The Bakersfield College Foundation, which is responsible for providing services such as scholarships to BC students, recently launched a new Web site that can be accessed at www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/foundation.
“The foundation raises funds to provide scholarships for BC students. $544,397 was provided in scholarships for the Fiscal Year 2006-07, impacting over 1,221 students and Bakersfield College,” said BC Foundation Treasurer and College Business Manager John Griffith.
Griffith also stated that the foundation also helps by sponsoring myriad guest speakers that come to BC, as well as helping to fund projects that directly benefit students, such as construction programs, which “involve BC students building houses and gaining experience in the construction industry.”
According to the foundation’s annual report, the foundation is defined as a “non-profit corporation whose purpose is to assist and support Bakersfield College by raising, investing, and distributing monies, properties and other assets for the awarding of scholarships, loans and grants, and for construction of buildings, purchase of equipment, and other capital outlay needs.” The report also states that, within this past year alone, the foundation received a $5.7 million contribution from Dr. Norman Levan, a $250,000 contribution from the Dean and Adah Gay Family, and $1,926,974 in contributions from the Dolores Cerro Estate.
Some contributions are for specific purposes, like funding for a new softball/baseball complex, while others are more general like enhancing certain buildings on campus and scholarship awards. The need to develop a better Web site came about with the need to make online contributions more accessible.
“Because the information [on the old Web site] was so old and the possibility of offering online donations difficult, the foundation committee decided to work with the template site,” said Amber Chiang, director of Marketing and Public Relations at BC.
According to Chiang, the committee consisted of Interim Director Sheryl Barbich, Mary K. Shell, John Griffith and herself. “We added more images, vital information and customized the site in a way that is easy to use and simple to understand to users,” Chiang continued. “The foundation is now, definitely, among the top community colleges in California when it comes to Web sites.”
Events sponsored by the foundation include a panel discussion on ethics and leadership. Speakers such as Mark Abramson and Dr. Hans Einstein addressed different key issues in BC’s Fireside Room as a result of the foundation’s efforts, as well.
Those interested in making online donations can visit www.bcfoundation.net.