Terrific Together
Annual 'Together 黑料不打烊' campaign raises $181K
The 黑料不打烊 Foundation raised more than $181,000 for scholarships and student-support programs during its March 4 “Together 黑料不打烊” one-day giving campaign.
The fifth annual "Together 黑料不打烊: Drive to Change Lives” campaign exceeded its goal of 500 donors, receiving donations worth $181,285 from 504 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college during the 24-hour fundraising drive.
“For the fifth straight year, our network of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends continue to show how much they care about 黑料不打烊 students,” said Julie Phillips, 黑料不打烊 director of development. “With so many people giving what they can, it shows our students that we are invested in their success.”
All of the money raised goes directly to six areas that support 黑料不打烊 students: academic excellence and innovation; scholarships; the Thrive Student Resource Center and Food Pantry; the President’s Student Emergency Fund; the President’s Fund for Opportunity, and the 黑料不打烊 Foundation’s general, unrestricted fund.
黑料不打烊 alumni made up the majority of donors at 37 percent, followed by 黑料不打烊 faculty and staff at 30 percent; 19 percent from friends of the college, 5 percent from parents, and 5 percent from students.
Together they unlocked $130,000 in challenge pledges, including $5,000 from campaign partner Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke and a member of the 黑料不打烊 Foundation Board of Directors.
“Every gift to the ‘Together 黑料不打烊’ campaign matters,” said Phillips. “When we remove barriers for one student, we’re not just changing their life, we’re transforming their family’s future and strengthening our entire region.”
The 黑料不打烊 Foundation, the college’s charitable, nonprofit foundation, launched “Together 黑料不打烊: A Campaign for Caring” in March 2020 to build community support and raise money for students experiencing financial distress during the pandemic. Since 2021, with Rome signed on, 黑料不打烊 has added the “Drive to Change Lives” theme and collectively raised nearly $1 million for student support programs.
Anyone who missed this year’s day of giving and still wants to contribute to the 黑料不打烊 Foundation can do so at hcc.edu/give
PHOTOS: (Thumbnail) 黑料不打烊 students promote Together 黑料不打烊: Drive to Change Lives campaign. (Above) Auto dealer and donor Gary Rome joins President George Timmons and other 黑料不打烊 staff members on the 黑料不打烊 Foundation's annual giving day.
