On the corner of Mt. Vernon and University Avenues, Bakersfield College students, faculty members and school supporters joined hands April 17 in the charity event, Hands Across California, to raise scholarship money for California’s Community College System.
Assembling at 2 p.m. the attempt failed to link Bakersfield to the other colleges, as well as its closest participating neighbor in the proposed route, Antelope Valley College. “It was a very, very poor turnout,” said Lynda Hernandez, a BC graduate and supporter of HAC.
Informed by her sister of the event, Hernandez said, “I’m really disappointed that BC didn’t put it out there for anybody. I would have never known about it. My son who is a student here didn’t even know about.”
Hernandez, in communication with participators in the Los Angeles, reported that the turnout was far more than that in Bakersfield.
“I am really surprised because I know Bakersfield is a very giving community, and I know that if it was [publicized better] people would have showed up and supported the college,” said Hernandez.
According to Hernandez, around 40 people were present on the corner at 2 p.m., and that the majority of the participators consisted of school administrators and, “friends of friends.”
Sylvia Martinez, a friend of Hernandez, came out to support the event and said, “[Lynda] invited me yesterday, so I wanted to come because I’m a college graduate and I got full-ride scholarships,” said Martinez. “I would support no matter what, my children are going to go to college and hopefully they’ll get scholarships.”In light of the event’s outcome, BC Student Government Association’s Liaison to the Dean and HAC organizer for BC, Roger Sanchez, commented on the overall turnout of the event.
“The number was around 80 people because we did have more people down on Oswell Street,” said Sanchez. “It was kind of hard for me, just seeing the turnout.”
Relying on fliers, emails, and Facebook messages for event promotion, Sanchez said concerning the advertising, “I think people ignore fliers, you try your best to put it out there, but I think sometimes the majority of people can just be apathetic.” Concerning the promotion for the fundraiser, Sanchez said, “We could of worked with more people to get the community involved.”
“The good thing is, that the closer we were getting to 2 p.m. people started to pull over. A good 15 to 20 people were pulling over and holding hands,” said Martinez.
Proposed in October of 2010, HAC was an attempt to secure as much of that endowment as possible. Originating from $25 million donation made two and half years ago by the Bernard Osher Foundation to California’s Community College system, HAC was an attempt to inform the general public, in efforts to acquire another $25 million from the organization.
Community Colleges throughout the state were each designated with raising a specific amount toward the $100 million endowment. BC acquired its amount through a private donation, but other schools have decided not to attempt to acquire the funds or not to involve themselves in the event at all, and the deadline for the promised match draws near.
But though BC has obtained its funds, it still continues to contribute to the eventual goal until the deadline in June.
“Bakersfield is secure, we’re good. We’ve met our match,” said Sanchez.