Houston Community College Foundation News

Welcome to the HCC Foundation News page! Here you will find recent news about the activities and successes of the Houston Community College Foundation. Please check back regularly for updates.

HCC Foundation gala honors trailblazing education leader Dr. Ruth J. Simmons

The Houston Community College (HCC) Foundation’s annual gala on April 20, 2024 honored Dr. Ruth J. Simmons for her outstanding contributions to higher education and her commitment to students.

The gala’s theme, “Where Dreams Take Flight,” brought together community leaders, philanthropists, educators and distinguished guests to celebrate the transformative power of education. The event served as a platform to raise vital funds that will target the areas of greatest need for HCC students as they navigate the difficult financial decisions related to work, family and education. 

To read more on the announcement, click here

Celebrating Achieving HCC's Invest in Houston's Future $20 Million Goal

KHOU 11 News Great Day, Great Deeds Spotlights HCCF

Check out KHOU 11 News Great Day, Great Deeds video clip featuring HCCF Board Chair Ryan McCauley: "We're proud to raise funds to support student success!" The segment aired on Great Day Houston this week. Special thanks to HCCF Board Member Courtney Taylor with Veritex Bank for support. It's a great day when we can spotlight HCCF support for HCC Students! To see video clip, please click LINK

HCC Foundation Annual Scholarship Luncheon

The Houston Community College Foundation celebrated the return to an in-person Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Friday, February 10th at the Bayou City Event Center. The luncheon recognizes current academic year HCCF scholarship recipients and the donors who make their studies possible. Class of 2022 Golden Eagle Donors, donors to the Foundation who contributed $5,000 or more in fiscal year 2022 (9/01/21-8/31/22), were also recognized at the luncheon.

To view photos from the luncheon, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/hccphotos/albums/72177720305932723

HCC Foundation Welcomes Six New Foundation Members to Governing Board

The Houston Community College Foundation Board has elected six new members to serve three-year terms.

The HCC Foundation supports HCC in attracting and educating Houston-area students who embody the desire and dedication to learn, including many nontraditional students and those who have traditionally faced barriers to higher education.

To read the full HCC press release, click here.

HCC Foundation Faculty and Staff Campaign 

Celebrating a milestone finish for the 2022 HCC Foundation Faculty & Staff Campaign and the over $150,000 raised with appreciation to our generous HCC employee donors. Eagles Helping Eagles! HCCF Faculty Liaisons Dr. Antrece Baggett and Dr. Mary Lawson joined HCCF President Karen Schmidt to share the exciting total and make formal presentation at today's HCC Board meeting. Dr. Lawson shared, "Together, when we combine our giving, it adds up to a big result on behalf of more opportunities for our students and for our faculty in need." Thank you HCC employees for your giving hearts!

  PVF Roundtable

HCC Foundation celebrated PVF Roundtable for its longstanding support of Houston Community College through the PVF Roundtable Scholarship fund, including most recent gift of $50,000 to the fund, at the December 14th HCC Board of Trustees meeting. Members of the PVF Roundtable joined for the presentation, including Dr. Kim Shelton-Brown, who also serves on the HCCF Board of Directors. “We are so grateful to PVF Roundtable for their support of the HCC Foundation, our students, and the Houston community, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come,” said HCCF President Karen Schmidt.

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy was recognized at the December 14th HCC Board of Trustees meeting for their grant support of $75,000 this year that will enable the HCC Engineering Center of Excellence to establish a robotics competition on Houston’s East Side. The competition is designed to spark the interest of middle and high school students in STEM fields and drive enrollment to HCC’s Engineering programs. We are excited to see the competition take place this spring! Special thank you to Gloria Bounds and Alicia Dixon, joining from CenterPoint for the presentation and two members of the HCCF Board, Al Payton, who is CenterPoint’s Vice President for Safety and Technical Training, and Tracy Janda, who has recently retired from CenterPoint.

