2008 marks the 25th Silver Anniversary of the establishment of the Cape Cod Community College Educational Foundation. Thank you for helping us to realize this significant milestone– a great cause of celebration for us all! Through your support and dedication, the College Foundation has raised nearly $20 million in support of the College’s mission and objectivessince its founding. Our “little Foundation that could” also now ranks as one of the top-producing Community College Foundations in the Commonwealth.

Coincidentally, I began my first year teaching at the College in 1983 when the CollegeFoundation was also just getting started. During the next 19 years on staff, I had the pleasure to witness the graceful growth of the Foundation, from literally a “seed” concept to a steady source of “light and nourishment” for the College and its students and faculty. And even though I “retired” from the College a few years back, I continue to serve as a part-time academic advisor on campus where I’m fortunate to still witness the power of education in the lives of students – young, middle-aged, and returning lifelong learners – with individual dreams and goals that the Foundation often helps to fulfill.

When the College Foundation was incorporated, it was uncommon for a private foundation to raise funds for a public institution. Initially, the Foundation set some small, attainable goals to establish scholarships and raise money to purchase equipment. Twenty-five years later, it has awarded nearly $5 million in student scholarships, provided $9 million in program support to the College – including the drive to build the Lorusso Technology Building and fund other major renovations on the West Barnstable campus – and grown its endowments for perpetual support to more than $5 million. This special Annual Report highlights some of these finest moments and shared accomplishments, and of course our most recent 25th Anniversary year.

The sun has shined on the Foundation for 25 years, but not without some intermittent storm clouds. While the annual College student population has doubled since 1983, the campus was built to handle about one quarter of that. Full-time faculty positions have shrunk as College funding from the Commonwealth has slipped to under 50% of its annual budget. All this as operating and energy costs continue to skyrocket. In spite of these challenges, the College Foundation remains strongly rooted in our determined commitment toward promoting educational excellence. Our 25 expansive years in support of the College’s mission have held us in good stead, inspired by the success of our College students. They are the future of Cape Cod, the Islands and Southeastern Massachusetts. Community support has helped the College Foundation “evolve and blossom” from 1983 right through to 2008. In the past fiscal year alone, the Foundation provided for a variety of programs by meeting equipment needs, adding to campus resources, developing program curriculum, awarding $350,000 in scholarships, and launching a $1 million campaign to renovate and expand the College’s William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives. So much has been achieved, and so much more is possible. Thank you to all our donors, Foundation directors, and volunteers who have served over the past quarter of a century. You have made us strong and proud, and we’ll keep growing because of you!