Foundation 2021 Update
As we began our new fiscal year in July of 2020, there were still many uncertainties about so many things. The COVID pandemic continued with no clear end in sight. There was promising vaccine news on the horizon but no fundamental understanding of when it would or could be available. We were uncertain about the upcoming academic year and did not know when or if students would be returning to campus for in-person learning for the year. With ongoing unemployment and a challenging economy, we had no way to estimate how successful our fundraising efforts would be for the year, during a time when our students and campus needed our support more than ever.
However, what was certain was that SUNY Broome was committed to continuing to provide high-quality education to our students, regardless of whether it was in person or a distance learning setting.
As a foundation, we exist to provide support and open access to education, especially given the limited financial means of many of our students. During this past year, we learned very quickly of the struggles of our students having to negotiate to study and learn in a remote and distance-learning setting. There were so many ways, other than traditional scholarships that our support was and continues to be needed.
This past fiscal year, the Foundation provided nearly $1.6 million to support SUNY Broome students, faculty, and campus despite the continued pandemic and economic uncertainty. Past and current donors of the Foundation made it possible to grant $1,370,954 in merit and need-based scholarships and emergency grants for students. Additionally, donor support allowed us to provide $35,192 in faculty development, $58,883 in capital support, and $52,279 in campus activities and program support. As has been the case since 1965, the support raised comes from dedicated donors — our alumni, community friends, current and retired faculty and staff, corporations, foundations, and organizations who all share our belief in investing in SUNY Broome students.
As we continue into another uncertain academic year, rest assured that with the help of our family of donors, we are confident that we will continue to create opportunities and necessary skills and training, ensuring that our students have a brighter future.
Cheryl Kurosky
President, BCC Foundation, Inc
Cathy Abashian Williams
Executive Director, BCC Foundation, Inc
Financial Overview
In 2020-2021 the Foundation provided SUNY Broome with $1,517,308 in total support.
Note:
This financial information represents both audited and unaudited results.
Giving Impact Stories
2021 Scholarships
2021 Scholarships
Since the beginning of the college’s Foundation in 1965, when tuition was under $400, it has endeavored to provide financial resources to students in need and to reward academic success. Thousands of SUNY Broome students in need have been financially supported by private donations over the years. Today, tuition for New York residents is set at $2,544 a semester and approximately 87% of students will need assistance in funding their education.
This year 12 local high-achieving students were awarded the full-tuition Presidential Honors Scholarship for their two years, more than $1,185,000 merit or need-based awards of various amounts were granted, over $1,517,308 was given to support our students overall.
Scholarship recipients often note that they are not only grateful for the support but for the emotional boost of knowing that someone cared enough to invest in their dreams and future.
“My family is so excited that I was chosen. This scholarship is a dream come true,”said Devin, who plans to become a programmer at Microsoft one day. “This has cemented that me going back to school was meant to be. I will not let you down!”
“I hope one day that I will also be able to help struggling students reach their goals in higher education by assisting them in the same way you are helping me,” Tatsenyo, a civil engineering student, told his donors.
Early childhood education major Haley promised her donors, “I will work hard and eventually give back to others, both as a teacher and possibly a scholarship to future students like myself.”
“This award is very important to me because it will help me not need a loan for this semester,” said Michelle, a business major. “As a single parent, it is important to me to not go very deeply into debt.”
SUNY Broome is very grateful that our supporters’ generosity keeps a college degree within financial reach of our students. View the full list of 2021 scholarship recipients.
Lockheed Helps Students in Need
SUNY Broome Celebrates Lockheed Martin’s Commitment to the Student Emergency Fund
On Friday, June 11, 2021 members of the SUNY Broome community gathered in the Calice Connector to recognize Lockheed Martin’s (Owego) most recent, generous gift of $75,000.00 to support SUNY Broome’s Student Emergency Fund.
President Dr. Kevin Drumm opened the event by graciously thanking Lockheed Martin for over twenty-five years of community partnership and support. “Our neighbor to the west has always treated SUNY Broome as a priority and an investment. Whether it be through grants, merit scholarships, a physical collaborative classroom on campus, resources for our veterans, or internships for our students, Lockheed Martin has always made an impact. Thank you on behalf of all of our students and particularly the 150 students who were able to access emergency funding during the pandemic thanks to your $75,000.00 donation,” said President Drumm.