Lift High Foundation

Thank you to Lift High Foundation for their generous gifts totaling $35,000 to establish the Lift High Foundation Scholarship of $25,000 and $10,000 to fund unrestricted scholarships for Houston Community College students. Cassandra Meloy with the Lift High Foundation (pictured top left corner of check) formally presented the gift at the November 16th HCC Board of Trustees meeting. The Lift High Foundation referenced their mission statement: as believers in Jesus Christ and blessed beyond measure, strives to be a helping hand to individuals in need to take the next step to transform their future. Thank you Lift High Foundation for making a difference in the lives of HCC students!

HCC Memorial Endowment Scholarship Fund

The HCC Foundation was honored for opportunity to recognize at the October 19th HCC Board of Trustees meeting the Jose C. Salazar HCC Memorial Endowment Scholarship Fund as one of HCC's private partners who has provided a perpetual scholarship for one of our HCC students annually. The friends and family of Jose C. Salazar worked to create this memorial endowment scholarship fund in order to honor Mr. Salazar’s life and passion as an author. The scholarship will annually support a Hispanic student pursuing an associate degree in an academic or workforce field who expresses a passion for writing. The moving presentation included members of Mr. Salazar’s family to speak on his legacy.
HCC Coleman College Operations Officer Dr. Diana Castillo shared that Jose Claudio Salazar (Jose, Joey) was a “devoted TRIO Special Services Director at HCC Central College. Jose worked tirelessly to help all students, with a primary focus on first generation students. Jose believed that when a first-generation student attends and completes college, the experience advances the entire family.”

Port Houston 

Thank you to Port Houston for its contribution to HCC Foundation through its community grants program in support of the HCC Logistics Center of Excellence. This year in addition to their gift of $10,000 for support of dual credit maritime education, they have awarded HCC with an additional $25,000 community grant aimed at preparing HCC’s logistics students for careers in industry. Port Houston was recognized at the October 19th HCC Board Meeting. “We are so grateful to the leadership team at Port Houston and its commissioners for understanding and investing in the future workforce of Houston and the shipping and logistics industry, who we are training at Houston Community College,” said HCC SE College President Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover.

Ryan and Jessica McCauley Donor Appreciation

HCC Foundation Gala Chairs Jessica and Ryan McCauley and children Molly, Wagner and Jack took center stage at the HCC Board meeting on August 17th to announce the historic finish for the 2022 gala in a formal check presentation. Much applause erupted in the room for the $798,486.37 record raise on behalf of areas of greatest need for HCC students. Also joining for announcement were HCCF Gala Auction Chair Dr. Kim Shelton-Brown and fellow Board members Dr. Antrece Baggett, Jesse Brown and Courtney Taylor.

“This is an amazing result to share with our friends in the community and on behalf of the Foundation board. We could not be more proud and grateful for what our donors and friends helped us accomplish for HCC students,” said Ryan, who is also HCCF Board Chair-Elect and Vice Chair of the Fundraising Committee.

    The Marilyn's Hand Up Endowed Fund

The HCC Foundation is honored to recognize and thank Dr. Marilyn Schultz, for her gift of $25,000 to establish The Marilyn’s Hand Up Endowed Fund to provide scholarships giving preference to students enrolled in various art classes. The gift was formally recognized at the HCC Board Meeting on May 18th. Thank you Dr. Marilyn Schultz!

Hats off to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!

HCC Foundation salutes the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for their continuous support of Houston Community College. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has made an additional investment of $25,000 to support our Public Safety students and the Houston community. We are grateful for their leadership, vision, and commitment. The gift was recognized at the May 18, 2022, HCC Board meeting.

Black History Committee Presentation

HCC Foundation salutes the Black History Committee for their outstanding fundraising success! BHC co-chairs Donnell Cooper and Fheryl Prestage announced $64,415 was raised on behalf of the February 24th Black History Scholarship Celebration, held virtually in partnership with ABC13. The total includes lead support received for the Black History Committee 100 Club, an exclusive club recognizing donors who contribute $100 or more to the BHC on an annual basis and launched this year. The cumulative total, announced at the HCC Board of Trustees Meeting on April 20th, is “testament to the dedication and devotion of the Black History Committee to raise the bar of fundraising excellence,” noted HCCF President Karen Schmidt.

