THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008
Harper Raising Money To Benefit Students
By RICHARD MAYER
JOURNAL & TOPICS REPORTER
The Harper College Educational Foundation this week announced the launch of its $7 million "Project Tomorrow" campaign, the most comprehensive fundraising effort in the college's 40-year history, according to school officials.
According to school officials, the fundraising, which will bolster dozens of programs, faculty enrichment opportunities and scholarship campus- and community -wide, began two years ago.
To date, pledges and donations exceed $5.5 million. Harper administrators, the board of trustees and the Foundation Board of Directors all have contributed.
However, Associate Executive Director of the Foundation Katherine Sawyer refused to release the names of the contributors and how much money each organization donated.
According to Harper President Dr. Robert Breuder, the initiative will support needed projects, programs and scholarships.
"The money is not intended to substitute for college scholarships," said Breuder.
Among other things, Project Tomorrow donations will specifically support:
* Scholarships, tutoring and instructional materials for adults making the transition from GED and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes into Harper's career programs
* Technology to aid deaf and hard-of-hearing students
* Scholarship and technology for at-risk students transitioning into college.
* Scholarships, additional resources and legal assistance for victims of domestic abuse and other students working with Harper's Women's Program.
* Textbooks, computers and childcare for adults in the accelerated Fast Track program
* Equipment and technology for Harper's new nanoscience degree program
* Scholarship for music, theater and speech students
* State-of-the-art, technology-equipped classrooms and increased online learning
* Continued and enhanced lecture series for seniors in the Lifelong Learning Institute
* Workshops for local small business owners.
The areas of need were identified through a survey that gauged the opinions of area businesses, community members, and students and faculty. According to school officials, none of the "Project Tomorrow " funds will be used for capital improvements to the college's building or grounds.
In 1999, a $124.5 million referendum failed for capital improvements. However, one year later in 2000, an $88.8 million referendum passed 57 to 43 for improvements including a science emerging technology and cancer health center.
"Between those two referendums, we (school officials) conducted a survey within the community," said Breuder. "In that survey, we asked what would residents support, what their interests were and what the campus should focus on. We didn't do that for the first referendum."
Project Tomorrow aims to generate $7 million by June 30, 2009. An evening of celebration and appreciation is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 22. The invitation-only "Evening by the Pond" will be conducted on Harper's grounds and include a meal, campaign information and an acknowledgement of lead donors to date.
"It is a testament to Harper's extraordinary successes as a community college that they have been able to raise so much money," said lead donor Rita Canning, a campaign volunteer who also sits on the board of trustees and the Foundation's Board of Directors. "Raising these funds is critical to maintaining the high standards of quality education that so many people have worked so hard to build."