FOUNDATION GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
The Citrus College Foundation rolled out the red carpet to celebrate its 50th anniversary in November 2016. More than 300 guests gathered on the Citrus College campus to commemorate five decades of fostering partnerships, recognizing philanthropic involvement and providing scholarships and resources to help students meet their academic goals.
The event, Spotlight on Citrus, provided Citrus College with the opportunity to thank the donors, alumni, community members and employees who have invested in the lives of students throughout the years. Because of these steadfast supporters, the Foundation has experienced significant growth and progress since its beginning in 1966. Evidence of this can be seen in the more than $2 million in scholarships, financial aid and grants that have been awarded to thousands of deserving students over the past 50 years.
During its initial 16 years of operation, the Foundation served as the receiving arm for donations made to Citrus College. This modest role was sufficient until the early 1980s, when the United States entered a severe economic recession. With state funding for community colleges cut dramatically, college administrators throughout California began reevaluating the role of their foundations.
In 1984, with a resourceful board of directors and a new director of development, the Foundation developed goals including increasing the visibility of the college and supporting performing arts programs. One of the organization's most significant undertakings in the 1980s was bringing an effort to support technology to the campus.
Over the following years, the Foundation continued to build on its positive momentum. In addition to forging relationships and making connections in the surrounding communities, it supported the college by providing funds for facility upgrades, instructional equipment and special academic projects.
Settling into its fourth decade of service to Citrus College, the Foundation actively sought outside funding. Some of the significant contributions it received during this time included grants from the Foundation for California Community Colleges, the Walmart Foundation and the Ahmanson Foundation.
Campus and community contributors continued to drive the Foundation's effectiveness in the new millennium. An example was a major gift presented to the organization in 2005. In February of that year, longtime Azusa resident Marie Philleo honored the legacy of her time at Citrus Union High School and Citrus College with a majority portion of her estate, which exceeded $500,000.
When the Foundation concluded its fourth decade of operation in 2006, its assets had grown to more than $6 million. The organization's role in increasing student success and college completion would become even more important in the years ahead.
In June 2008, the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees selected the college's sixth superintendent/president, Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D. As she settled into her new role, Superintendent/President Perri gave leadership to the Citrus College Foundation as executive director, which continued to support the academic goals of Citrus College students. In 2012, the college community took on the challenge of becoming a "College of Completion." The Foundation was quick to embrace this charge, working diligently to help students by financially supporting initiatives, such as the Institute for Completion.
The significant role of the Citrus College Foundation was especially evident during the college's 100th anniversary. This year-long celebration was the focus of the organization's activities during the 2015 giving year. Alongside college personnel, Foundation staff planned and supported several events to commemorate the centennial. At the same time, the board of directors launched an auspicious fundraising campaign that honored the college's 100 years of excellence by providing funds to help the next generation of Citrus College students.
Alumnae and Foundation board members Joyce Dill and Sharon Lewis spearheaded a charitable giving campaign that identified 100 people willing to donate $1,000 to the college. Their efforts were so successful in raising $100,000 that the two women received special recognition at the Foundation's 50th anniversary celebration.
The Spotlight on Citrus event provided the perfect opportunity for the Foundation to thank its supporters for continuing to invest in the students of Citrus College. It also served as a fitting tribute to the important work accomplished by the organization's donors and friends.
"The importance of the Citrus College Foundation and its supporters cannot be overstated," said the college superintendent/president. "For 50 years, the organization has been developing and nurturing relationships that have been vital to the advancement of our students' academic goals. It has evolved into a driving force behind the success of Citrus College. This memorable affair was a fitting tribute to the Foundation's important work and lasting legacy."
This article originally appeared in the 2016–2017 Citrus College Annual Report.