Special guest Ms. Hilary Harmon (pictured right of check) also joined for the presentation and shared news of a $5,000 donation on behalf of her family. BHC announced plans to establish a scholarship to honor the legacy and memory of Hilary's father, Dr. Bill Harmon, and his lifetime contributions to education and in particular, his role as HCC Central College President. The scholarship will be launched with donation received from Ms. Harmon. As part of the presentation, a pinning ceremony was held for HCC Trustees and Ms. Harmon to recognize their support for the BHC 100 Club.

For more on the BHC 100 Club, visit https://www.hccsfoundation.org/BHC100Club.

The Black History Committee is an Affinity Group of the HCC Foundation.

Capital One Opens Doors in Support of Houston Small Businesses

The HCC Foundation is honored to recognize and thank Capital One for their gift of $50,000 to support HCC’s Office Entrepreneurial Initiatives, in support of small businesses in Houston.

“Through the innovative Business Digital Academy, which is funded by Capital One, HCC is closing the digital divide gap that is frequently faced by small and family-owned small businesses,” said HCC Chief Entrepreneurial Officer Dr. Maya Durnovo.

Joining for the presentation at the April 20th HCC Board meeting on behalf of Capital One was Houston Market President, Jim Nicholas (pictured center of check).

PVF Roundtable Donor Appreciation

The HCC Foundation was honored to recognize and thank the PVF Roundtable for its longstanding support of Houston Community College through the PVF Roundtable Scholarship fund at the February 16th HCC Board meeting. PVF Roundtable is an organization of professionals in the Pipe, Valve, and Fitting industry. One key part of the organization’s mission is to prepare the future of the industry by providing educational funds to students. Since 2017, PVF Roundtable has made a significant investment in HCC through its financial contributions, which total nearly $150,000 in scholarship support including most recent gift of $40,000.

“I would like to express our deep gratitude to PVF Roundtable for their support of HCC and our common vision to remove barriers to educational access,” said Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, HCC’s Vice Chancellor for Workforce Instruction and President, HCC Southwest.   

Joining for the presentation on behalf of PVF Roundtable were Harold Armstrong and Dr. Kim Shelton-Brown, who also serves on the HCCF Board.  

View donor presentation here

Wong Family Donor Appreciation

HCC Foundation salutes Freddie and Fong Wong, along with their son, Michael, who have each given a gift of more than $27,000 to establish two endowment funds to provide scholarships for students graduating from the Houston A&M Club’s CAMP Program.  CAMP stands for the Caring Aggies Mentoring Program. Through CAMP, Houston-area students are mentored by local Aggie alumni starting in 3rd grade and all the way through high school graduation, with a focus on supporting students to succeed in higher education. These two scholarships will provide perpetual support to CAMP students who wish to enroll at HCC in a wide variety of workforce programs.    

“Freddie and Michael, your commitment is an inspiration to us all and we are grateful for your support and partnership,” said HCCF President Karen Schmidt.   

The gift was recognized at the February 16, 2022 HCC Board meeting.

View donor appreciation here.

Subaru Donor Appreciation

The HCC Foundation salutes Subaru of America, Inc. for their generous in-kind donation of two Subaru Outback vehicles, valued at $66,570 total, to HCC Northeast for educational and in-classroom purposes. The two vehicles will be used for students learning at the Automotive Technical Training Center and at North Forest Campus location. The benefits of these training aids can be used to train students on all aspects of automotive diagnosis and repair utilizing the vehicle systems and sub-systems.

The donation of vehicles was formally accepted at the February 16th HCC Board of Trustees meeting. 

