LIVESChangingcampaign

Supporting Student Success at College of the Desert

30years 30days $3million to raise

“At College of the Desert we are committed to leading and supporting efforts that will strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all desert residents.”

“We don’t just live here. The desert is our home.”

At College of the Desert, we know that we change lives every day for the better. Each year over 10,000 students look to the College for a chance at higher education, a job and career. In order to succeed in the 21st century our graduates must be able to compete globally, collaborate regionally and execute locally.

We are committed to leading and supporting efforts that will strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life for all Coachella Valley residents. Our signature academic programs are aligned with the blueprint for regional economic growth including: agriculture, hospitality management, creative arts, health care, green technology, early childhood education, media, transportation technology, and STEM fields in science, technology, engineering and math. These programs will help ensure students are ready for college transfer and careers to support the development of the educated workforce needed to meet local industry needs.

When you participate in the COD Foundation Changing Lives Campaign, you can trust the College to invest your contribution in responsive academic and program growth, student support, scholarships, and needed facility and technology enhancement.

I promise you that we will work hard to make student dreams come true and continue to be worthyof your support.

Joel L. Kinnamon, Ed.D.Superintendent/President

We are honored to be Co-Chairs of the College of the Desert Foundation Changing Lives Campaign. As members of the COD Foundation’s Board of Directors, we understand the power of education to change lives for the better. As involved and engaged community residents, we realize that education is invaluable to the quality of life in our community. The Foundation’s Changing Lives Campaign aims to raise $3 million to secure and increase financial assistance to support student success at College of the Desert. Since the College was founded, the education and training offered here has transformed thousands of lives, one student at a time. Everywhere you look, the success of our graduates fuels the economic development of this region. It’s important to understand that most of those graduates are right here, powering the local workforce and leading our community. Their dreams shape our future. We don’t just live here. The desert is our home. A bright tomorrow for all residents of the Coachella Valley depends on the success of our students and our college. Make an investment in our future. Join us in Changing Lives with a gift today.

Thank you,

Donna MacMillan and JoAnn McGrathChanging Lives Campaign Co-Chairs

From the College of the Desert Superintendent/President From the Campaign Co-Chairs

The $3 million Changing Lives Campaign is a comprehensive campaign for College of the Desert, raising funds to increase access to higher education, enhance technology and improve the quality of each student’s educational experience at the College.

We invite you to Step Up for COD and help change lives and our community for the better.

We thought of 3 million ways we would like to celebrate our 30th anniversary of supporting student success and programs at College of the Desert and we need your help.

Each day, thousands of students find opportunity, support and the keys to success at College of the Desert. Last year the COD Foundation provided 600 scholarships to local students and over $1 million in additional support to the College. But more help is needed.

The challenge is that for both students and our community college, education costs are rising while state appropriations are declining. The College cannot rely only on State revenue to fund the cost of delivering a quality education.

The challenges in funding for higher education were recognized 30 years ago with the formation of College of the Desert Foundation. Today our goals remain the same:

Funding for Higher Education

Support student success at College of the Desert by helping students overcome the financial barriers that may keep them from achieving their educational dreams.

Support program and technology development and advancement to ensure our students have access to the best facilities, faculty and equipment.

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More than 10,000 students enroll in the College each year. Even after all financial aid is considered, roughly half struggle to meet their financial needs. Many are working full- or part-time while attending school. Most are the first in their family to pursue higher education.

It is estimated that nearly three-quarters of our alumni stay or return from universities to join our local workforce and contribute to our local economy. In fact, everywhere you look you’ll find a life changed thanks to College of the Desert among our nurses, police and firefighters, accountants, chefs, architects, city leaders, bankers, restaurateurs, business owners, golf pros, landscapers, hospitality workers and others.

It is estimated that nearly three-quarters of our alumni stay or return from universities to join our local workforce and contribute to our local economy.

2x$7,500

Nationally, individuals with associatedegrees are twice as likely to be employedas workers without a high school diploma according to 2011 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employees with associate degrees earn,on average, almost $7,500 more per year than an individual with no schooling beyond high school.

