Foundation Support for Students, Scholarships Increases In Year of Economic Challenge
2/16/2009
If there was one word to describe the philanthropic giving to the Northwest Florida State College Foundation in a time of economic uncertainty and change in 2008, it was resilient.
In its 21st year of service, the foundation, which provides charitable and educational aid to the college, recognized its donors February 13 at the organization's annual meeting, held in the College Mall on the Niceville Campus. Donors were recognized for enabling the foundation to award more scholarships to students and provide greater levels of financial assistance to the college despite market conditions that saw the foundation's total asset value decrease.
From the 2007 to 2008 reporting year, market conditions produced a decrease in the foundation's total assets of about 16 percent, from $46 million to $39 million. However, total contributions to the foundation increased as did foundation funding back to the college for scholarship support and other educational endeavors. Contributions for 2008 were reported at $3.9 million, up from $2.6 million in 2007. Financial support from the foundation for student scholarships increased from $381,282 in 2007 to $644,401 in 2008, increasing by nearly 70 percent the amount of funding provided by the foundation for student scholarships.
''All gifts, large and small, are important to the foundation's mission,'' said Lori Kelly, foundation president, in her remarks to donors. ''When we provide tuition assistance, a life is impacted. That one student may one day become a great nurse, an award-winning dancer, a gifted teacher, or a skilled defense contract administrator...we want each student to remember the foundation and the donor who gave them their chance.'' ''Whether by providing scholarship support, program support, establishing endowed teaching chairs or naming facilities our friends have made the foundation what it is today,'' said Kelley. ''Our donors are our greatest allies and the foundation would be incapable of meeting student needs without them.''
College president Dr. Bob Richburg noted that community support was vital to carry forth the college's education mission as part of Florida's new state college system. ''Ever since the college was accredited to award baccalaureate degrees in 2004, we have experienced phenomenal growth in our bachelor's degree programs - which now have more than 700 students admitted into four-year programs in Project Management, Nursing, Elementary Education and Middle Grades Math and Science Education,'' he said. In addition to growth in bachelor's programs, the college's enrollment has an 8 percent growth rate this year and the institution currently serves more than 16,000 students at six campuses and centers. ''Thus, increased funds for student scholarships, endowed teaching chairs to support the finest in instruction, and other gifts are so vitally important,'' he said.
Richburg noted that in a year of challenging economic times, it is more important than ever to recognize the vital support friends and donors provide to the Northwest Florida State College Foundation to assist students and the educational mission of the college. ''Thank you once again for being part of our Foundation and our college as we all work together to make a positive impact on our community and the lives of the students we serve.''
Among the donations highlighted at the meeting were the Gen. Jimmy Doolittle Endowed Teaching Chair in Math and Science created by a major gift from the Eglin Chapter of the Air Force Association and the Tim and Jan McDonald/Fort Walton Machining Endowed Teaching Chair. Scholarship funding and other donations by individuals and businesses such as Tybrin Corporation and its employees, college alumni Ann Teel Hatcher and Bruce Shavey, and gifts in memory of loved ones from the Thomhave family of Niceville, Wayne and Susan Campbell of Niceville, family and friends of the late Crestview councilman Sam Hayes and the late dance professor Francis Smith Herron were also recognized.
Dotty Blacker of Valparaiso was highlighted for her major donation to underwrite a second sculpture outside the Greene Visual Arts Building in the arts complex on the Niceville campus. It joins an earlier sculpture which Blacker co-funded with the late Christian LaRoche of Niceville. Others were recognized for support of the college's athletic programs through events such as the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center Golf Classic and Beach Community Bank Sporting Clays Shoot.
Also at the dinner, the college and foundation formally recognized the service of retired Executive Director Jim Chitwood, who moved to Maryland in November and returned to the annual meeting for the recognition. Helen Hunt Rigdon, representing Congressman Jeff Miller's office, presented a formal recognition for the congressional record from the Congressman in honor of Chitwood's more than 20 years of service. Outgoing foundation president Lori Kelley also cited Chitwood's service and his work to create more than 280 permanently endowed scholarships for student financial assistance, establishment of 22 endowed teaching chairs, and his work to take the foundation to one of the top 10 in the nation in 2007 among community colleges.
''In great measure, Jim was responsible for the early years of the foundation, introducing this fledgling organization to the community and laying the groundwork for its growth. Corporately, the foundation owes a great deal to the man who was the face of the Northwest Florida State College Foundation for more than 20 years,'' said Lori Kelley. ''He told our story and introduced the foundation to those who were not even aware the college had a foundation. He spent hour upon hour, day upon day, and year upon year leading the organization that we celebrate tonight. We are grateful to Jim for his work to make the foundation a good steward of the gifts entrusted to us and to bring success to the organization we celebrate tonight.''
Approved as officers of the Foundation for the 2009-2010 year was Gloria Frazier of Shalimar as president; Wayne Campbell of Fort Walton Beach as vice president; Wayne Bodie of DeFuniak Springs as Secretary; and Don Howard of Crestview at Treasurer.