HCC Employee Donor Appreciation

The generosity of HCC employees who made a personal contribution to the 2021 Faculty & Staff Campaign was recognized at the January 19th HCC Board meeting. Combined, HCC faculty and staff raised $142,252.40 in donations and support during the annual employee giving campaign on behalf of HCC students and faculty in need. The campaign total includes the success of the 2021 Bedichek-Orman auction, the capstone to the annual giving campaign, which raises valuable support for faculty professional development.

“Together, when we combine our giving, it adds up to a big result on behalf of more opportunities for our students and for our faculty in need,” said Dr. Antrece Baggett, HCCF Faculty Liaison (pictured center of presentation check). The campaign results were formally presented at the January 19, 2022 HCC Board of Trustees meeting.

View donor presentation here. 

Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation Donor Appreciation

View donor presentation here. 

Siemens Donor Appreciation

HCC Foundation is pleased to recognize donor Siemens Digital Industries Software, who has awarded software valued at $318,300.00 through a grant to HCC’s Central College to support the Architectural Design and Construction Center of Excellence. The award was recognized at the October HCC Board of Trustees meeting. 

Siemens representative, Senior Director, Global Strategy (Energy & Utilities), John Nixon (pictured right corner of check) presented the check to HCCF and HCC officials, including HCC Central College President, Dr. Mudassir Siddiqi. “Through our partnership with Siemens, together we will prepare the next generation of digital talent with the skills employers need today and in the future,” said Dr. Siddiqi. 

View donor presentation here.

Audi Fuels Student Success with Engine Donation

HCC Foundation extends appreciation to Audi of America, Inc. for their generous donation of an E-Tron vehicle motor. The donation was formally accepted at the HCC Board of Trustees October board meeting. The motor will be instrumental in providing hands-on access to skills training for HCC automotive students. Because of Audi’s generosity, these are dollars saved which HCC is able to apply directly to support HCC’s programs and services to help ensure that Houston-area students will receive the higher education they need to meet the challenges of today’s economy. 

Spark Engineering Equipment Donation

Thank you to Sparx Engineering for their generous in-kind donation of a BSL2 Biological Safety Hood, valued at $3,500, to the HCC West Houston Institute SciLab. The HCC Foundation is honored to receive such a generous gift from Sparx Engineering, and we look forward to our students being able to utilize this equipment. The equipment was formally accepted at the October 20th HCC Board of Trustees meeting.

BP America Donor Appreciation

From left, Trustee Robert Glaser, District V; Trustee Monica Flores Richart, District I, Dr. Mehmet Argin; Dean, HCC Global Energy Center of Excellence; Dr. Monique Umphrey, HCC Northeast President; Mark Crawford, Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, BP America; Dr. John P. Hansen, District VI, Board Chair; Dr. Reagan Flowers, District IV, Vice-Chair; Trustee Eva Loredo, District VIII; and HCC Foundation President, Karen Schmidt. Background, from left, HCC Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, District II; HCC Chancellor Dr. Cesar Maldonado, and HCC Trustee Dr. Pretta VanDible Stallworth, District IX.  

HCC Foundation extends appreciation to BP America for their continuous support and most recent gift of $75,000. BP America was recognized for their commitment to HCC student success at the HCC Board of Trustees meeting on September 22. BP America’s generosity is fueling support for STEM education programs at institutions nationwide, including HCC, and initiatives that strengthen the communities where their employees live and work.

“We are grateful to BP America for their community leadership, vision, and commitment,” says HCC Foundation President Karen Schmidt.

Thank you BP America! 



HCC and HCCF partner with PepsiCo and Gallery Furniture for Hurricane Ida Relief to Louisiana

On Thursday, September 2, 2021, David Regenbaum, HCC Foundation Board Chair; Ryan McCauley, HCC Foundation Board Chair-elect; Karen Schmidt, HCC Foundation President; Kristina Perez, HCC Foundation Development Director; HCC Chancellor Maldonado; Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education and Southwest College President; and Michael Webster, Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education, joined PepsiCo and Gallery Furniture to donate Aquafina Water and Gatorade to support the Hurricane Ida Relief effort for our neighbors in Louisiana. 