More Education Equals More Success

Alumna, Irena Sepsinac (Hospitality Management, Desert Springs Marriott)

Students Eric Cross (Business Management) and Amber Villanueva (Criminal Justice)

College of the Desert is in the business of student success. As the largest institution of higher education in the Coachella Valley, the College’s programs are recognized locally and nationally for excellence.

Evidence of the value and benefit of an education at College of the Desert is everywhere you look – our community college is preparing students for success in the real world of work, while fueling the economic development of our region.

Achieving meaningful success requires substantial resources. The goal of the COD Foundation’s Changing Lives Campaign is $3 million – a goal designed to increase access, enhance technology and improve the quality of each student’s educational experience.

Still in the “quiet phase,” a special feature of this campaign is our collaboration with our current donors, our alumni and the community. Our Foundation Board members and major donors have already stepped up to support COD via this campaign.

Over the next few weeks, we will be reaching out to more of our friends and partners to invite their participation and consideration of an individual, corporate or planned gift to support the Changing Lives Campaign. We invite you to join us to help achieve this ambitious goal.

Funding Priorities

Future Workforce – Support for SignaturePrograms ($1,500,000)

Support is sought to develop career-based programs to address the needs of high growth business and industrial sectors. In addition, support is sought to support community college linkages to career academies which help place high school students on an early path to higher education and a career.

College of the Desert Signature Programs • Nursing• Early Childhood Education• Creative/Performing Arts• Public Safety/POST/Fire/EMT • Automotive/Alternative Fuels• Energy/Utilities/Green Technology• Hospitality/Retail/Culinary• Agriculture• Golf

Veterans Special Counseling Support ($300,000)

The recent increase in the College’s enrollment of military veterans (over 350 current students are military veterans) has created a growing need for increased financial aid and special counseling services for this deserving student population.

Student Scholarships/Textbooks/StudentServices ($500,000)

Nothing is more important to the mission of College of the Desert than to provide meaningful access to higher education. Gifts are sought to fund scholarships, provide textbooks and academic support services for students.

Technology and Digital Upgrades ($500,000)

Your support will help ensure our students have access to the latest tools and equipment needed to receive the highest quality training to meet local workforce demands. From replacing nine-year-old computers in biology classes to providing new laptops for early childhood education, providing access to the latest in computer technology is an ongoing challenge for every learning environment. Gifts are also sought to provide students with the highest quality education and training equipment including protective safety gear, automotive tools and the latest testing equipment.

President’s Innovation Fund ($200,000)

College of the Desert is a center of collaborative innovations for educational enrichment, economic development and quality of life in the Coachella Valley. The President’s Innovation Fund is designed to foster creativity and support student success through an Honors Program, development of a Student Ambassador Program and other new programs to help plant the seeds of creativity and innovation to foster student success. Gifts to the Foundation represent an important source of such funding for the College.

Gifts may be cash, appreciated assets including stocks and retirement funds or planned gifts. All contributors to the Changing Lives Campaign will be recognized in the COD Foundation annual report and on our donor honor roll.

How You Can Help

CAMPAIGN LEVELS OF GIVING

Gift Level

$900,000 Lead $300,000 Emeritus $30,000 Challenge $3,000 Scholar

Student, James Reed (Golf Management)

I grew up in the grape fields of Indio. No one in my family had ever graduated from college.When I received my A.A. Degree from College of the Desert my family was so proud. That gave me the confidence to continue my education and to work toward a better future for my family and my hometown.

COD Alumnus, Dan MartinezIndio City Manager

Of course, gifts in any amount are meaningful during the campaign and throughout the year.For more information about the Campaign or

other opportunities for giving please call:

(760) 773-2561

or email Jim Hummer,COD Foundation Executive Director at:

jhummer@collegeofthedesert.edu

Every COD student has a unique story, but they all share a desire to succeed. We stand ready to help them. Invest in our future by supporting the Changing Lives Campaign.

43500 Monterey Ave. Palm Desert, CA 92260Ph: 760-773-2561 Fax: 760-341-1172

www.codfoundation.org

FOUNDATION