The Student Emergency Fund was the pre-pandemic brainchild of the Financial Wellness Committee led by Director of Student Financial Services, Laura Hodel, and Executive Director of the BCC Foundation, Cathy Williams. The goal of this grant was to designate easily accessible funds to help students cover unexpected costs during life’s emergencies. These funds, which range from $50.00 – $1,000.00, could be used to cover the cost of technology, school supplies, internet access, rent, food, childcare, transportation, or medical bills. Little did we know just how necessary this initiative would become…
During the height of the pandemic, the BCC Foundation sprung into action and coordinated a massive giving campaign to bolster the Student Emergency Fund. Thanks to the generous support of almost 400 of SUNY Broome’s alumni, faculty, staff, and campus partners, the Foundation was able to raise $68,000.00 in eight weeks. The BCC Foundation then secured $58,000.00 in matching funds via the SUNY Impact Foundation. Then our partners at Lockheed Martin contacted SUNY Broome with a simple, succinct message, “We want to help.”
Lockheed Martin’s Vice President and Owego Site General Manager, Hamid Salim, was honored to come to campus to share in the celebration of supporting our community’s students. “We all know what a tremendous toll the pandemic took on nearly every facet of our lives – it has impacted our families, our businesses, and our communities, and our students at every level. We hope that this relief fund gave students the support they needed and allowed them to continue their studies without that additional worry,” said Salim.
Nursing student Gisele Dure attended the press conference highlighting the Student Emergency Fund to personally thank members of the Lockeed Martin and SUNY Broome community for their support during her time of need.
“It was just a rough time for all of us, but especially for me as a single mother. I had to balance my nursing classes, labs, and clinicals, my job at a rehabilitation and nursing center, and monitor homeschooling. On the suggestion of my advisor, Lori Brewer, I applied for the grant to help me cover survival expenses – just critical, basic things like my rent and utility bills. The application process was so simple and I am really thankful for it,” Dure said.
Cheryl Kurosky (SC ’76), President of the BCC Foundation Board of Directors, was delighted to announce that the Student Emergency Fund will remain as a source of financial support beyond the scope of the pandemic, greatly in part due to Lockheed Martin’s dedicated and unwavering commitment to SUNY Broome. To date, 214 students have been able to access this funding. As both a SUNY Broome alum and a Lockheed Martin retiree, Kurosky is particularly pleased with the partnership of two of her favorite institutions. Currently, over 300 SUNY Broome alumni are employed by Lockheed Martin.
The Jumpstart Scholarship
The Jumpstart Scholarship: A great opportunity for new, first-time college students to get started
In a press conference in April 2021, SUNY Broome President Dr. Kevin Drumm and The BCC Foundation’s Executive Director, Cathy Abashian Williams, announced a new source of financial support available to students. The Jumpstart Scholarship program will ensure a minimum of $500 in funding to all qualified new, first-time, admitted students to help offset the cost of tuition and/or related college expenses.
“Recent studies have shown that many students are struggling financially especially after the effects of the pandemic.” explained President Drumm. “We understand the ongoing impact of the pandemic and have significant funding available to help students with the cost. We want to give new students the chance to rediscover the opportunities and value that SUNY Broome and higher education provides.”
The BCC Foundation already awards over 1 million dollars a year in scholarships to assist full-time and part-time students with the cost of attendance including, housing, food, transportation, and emergency events. The college
also awards millions of dollars in grant and scholarship funds from federal, state, and other local entities. 87% of SUNY Broome students will receive some form of financial aid.
“It is our goal for the fall to get as close to 100% of students receiving some sort of financial aid as we can get.” said President Drumm. “So, if you didn’t qualify for financial aid before, you will be able to get it with the Jumpstart Scholarship program.”
SUNY Broome offers students with the best possible start, whether it’s an opportunity to study a critical skilled trade and directly enter the workforce, or the ability to take advantage of dozens of incredible transfer agreements with institutions throughout the state and beyond. This scholarship makes this start more feasible for so many in our community.
“Student support is our top priority and we are particularly excited about the Jumpstart program because it comes at a time to help open the door for even those students who may not have qualified for any funding previously,” said Cathy Abashian Williams, Executive Director of The BCC Foundation. “The good news is that in addition to the Jumpstart program we also have a significant number of available need-based grants in aid and merit scholarships to help support the cost of college and help reduce any barriers a student may be facing to get access to high quality public education.”
“This past year has been so difficult for so many,” said Director of Student Financial Services, Laura Hodel. “Providing our newly admitted students with a minimum of $500 will hopefully alleviate financial barriers they may be facing and make the transition to SUNY Broome a seamless one.”
