SUPPORTING PROGRAMS
JPMC Philadelphia Tech Pipeline Collaborative Planning Grant
The JPMorgan Chase Foundation awarded $250,000 to the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation to convene a collaborative of Philadelphia nonprofit organizations to develop a curriculum with wraparound supports to bring youth ages 16 to 21 from high school through postsecondary training and into the workplace. The Philadelphia Tech Pipeline Collaborative includes DiverseForce, Graduate! Philadelphia and Hopeworks.
Achieving the Dream – Diversifying Nursing Pathways
Achieving the Dream, a nonprofit focused on community colleges, awarded a three-year, $300,000 grant to the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation to improve medical care in Philadelphia by increasing diversity in our Nursing degree program. The grant pays for mentors, tutors and other student supports, books and tuition assistance, and student attendance at conferences and faculty training.
PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)
Comcast NBCUniversal increased its EITC donation to $100,000, and the Foundation welcomed new donor Globus Medical at the $62,500 level. Both donations were made in support of the College’s dual enrollment programs. Businesses can get significant tax credits for making donations to EITC-approved programs, including the College’s dual enrollment programs, among others. For more information about diverting most of your business’s Pennsylvania tax dollars to support the College, contact Steve Bacher at sbacher@ccp.edu.
Supporting Justice-involved Students
Pieter and Lida Ouwehand have provided funding for the I Am More program for justice-involved students at the College since 2018. “We strongly support the I Am More program because we believe in helping to ease the transition into college for students who are creating a new path for themselves,” said Pieter. Unfair barriers to reentering the educational pipeline are often a reality for justice-involved persons. I Am More is committed to creating programming that meets students where they are. The Ouwehands’ funds have supported a fully stocked pantry, graduation celebrations and emergency needs.
Supporting Basic Needs for Students
In December 2022, the MarcDavid Foundation established a $1 million endowment to assist students with basic needs. The MarcDavid Fund for Basic Needs will help students with tuition, fees, books, food, child care, transportation and other emergency needs, which, if unmet, can derail a student’s pursuit of a degree. Students can request the funding through the CCP Cares Network.The MarcDavid Foundation has partnered with the College since 2016 to provide scholarships and to establish the College’s LGBTQ Center. The MarcDavid Foundation is dedicated to supporting higher education, K-12 schools, hospitals and human services in the Philadelphia region.
Longtime Community College of Philadelphia supporter Barbara M. Cohen established a fund to support one or more students who are experiencing a critical need that may impact their ability to complete their degree. The Barbara M. Cohen Fund supports students with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA who are on track to complete their degree requirements by June 30. “It’s wonderful to be able to help a student complete their degree and not be deterred by factors beyond their control,” she stated.
The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust has funded a scholarship program for high-achieving Community College of Philadelphia students since 2016. In May 2023, the trust extended its support with a grant for basic needs. The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Grant for Basic Needs provides students with assistance for food and housing.
Spotlight on Donor Sara Russock
Sara Russock: A Generous LegacySara Russock, born in Ukraine in 1920, moved to the United States as a toddler with her family. After an early childhood in western Pennsylvania, they settled in Philadelphia, which became her lifelong home. Throughout her long and eventful life, her resiliency in the face of challenges, pride in her family’s achievements, and willingness to share her wisdom defined her character. In December 2022, Sara passed away at the age of 102.
Despite her lifelong artistic inclination, Sara only pursued her passion for art later in life, taking ceramics classes at Community College of Philadelphia. She cultivated her skills in ceramics alongside a group of friends from her apartment building. Their shared enthusiasm led them to the studio multiple times per week for more than a decade, where Sara honed her wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques.
In 2019, she made a meaningful gift to the Art Department in honor of Frank Gaydos, a former Art Department instructional aide, which provided essential equipment, including a large kiln and a de-airing pugmill.
“During the 1990s and 2000s, I spent quite a bit of time as a senior citizen enjoying the benefits the Art Department offered many people like myself. The instructors were great, but Frank Gaydos stands out as the most helpful to everyone,” said Sara about the reason for her support.
But Sara’s impact also extended beyond her lifetime, with a gift in her will of $50,000 to Community College of Philadelphia’s 50th Anniversary PROMISE Scholarship. This scholarship supports graduates of Philadelphia high schools who plan to enroll at Community College of Philadelphia immediately after graduation.
Sara’s family continued her legacy of generosity by donating many pieces of her artwork, which were on display at the College throughout September.
“During the 1990s and 2000s, I spent quite a bit of time as a senior citizen enjoying the benefits the Art Department offered many people like myself. The instructors were great, but Frank Gaydos stands out as the most helpful to everyone,” said Sara about the reason for her support.