Please see the link below to view the event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zHbIxJQDng

To view photos from the event, click here.

We are grateful to have such wonderful industry partners – PepsiCo Foundation and Gallery Furniture – who are generously supporting HCC’s values and mission.

ALAN HELFMAN VIRTUAL NAMING CEREMONY

HCC Foundation extends appreciation to HCCF Ambassador Alan Helfman for his giving heart and commitment to the community, including support of HCC Public Safety. The Alan Helfman Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Program was formally recognized at a naming ceremony held on August 24th. Thank you, Alan for all you do to drive HCC student success!

To view a video clip from the virtual naming ceremony, click here.

To view photos from the virtual naming ceremony held on 8/24, click here.

APPLE DONOR APPRECIATION

HCC Foundation is proud of HCC’s long-term work with Apple to bring new learning opportunities to the community, facilitating tremendous student success. Since 2019, HCC students — and the broader community — have had access to Apple technology and coding opportunities as part of Apple’s Community Education Initiative. This deep collaboration has helped more people in the Houston area build critical job skills, setting HCC students up for rewarding careers in cutting-edge fields like app design and more.

Today, the HCC Board of Trustees recognized Apple’s contributions to HCC learning and innovation, and the impact it has had on the community. “We are so grateful to Apple for their support of the HCC Foundation, our students, and the Houston community, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the years to come,” said HCCF President, Karen Schmidt. 

To view the donor presentation at the HCC Board meeting, 6/16, click here.

BMC SOFTWARE DONATES EQUIPMENT

HCC Foundation extends appreciation to BMC Software for the generous in-kind donation of 57 TVs to HCC, valued at $77,313. The gift was approved for acceptance at the HCC Board of Trustees meeting on June 16th. This AV equipment will support distance learning activities, Skype collaborations, HCC DIT gaming or esports, wayfinding and other HCC events and occasions that require the use of portable monitor screens.

Thank you BMC for helping to enhance our student experience!

To view the donor presentation at the HCC Board meeting, 6/16, click here.

ALAN HELFMAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE/LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM NAMING APPROVED

Congratulations to HCC Foundation Ambassador Alan Helfman!

The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College unanimously approved at the May 19th HCC Board meeting the naming of the Alan Helfman Criminal Justice / Law Enforcement Program. We are extremely grateful for Alan's many contributions to HCC and sincerely appreciate all that he does for the College and our students.

To view tribute video honoring Mr. Helfman's accomplishments, click here.

To view the donor presentation at the HCC Board meeting, 5/19, click here.

VERIZON RECOGNIZED FOR HCC SUPPORT

HCC Foundation salutes Verizon for their generosity on behalf of HCC students! Thank you for your significant investment over the last year in support of HCC, our students, and the Houston community. Verizon’s investment in HCC has provided support for student emergency assistance through our Swoop to the Rescue program, for the HCC Math Competition, programs to support small businesses, and for the Verizon Innovative Learning program. Their giving was recognized at the May 19th HCC Board of Trustees meeting.

This summer, HCC is partnering with Verizon for the Verizon Innovative Learning program (see flyer).

To view the donor presentation at the HCC Board meeting, 5/19, click here.

HCC FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH PEPSICO FOUNDATION'S UPLIFT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The educational path for Black and Hispanic students at HCC just got better with fresh funding of $600,000 from The PepsiCo Foundation for the college to offer a broad range of technical education and training.

Kyle Washington, GM market director for PepsiCo Beverages North America, presented the check to kick off the partnership between HCC and The PepsiCo Foundation during the HCC Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, April 21.

“Although we may be a global corporation, we remain a local company – employing local associates and contributing to our local economies,” Mr. Washington said as he presented the check. “During my tenure with the company, I’ve seen the transformative change that can happen when we collaborate with the communities where we live and work. I’m thrilled that Houston Community College is one of four launch partners for our new community college scholarship and mentoring program for Black and Hispanic students.”

