We’re off to a new year, and the future of the Community College of Aurora is looking bright. CCA finished strong on many fronts in 2023, including a big win in its fundraising efforts, including the Colorado Gives campaign.
The goal for the event was $40,000, coinciding with CCA’s 40th-anniversary celebration. This goal was not only reached but surpassed, totaling $76,000, which is a significant achievement for the college’s fundraising efforts.
Katlynn Del Dotto, Senior Director of Development with the CCA Foundation, says several strategies were utilized to reach the goal, including a $10,000 match from the board of directors and a matching donation from the Community First Foundation.
In addition, Del Dotto mentions that CCA’s Student Government Association played a pivotal role in the campaign’s success, resulting in an impressive 80 new donors and expanding the support of the CCA Foundation.
CCA President, Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, expressed gratitude for the donations, saying, “The Community College of Aurora is grateful for the generosity and support of so many who believe in our mission and impact on the communities we serve. Our historic institutional success would not be possible without our donors.”
Executive Director of the CCA Foundation, John Wolfkill, praised the fundraising effort and its impact on the future success of the college.
“As CCA builds the new Center for STEM, Power Mechanics and Applied Technologies and prepares to launch its new nursing pathways and Aurora Police Department Cadet program partnership, CCA is Aurora’s gateway to education and career success,” Wolfkill said.
Money raised by the foundation goes into funding many projects, including scholarships for students. A significant portion of the CCA student population identifies as first-generation, and leaders say scholarship money helps advance the educational careers of those students. Del Dotto says 85% of students who receive scholarships are more likely to graduate, transfer, or stay enrolled in CCA.
She notes that scholarships make a huge impact on the student population, allowing students who may face economic hardships to succeed without a significant financial burden. She emphasizes that this carries into the greater community, providing opportunities and upward economic mobility for more people.
“Our Colorado Gives Day turnout is proof that our neighbors know and support our mission to remove all barriers to student success,” Del Dotto said.
The Colorado Gives campaign serves as one of the foundation’s largest fundraisers of the year, with the other being the annual luncheon taking place in the spring.
The CCA Foundation partners with 72 individuals, companies, and foundations that have established endowed and annual scholarships to support CCA students each year.