallace and Dr. Nydia Edgecombe, who made a $2,000 donation. CUNY Tuesday contributions help to bolster two of our student emergency funds – Bridge Tuition Support Assistance (BTSA) and the Circle of 100 Emergency Fund. Scholarship opportunities such as these are critical tools that allow Hostos to fulfill its mission – enabling student success. Thank you to everyone who generously made a donation.
If you were not able to make your gift on CUNY Tuesday but would still like to do so, it is not too late to make your donation. The giving platform will remain open until December 31.
To ensure that our students have access to the supports they need, all CUNY Tuesday contributions will be allocated to our emergency student relief funds:
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The Bridge Tuition Support Assistance Program (BTSA) provides assistance to students who are close to graduating to ensure that financial adversity does not prohibit them from completing their path to degree obtainment. |
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The Circle of 100 Emergency Fund assists students with expenses that all too often prohibit them from continuing with their studies, such as MetroCards, course materials, and examination and certification fees, to name a few. |
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CORPORATE
AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS
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Since our last newsletter, the following grants have been awarded to the Hostos Community College Foundation.
- Robert Sterling Clark Foundation - $20,000 grant over one year for general support of the Center for Bronx Nonprofits (CBNP)
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. - $45,000 grant award over one year in support of CBNP's Leadership Program
- New York Community Trust - $20,000 grant over one year in support of CBNP's Wellness Webinars
- The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation - $216,000 grant over two years in support of Supplemental Instruction and Peer Leaders
- Howard Gilman Foundation - $29,000 grant over one year to provide technological and social media management support to the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
The Hostos Community College Foundation extends its profound thanks to each of these organizations for their generous, impactful support.
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Joe Alicea Veterans Scholarship Fund is Now Active
We are pleased to announce that Hostos’ first Veterans Scholarship is now active for distribution, having reached the minimum threshold of $5,000. This is the only scholarship at Hostos that is specifically designated for veterans, and it will be awarded to two distinguished students next year in celebration of Veterans Day.
Mr. Alicea demonstrated the commitment to service and lifelong learning that Hostos seeks to inspire in its students. After fighting for our country in Vietnam, he returned home a decorated veteran, awarded several medals and honors. He earned an associate degree from Bronx Community College, a bachelor’s from Lehman College, and a master’s from Baruch College. At Hostos, he served for more than 39 years in the Office of Financial Aid, helping thousands of students to achieve academic success and socioeconomic growth.
We are grateful to all those who helped us to honor the memory of this beloved member of the Hostos family. To ensure that this fund remains available to students for years to come, please visit www.givetoHostos.com and choose Joe Alicea Veterans Scholarship from the dropdown menu to make your gift.
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John Anthony Chardavoyne
Endowed Scholarship
The family of Senior Vice President Esther Rodríguez-Chardavoyne has established the John Anthony Chardavoyne Endowed Scholarship at Hostos Community College in memory of her husband.
John will be remembered as the “Indiana Jones” of his family; an adventurous spirit who made friends and found happiness everywhere he went. His love of traveling began when he served in India as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s and continued throughout his life. He traveled to six continents and most enjoyed visiting rainforests where he was able to observe rare animals in their natural habitats. His travels inspired his recently published collection of short stories, “The Adventures of Shetan and Ram.” His family honors his passion for learning and spreading joy by establishing this scholarship fund to empower the next generation of leaders at Hostos Community College.
This endowed scholarship will be activated once a minimum of $75,000 has been contributed toward this fund, and an agreement specifying its criteria is completed and signed. To make a contribution in memory of Mr. Chardavoyne, please click the link below.
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The Office of Alumni Relations continues to follow the successes of our outstanding alumni, and create opportunities for them to engage with one another. |
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On October 22, the Office of Alumni Relations and the Division of Institutional Advancement hosted the virtual Third Annual Alma Matters Awards. More than 90 alumni were nominated for the five awards, each of whom is making outstanding contributions to their communities. After the nomination process, 112 votes were cast to determine the five awardees. We are grateful to everyone who participated in this event and the nomination and voting process. We also extend our thanks to the event committee and the faculty and staff who contributed as speakers.
Our special appreciation goes out to all of our award recipients. They are shining examples of the leadership and talent being fostered through Hostos Community College. We are proud of their success and were pleased to recognize their contributions.
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Hostos faculty, staff, alumni and students participated in three watch parties coordinated during the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates. The debates provided an anchor experience to come together to talk about the 2020 Census, voter registration, early voting, and ways to get involved and stay engaged at the local and state level. These events attracted approximately 217 unique attendees; of these, 43 participated in two or more watch parties. This effort created opportunities for students to engage and form meaningful connections with faculty, staff and alumni.
In a year that has brought our country’s challenges into the spotlight, Hostos students, staff, and faculty came together to encourage activism and participate in the political process. Attendees expressed a deep sense of connection with one another after each event – particularly to the current and former student panelists – coupled with a desire to participate in this year’s election and to stay engaged with the 2021 New York City election.
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Alumni Relations continues to hold its monthly mixers. These social media takeovers highlight the diverse talents of our vibrant alumni network. Thus far, we have enjoyed a live performance from Bachata musician Andrea Veloz ’04, worked out with fitness guru Stephanie Caban ’20, and baked a flan with Hostos student career program specialist Dulce Toppenberg ’06. On Friday, December 18 at 6:00 p.m., the mixer will move to Zoom for a holiday piano recital with Hostos lab technician, Emmanuel Díaz ‘08. Follow Alumni Relations on social media to stay connected with the community and click on the below graphic to register for this free holiday event. |
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Plans are underway for our virtual third annual Donor and Scholar Appreciation Breakfast, scheduled for Thursday, February 25, 2021. This powerful event is an opportunity to hear directly from students about their incredible stories and the important role scholarships have played in their academic journeys. Please stay tuned for details about this upcoming event. |
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2020 HOSTOS ANNUAL REPORT |
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The 2020 Hostos Annual Report, themed, Forward, Together, is now available for view. The report, which covers the period of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, details how the College responded to issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with everything from the technical elements of remote education and food insecurity to emergency financial aid and more. Stories of achievement in the face of challenges and generosity in the face of uncertainty illustrate that when the community comes together, the results are truly remarkable. |
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Farewell, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Ana Martínez Orizondo
It is with fondness and our best wishes that we said farewell to Ana Martínez Orizondo, who served as both Vice President of the Division of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the Hostos Community College Foundation since 2017.
Ana led the division’s fundraising efforts and inaugurated several events, such as the Alma Matters Awards, and the annual Donor and Scholar Appreciation Breakfast. She provided steady direction and creative problem solving skills as we navigated the sudden transition to remote work last March. Like so many of the Hostos students we serve, she is taking a brave step into the unknown to pursue her passions and share her talents. Ana will be greatly missed by our team and the College, and we wish her success and fulfillment in her new endeavor of dedicating her full attention to her art. May you also be inspired to follow your own bold course in the new year, finding a way to center the things you love and using your unique talents to better our world.
Though our team has changed, our mission remains steadfast, and your support is instrumental in helping our students to persist and succeed. We thank you for being part of the past, present and future of the Hostos Community College Foundation.
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There is still time to make a year-end gift in support of our students. Your gift will bolster our emergency scholarship funds, ensuring that Hostos students have access to financial aid they need to persist and achieve their goals. Thank you for doing your part to support the mission of the College: enabling student success. |
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