HCC is among the first four community colleges in the nation to partner with The PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship program aimed at leveling the playing field for Black and Hispanic students to secure in-demand jobs with livable and sustainable wages.

To learn more about The PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship Program at HCC, visit hccs.edu/uplift.

To read the PepsiCo release on announcement of their national initiative, click here.

CENTRAL COLLEGE CULINARY ARTS LOBBY NAMING

The HCC Central College’s first-floor lobby of the culinary arts building has been named in honor of celebrated Houston chef Hugo Ortega, a proud graduate of HCC's Culinary Arts Program and successful owner of four critically acclaimed restaurants in Houston.

In late 2019, the Ortega family, including Chef Hugo, wife, Tracy Vaught, and daughter, Sophia, donated $100,400 to the HCC Foundation to establish the Chef Hugo Ortega Endowed Scholarship. The Chef Hugo Ortega Endowment Fund provides scholarship funds for tuition, books, fees, and culinary arts student supplies. The distinctive wall in the new culinary arts building's lobby features his name to recognize his family's contribution.

Thank You to the Ortega family for their generosity and commitment to students!

Read more on gift announcement in CultureMap article, 2/09/21 

QATAR HARVEY FUND FINAL REPORT
(as of 07/2020)

GLENDA & DAVID REGENBAUM CENTER FOR
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT HCC

Houston Community College’s Center for Entrepreneurship is now the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship at Northwest College. This past April Glenda and David Regenbaum generously donated $100,000 to the Center to support entrepreneurial initiatives to help educate and nurture the growth of small businesses. The center is located at HCC Northwest Alief Hayes campus in West Houston. Mr. Regenbaum is Chairman of the Board for the HCC Foundation Board of Directors.

Thank You Glenda and David for your extraordinary dedication
and commitment to HCC students!

Click here to read full story.

EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND PROGRESS REPORT
(as of 05/20/2020)

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

“I was shocked they said I had been awarded.” Houston Community College student Jamyra McAfee’s laptop was stolen, leaving her unable to continue her coursework when HCC courses went online during the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to the HCC Foundation relief fund, she replaced her laptop. As featured in the Houston Chronicle, 5/3/2020.

You can help more students in need like Jamyra – make a gift online at https://www.hccsfoundation.org/emergencyrelief

Read full article here

ALL IN FOR HCC

HCC Foundation December 2019 Check Presentation

THANK YOU!

The HCC Foundation received gifts totaling a record $154,664.29 from HCC employees during the 2019 Faculty & Staff Campaign.

This total includes campaign donations along with proceeds raised at the 2019 Bedichek-Orman auction, which served as the capstone to the annual giving campaign.

A heartfelt thank you goes to every faculty and staff member who helped make this success possible. Your giving helps students achieve their goals and provide a brighter future for their families.

HCC Foundation Faculty Liaisons Dr. Mary Lawson and Professor Antrece Baggétt (top left and right, holding check) shared news of the 2019 campaign’s success at the December 4th HCC Board of Trustees Meeting.

HCC Foundation November 2019 Check Presentation

HCC East Side Friends Supporting Student Success 

Morales Foundation

East End District

The HCC Foundation was pleased to recognize two of our East Side partners at the November 6, 2019 HCC Board of Trustees meeting! We are grateful to the East End District and the Morales Memorial Foundation for their generous support to students at HCC Southeast College! Your combined gift of $35,000 will change lives.

FANUC AMERICA CORPORATION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR HCC ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

HCC Foundation October 2019 Check Presentation

The HCC Foundation was pleased to recognize FANUC America Corporation, the leading supplier of robots, CNC systems and factory automation, for their gift of software and materials totaling $321,580 to HCC’s Southwest College – Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence. 

This generous gift provides Southwest College – Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence Advanced CERT Software, a CERT Instructor, and comprehensive educational packages and toolkits.

"HCC is grateful to FANUC for their generous gift to the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence. This gift will allow us to train instructors and subsequently students in Robotic Welding," said Dean of HCC Advanced Manufacturing, Dr. Ritu Raju. "As a FANUC-certified campus, we look forward to building a strong pipeline of skilled workers for our industry partners."

