Skip to main content

GCC Foundation

College foundation board surpasses annual funding goal, announces five new scholarship funds

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Foundation has once again surpassed its $459,000 annual campaign goal. With the help of 119 local volunteers the campaign brought in $491,008 in funds to support local students as they achieve their dreams of earning a college degree.

"We've had an excellent core of volunteers that have made this campaign so successful," said Monica Hale Dawson ('72) secretary-treasurer of Shepard, Maxwell Hale Insurance Agency, and foundation board director and general chair of Genesee Foundation's 2010-2011 annual campaign.

"The diligence of our community is remarkable. Those that give to the campaign know they are investing in the human resources and the economic vitality of our region."

She added that there are nine divisions in the annual campaign. Each division chair is responsible for a portion of the overall $459,000 goal. Division chairs were:

•    Alumni Division: Robert Bennett, ('74) of Batavia, vice president, Bank of Castile, Batavia

•    Associates Division: Jane Scott, of Stafford, branch manager, Five Star Bank, Batavia

•    Faculty and Staff Division: Marirose Ethington, of Pavilion, professor of biology, GCC

•    Genesee Division: Peter Call, of Batavia, president, My-T Acres, Inc.

•    Heritage Division: Patrick Forsyth, of Batavia, CPA, and foundation board director

•    Leadership Division: Robert L. Boyce, of Le Roy, broker, Tompkins Insurance Agency and foundation board director

•    Livingston Division: co-chairs Les Cole, of Caledonia, president, Commodity Resource Corporation and foundation board director, and Robert C. Savage, of Avon, president, WYSL and foundation board director

•    Orleans Division: Wendy L. Hinkley, of Albion, branch manager, HSBC Bank, Albion office

•    Wyoming Division: Teresa Eddy, of Alexander, branch manager, Five Star Bank, Attica office

The campaign includes an Endowment Challenge Grant, a five year federal grant, from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant matches dollar for dollar funds raised for students in need up to $80,000 per year. For the second year, generous donors have met the Endowment Challenge goal.

The 2010-2011 campaign year also introduced five new named scholarship funds established by faculty, staff and caring and community-minded friends of the college:


•    Denniston K. Wood Art Scholarship, awarded to students interested in the arts.

•    Michael Stoll Scholarship, awarded to students in a health career degree program.

•    Richard J. and Maribell Scholl Reid Musical Theatre Scholarship, awarded to students with an interest in the field of musical theater.

•    Seymour Family Scholarship, awarded to second-year students demonstrating financial need.

•    William H. Collins Scholarship, awarded to students pursuing a degree in business or finance.

•    Stuart Steiner Leadership Fund, supports projects that foster leadership excellence at GCC.

Community organizations, businesses, service clubs, families and individuals are welcomed to establish named scholarship funds with the Genesee Community College Foundation. A donor can decide on basic information such as the name, purpose, criteria for making awards from the fund and when it will be established.

An agreement is then drawn up and signed, usually by the donor, club president or scholarship chair. The fund may be established with the intention to contribute $500 or more annually. Donors may also establish a fund with the intention to contribute a minimum of $10,000 to endow the fund and to use the income to fund the scholarship in perpetuity. Gifts to establish the endowment may be made over a period of one to five years.

More information on named funds can be found at http://www.genesee.edu/about/foundation/funds_special.cfm.

The Genesee Community College Foundation was formed in the mid-1980s as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing service to and support of the college. Its 30-member board of directors is comprised of business and civic leaders, and last year, the foundation's philanthropic support provided 678 scholarships to Genesee students, as well as other grants, totaling $599,779.

Contributions for support for the college programs and students may be sent to the Genesee Community College Foundation, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. For more information contact the foundation (585) 345-6809 or foundation@genesee.edu.

College foundation's Encore event was well-attended and lucrative, too

By Billie Owens

At Encore 2010, Genesee Community College Foundation's annual holiday fundraising event, 336 local residents enjoyed a great night out.

Extra seating was brought into the William W. Stuart Forum and the Stuart Steiner Theatre to accommodate the overflow audience. The Dec. 15 celebration continued the tradition of a fun and festive evening, with new and old friends coming together in the spirit of raising funds for the college's numerous scholarship programs.

Batavia residents Joe and Mary Beth Teresi chaired Encore 2010, and were assisted by a committee of almost 20 community members.

The evening began with a gourmet reception in the forum. Guests then proceeded to the theater for a holiday pops concert with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Emily Helenbrook, a 16-year-old soprano and Alexander native, joined the BPO for an enchanting performance that wowed the crowd. The evening concluded with a delectable dessert reception in the forum.

"When all contributions are counted, they will possibly exceed a record-setting $60,000," said Foundation Executive Director Richard Ensman. "In these difficult and economically challenging times, the overwhelming turnout and contributions should be a source of pride to everyone who worked so hard to make the event a success.

