Students and Donors Learn from each other at Annual Luncheon

A favorite event of students and donors alike, the Reaching New Heights Scholarship Luncheon brings together Butler Foundation scholarship donors and sponsors to meet with the students benefitting from their generosity.

“Students, we know these donors have made a difference in your life through the gift of scholarships, but you always enrich their lives by showing them the difference their contributions make,” Vice President of Advancement Stacy Cofer told those in attendance.

2017 Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Greg Joyce was the guest speaker for the event. Joyce also spoke at Commencement in May. Joyce spoke of how Butler gave him his start in his educational journey to become an optometrist.

“I hope each of you students will look back on your Butler experience as time well-spent,” Joyce said. “I know each of our donors and supporters consider their contributions as time and money well-spent.”

The stewardship event is intended to pair donors with the student receiving their scholarship, but sometimes that is not possible in instances where the donor is deceased. Members of the Foundation Board of Directors and Butler administrators fill in where possible to educate the students about their donor and the scholarship they received.

“It is important for us to educate our students about philanthropy,” Scholarship Coordinator Averie

Nelson said. “The students are always amazed that there are people willing to give their money freely to help others. These scholarships often make the difference for students struggling with their college cost.”

The Foundation will award nearly $600,000 in scholarships to more than 500 students this academic year (2017-2018). That number has grown to 12.5 times what was awarded in 2007; $48,000.

“I hope you have really learned something today about how important the people sitting around you are to the continued success of you and future Butler students,” President Kim Krull, Ph.D. said. “We are so appreciative of everyone who attended today.”

Sponsors for the event were Professional Engineering Consultants, Roberts Hutch-Line, Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, Gravity::Works Architecture, Wells Designs, and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

Philanthropic contributions to Butler Community College are coordinated by the Butler Community College Foundation. The foundation manages fundraising efforts with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to secure private support for the college.

For more information about the Butler Community College Foundation visit our website at http://foundation.butlercc.edu or find us on Facebook.