The HCC Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence focuses on training qualified workers in high-growth, high-demand and high-wages occupations in machining, additive manufacturing, robotics, CNC operations and advanced manufacturing. Houston is recognized as a top manufacturing city in the country, with over 10,000 manufacturers who employ more than a quarter of a million skilled workers in the production of plastics, rubber, metals, medical devices, valve, fitting, steel products and petrochemicals.

"We appreciate FANUC’s gifts that will support our students. Their commitment is an inspiration to us all and we are grateful for their support and partnership," said HCC Foundation Board Treasurer, Dr. Robert L. Ford.

Founded in 1982, FANUC America has over 1,500 employees in the Americas. Their team of automation professionals work in customer service, engineering, finance, human resources, IT, logistics, operations, manufacturing, product development, sales & marketing and training.  

BARNES & NOBLE COLLEGE OPENS NEW CHAPTER ON STUDENT SUCCESS

HCC Foundation September 2019 Check Presentation

Barnes & Noble College was recognized for the company’s gifts totaling $165,000 to the HCC Foundation in FY2019. These gifts include cash and in-kind contributions on behalf of HCC student success.

The generous annual support provided by Barnes & Noble College helps to fuel the studies of HCC students, including significant in-kind support to provide the textbooks and supplies for HCC Honors College students. Barnes & Noble College helps these top-performing students succeed by providing their textbooks at no charge.

“The Barnes & Noble book scholarship is a key component to our students’ college success and high graduation rates, allowing them to start strongly and engage with the course material quickly,” said Dr. Cheryl Peters, interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Curriculum and Learning Initiatives. who also oversees the HCC Weekend and Honors College.

HCC Foundation Board Chair David Regenbaum noted that many students donate their textbooks when finished to other deserving students. “This example of encouraging philanthropy in future generations is a wonderful tribute to the impact of the support receive from Barnes & Noble College."

Regional Manager Paul Stevenson observed it was great to see their support in action, acknowledging the Honors College students who were present for the occasion.

“Barnes & Noble College has been a very proud partner of HCC for well over two decades. We look forward to many more years of a great, valued partnership here at HCC and being a part of student success as we move forward.”

SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR HCC GLOBAL ENERGY CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

HCC Foundation September 2019 Check Presentation

The HCC Foundation also recognized Occidental and HCCF Board Member Jeanne Perdue who made a combined gift totaling $20,000 to HCC’s Northeast College – Global Energy Center of Excellence. This generous gift enables Northeast College – Global Energy Center of Excellence to award scholarships to students in the AAS degree programs. The Occidental Recruitment Impact Scholarships will help students pay for their tuition, books, and fees.

“We are grateful to Occidental and Jeanne Perdue for their community leadership, vision, and commitment to support Houston Community College students in achieving their educational aspirations and goals,” said HCC Foundation Board Chair David Regenbaum.

Perdue, who serves as Scholarship and Grants Chair on the HCC Foundation Board, approached her employer, Occidental Petroleum about setting up a named scholarship to benefit the Global Energy COE at HCC.

“It was easy to convince our recruiters that this would be a great way to prime the talent pipeline for hiring petroleum technicians,” said Perdue, who leveraged her personal gift with matching dollars from her employer to increase the overall contribution on behalf of Occidental.

"Occidental is honored to partner with Houston Community College. We truly believe our people are our most valuable asset and it is the reason why we are here today. That is also why we are continually investing in our employees and are always looking to develop our future workforce, said company representative Robert Rodriguez.

"The need for technical workers will continue to grow as our fields continue to become automated and driven by technology which is why programs like the ones at Houston Community College are so vital."