Ensman also thanked Five Star Bank, the lead corporate benefactor, for its continued support of Encore.

The Genesee Community College Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to providing volunteer and philanthropic support to Genesee Community College. Formed in 1986, it has been instrumental in providing more than 3,000 scholarships over the last decade, assisting in the funding of the Conable Technology Building and the Humphrey Student Union, and the expansion of College Village, Genesee's student residence.

Photographs of Encore 2010 can be viewed by visiting the college's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GeneseeCommunityCollege <http://www.facebook.com/GeneseeCommunityCollege>.

 

GCC Foundation's Encore event 'Evening of Traditions' set for Dec. 15

By Billie Owens

Here's a news release from the Genesee Community College Foundtion.

Batavia residents Joseph and Mary Beth Teresi have been named chairpersons of Encore 2010, an annual holiday celebration that supports student scholarships at Genesee Community College.

The Teresis would like to invite residents to an "Evening of Traditions" at Encore 2010 on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The festivities begin with a Gala Reception and continue with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) performing in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at the Batavia Campus.

The Teresis are looking forward to this year's BPO concert after having served on the organizing committee for many years.

"Encore ushers in the holiday season, while also serving as GCC's premier community social event and raising awareness to the importance of scholarships for the deserving students as well as raising scholarship funds," said Joe Teresi.

They are proud parents of a current Genesee Community College student and are vested in the local community.

Joe has served on several local boards and committees including GCC Foundation's Encore; Genesee - Wyoming YMCA;  Regional Action Phone; ARC; and The Notre Dame Educational Foundation, as well as both a board member and coach of various sports teams and leagues.

He is currently a vice president of Tompkins Insurance Agency and Mary Beth is the Work Study Program coordinator at Batavia High School. The Teresis have three children including Joe III -- currently serving in the Air Force -- Michael and Paul.

The evening's events will begin with a private Prelude Reception with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conductor, Paul Ferington. For all guests, a Gala Reception Grandioso with sensational food selections will follow at 6 p.m. in the William W. Stuart Forum.

An Encore Energico Chance drawing to win an opportunity to be a BPO Guest Conductor will be held at 7:30 p.m. Guests will proceed to the Stuart Steiner Theatre for a holiday pops concert at 8 p.m. with the two-time Grammy Award winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and afterward enjoy Delectable Dessert Finale back in the William W. Stuart Forum.

Proceeds from Encore support Genesee Community College Foundation Scholarship Fund. The foundation would like to thank Five Star Bank, the lead corporate benefactor, for its continued support of Encore.

For ticketing and sponsorship information, please contact the foundation office at 345-6809 or foundation@genesee.edu <http://foundation@genesee.edu>.

For reservations please call the Genesee Community College Foundation at 585-345-6809.

Sponsorship support is welcome at the following levels: Conductor's Circle provides six tickets for $1,000; Golden Baton Society provides four tickets for $600; and the Inner Circle provides two tickets for $300. Singular Platinum Patron tickets are $100 each. The evening is black tie optional.

 

GCC Foundation's 'Encore 2009' raised more than $55,000

By Billie Owens

More than 300 area residents attended Encore 2009, Genesee Community College Foundation's annual holiday fundraising event. The Dec. 9 gala continued the tradition of a fun and festive evening with new and old friends coming together in the spirit of raising funds for the college's numerous scholarship programs.

This event was the first time the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) had played at Genesee since the opening of the Stuart Steiner Theatre in 1992.

Batavia residents Todd and Kathy Bender, who attended with their children, chaired Encore 2009, and were assisted by a committee of more than 20 community members. The new elements the Benders and the entire committee brought to Encore were very successful, especially the BPO.

The orchestra was a big hit with all attendees. During the performance, conductor Paul Ferington announced that the BPO was up for its third Grammy nomination. Also, a guest-conductorship was awarded to Mary Alice Yaiko, who conducted a memorable rendition of the holiday tune 'Sleigh Ride.'

The evening began with a private, prelude reception with Ferington. Guests enjoyed gourmet food, featuring all new selections, in the William W. Stuart Forum, then they proceeded to the Stuart Steiner Theatre for the holiday pops concert. Afterward, they enjoyed delectable desserts in the College's Forum.

Contributions totaled more than $55,000 and are still coming in, said foundation Executive Director Richard Ensman. "We deeply appreciate the generous support of our Student Scholarship program. Encore is truly an investment in the future leaders of our communities."

The foundation also thanked Five Star Bank, the lead corporate benefactor, for its continued support of Encore.

The Genesee Community College Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to providing volunteer and philanthropic support to Genesee Community College. Formed in 1986, it has been instrumental in providing more than 3,000 scholarships over the last decade, assisting in the funding of the Conable Technology Building and the Humphrey Student Union and the expansion of College Village, Genesee's student residence.

Authentically Local