PCC Foundation Board members and college administrators were all smiles as they cut the ribbon to officially open the 2017 Down East Holiday Show.
WINTERVILLE—Having generated more than $250,000 for student scholarships and educational activities through three fall fundraisers, Pitt Community College Foundation officials will surely be counting their blessings during this season of thanksgiving.
Fundraising began Aug. 31 with a luncheon to kick off the Employee Annual Fund Drive and continued with the PCC Foundation Golf Classic three weeks later. Last weekend, the Foundation wrapped up yet another successful Down East Holiday Show after four enthusiastic days of shopping at the Greenville Convention Center.
According to PCC Alumni and Development Services Director Ashley Smith, faculty and staff contributed and/or pledged more than $92,600 to the PCC Foundation in just one month as part of this year’s Employee Annual Fund Drive. The total, she said, surpassed the drive’s goal of $85,000.
PCC Recruitment and New Student Orientation Coordinator John Carrere co-chaired the “Accelerating the Future” drive with PCC Health Care Programs Director Sidette Boyce Brown. He said the amount of funding contributed by Pitt employees shows they understand better than anyone else the needs and challenges of the students they serve and the PCC Foundation’s key role in student success.
“Our faculty and staff see the direct impact their support of the PCC Foundation has on the lives of those we serve,” he said. “That said, their continued generosity and enthusiasm in giving to the Employee Annual Fund Drive will never cease to amaze me.”
The Foundation’s annual Fall Golf Classic took place Sept. 21 at Greenville Country Club. Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted the 144 golfers who participated in the tournament and helped raise more than $18,000 for the benefit of PCC students.
Fundraising continued with the 16th Annual Down East Holiday Show Nov. 2-5. The event featured a record 191 vendors selling various foods, art, music, jewelry, decorations and accessories to draw 11,460 shoppers through the doors and raise more than $141,000.
“Each year, the Holiday Show unites our faculty, staff and students with the business community and area residents to achieve a common goal – raising money to support PCC students working hard to improve themselves through higher education,” said PCC Events Specialist Erin Greenleaf. “I look forward to it each November – the atmosphere, people smiling as they come in and out of the show, and the chance to interact with the many vendors we’ve made friends with since the event began in 2002.”
Greenleaf, who plays a significant role in organizing the Holiday Show each year, said she is reminded of the event’s importance each time she walks across campus.
“Approximately 67 percent of our students receive some form of financial aid assistance,” she said. “As our biggest fundraising event each year, it is crucial for the Holiday Show to be successful.”
According to PCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Susan Nobles, the PCC Foundation has already awarded $286,075 in scholarships during the 2017-18 academic year. She says additional scholarships will be awarded during the upcoming spring and summer semesters.
While speaking at a recent donor appreciation event on campus, Nobles said one of the Foundation’s primary goals is to assist the college’s effort to increase student success through retention and program completion. She said that within the previous year, more than 900 Pitt students had received scholarships and/or special educational assistance funds from the charitable organization, helping them remain at the college to achieve their educational goals.
“… Every ticket sold, every event sponsorship, every dollar contributed, every scholarship developed, and every in-kind gift provided from … our distinguished donors has been used to support our students’ success,” she said.
Since 2007, the PCC Foundation has provided more than $13.4 million in support of the college’s mission to educate and empower people for success. Its three major areas of contributions to PCC are scholarships, program support and capital projects.
The organization’s fundraising endeavors will continue during the spring semester with “A Taste of Mardi Gras.” The event, which will feature live music, a silent auction, games and fine New Orleans cuisine, is scheduled to take place at Rock Springs Center in Greenville Feb. 16.