Nitya Capital and Swapnil and Deepika Agarwal Underwrite West Houston Institute Video Wall

HCC Foundation August 2019 Check Presentation

Nitya Capital and Swapnil and Deepika Agarwal were recognized at the HCC Board of Trustees meeting on August 7th for their gift of $92,000 to HCC’s West Houston Institute. The gift will underwrite the West Houston Institute video wall to serve as a focal point for the HCC state-of-the-art learning space.

Swapnil is a graduate of Hastings High School in Alief ISD, just a few miles from the West Houston Institute. His higher education began at Houston Community College where he started his coursework before self-financing his way through college at the University of Texas. Swapnil then worked in the real estate and finance industry before launching Nitya Capital and Karya Property Management in 2014.

“For those of you who have not been in the lobby of the West Houston Institute, the video wall is going to be truly impressive, spanning two stories and adding to the bold and innovative design of the space," said HCC Foundation Board Chair David Regenbaum. "It will provide an attractive element to the building for both students and outside community visitors."

Swapnil, whose company primarily focuses on providing housing to middle- and lower-class families of America, is humble about his philanthropy. The self-made businessman remarked, “It’s my privilege and honor to support and give back to the community. … I’m in this position because of what I learned at HCC.”

  Hindu Charities for America Establishes Named Scholarship

HCC Foundation August 2019 Check Presentation

The HCC Foundation recognized Hindu Charities for America (HC4A) for their gift of $10,000 to establish a named scholarship at HCC at the HCC Board of Trustees meeting held on August 7th.

The scholarship, to be awarded to 10 students in the amount of $1,000 each, will provide support for students in their final year of studies at HCC who are pursuing programs at HCC that lead to an associate degree in an Applied Science or other vocational program. The scholarship is earmarked for students at HCC’s Stafford or Missouri City campus who meet criteria as first preference, or HCC campuses in general.

“The primary objective of the Hindu Charities for America is to reduce income disparity through education and we could not find a better partner than HCC,” said HC4A Houston Region representative Sasidhar Konidena.

“We are grateful for Hindu Charities for America for what their investment will make possible for our students who are near completion and need financial support to help make their degree possible. They are a wonderful new partner for HCC student success,” said HCC Foundation Board Chair David Regenbaum.

HCC Foundation Salutes Dr. Norma Perez

HCC Foundation June 2019 Check Presentation: 

HCC Foundation salutes Dr. Norma Perez, HCC Vice Chancellor of Instructional Services and Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Perez has made personal gifts totaling $25,000 to establish the Maria and Jose Perez Endowed Scholarship at HCC in honor of her parents. The esteemed HCC leader says, “My parents taught me to give back.” The scholarship was announced at the June 5th HCC Board of Trustees meeting where Dr. Perez was accompanied by her family.

Thank you, Dr. Norma Perez, for your generous contribution. Your passion for education and your passion for student success is what makes us HCC strong.

Saluting our Veterans 

HCC Foundation May 2019 Check Presentation:

A gift of $10,000 received from the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation will benefit active duty service members as they transition from the military to civilian life.

Dan West, State Adjutant and Quartermaster for the Texas VFW, presented the check at the May 1, 2019, HCC Board Of Trustees meeting. 

"We are grateful for the support of the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation for their support of HCC's veterans program. We are proud to work with the Texas VFW to serve veterans in the Houston area, " said HCC Foundation Board President David Regenbaum. 

HCC Foundation opens Pathways to Success

HCC Foundation May 2019 Check Presentation:

Houston Community College Foundation presented a gift of $30,000 to HCC technical workforce students to participate in a weeklong learning experience at bbs│me – Otto-Brenner-Schule, a large vocational college for mechanical and electronically engineering in Hannover, Germany.

David Regenbaum, President of the HCC Foundation Board of Directors presented the check at the May 1, 2019 HCC Board of Trustees meeting.  

“We are proud to provide funding support to the HCC technical students for the opportunity to be able to travel to Hannover. On behalf of HCC Foundation Board of Directors and my fellow board members, we are honored to be able to help HCC with their global learning initiatives,” said Mr. Regenbaum.   

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HCC Foundation April 2019 Check Presentation:

HCC News

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