About Us

Who We Are

Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about the St. Charles Community College (SCC) Foundation. We were established in 1995 by individuals committed to the advancement of our community through education. Building on the belief that every person deserves an opportunity to achieve success, the vision of the SCC Foundation is to transform lives and strengthen communities.

We can’t do it alone. One of the most important aspects of the SCC Foundation is that we provide a common ground for individuals and businesses who believe in the power of education. When these efforts and resources are combined, the impact on our community is profound.

We may never hear from all the people whose lives were touched thanks to the work of this Foundation and its supporters. However, a group of thankful students, faculty, and staff would like to share their compelling stories on the testimonial page.

“You can’t even realize what
my scholarship means to me …”
Shantell Behnke,
dreams of becoming a psychologist

“… I’m just grateful that there are people
out there who care enough …”
Kimberly VanCamp,
dreams of becoming a speech pathologist

 “… On behalf of the thousands of students
whose learning experiences are
forever enriched, thank you!”
Cindy Strodtman,
Learning Specialist & Tutor Program Coordinator

“… We were able to purchase 70 graphing calculators so students who could not afford
to buy them, would have what they need …”
Callie Daniels,
Professor, Mathematics & Statistics

For some, supporting SCC means supporting neighbors, colleagues, family, and friends who will become our community leaders. Others simply believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to gain stronger employment skills, achieve higher earning potential, and develop greater abilities to lead and mentor others. Whatever the reason, their success is a direct reflection of the commitment and generosity of people like you. 

What We Do

Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our community by securing private and public funds to strengthen educational and cultural opportunities, and to enhance community awareness of the College and the Foundation.

Throughout the year, the SCC Foundation hosts events and meets with interested supporters to raise the funds needed. Our philosophy is to create long-lasting, meaningful relationships with our donors. We invite you to customize a gift that is right for you and/or your business.

Thanks to the generosity of our Partners/VIPs and SCC employees, we raised more than $250,000 in the 2007-08 academic year. Currently, funds are allocated two ways: 

 Student Grants and Scholarships
  • Students from all walks of life – high-school graduates to first-generation college students to single moms and dads – benefit. 
  • Some scholarships are based strictly on financial need, while others are based on academic performance or a specific area of study.
  • Declared majors for scholarships include nursing, social work, business, criminal justice, education, computer science, pre-law, and many more!
  • Continued support helps SCC keep tuition costs within reach for students.
 Faculty and Staff Mini-Grants
  • Requests from faculty and staff are for items (equipment, programs, and/or projects) that would maximize student learning experiences but could not be funded through the annual college budget.
  • Past requests have been for SMART boards, nursing simulation lab equipment, reading program enhancement series, laptops, calculators, 3-D body parts, SCC Visual Arts Career Day, Mac Pro design softwar, and much more!
  • Continued support helps SCC equip faculty and staff with necessary educational tools and resources that, ultimately, impact student learing and student sucess.

If you would like more information on how to be a part of this effort to transform lives and strengthen communities, visit the Ways to Give/Volunteer page or feel free to contact a staff or board member. On behalf of all the people who are helped each year, thank you for your time and attention.

The St. Charles Community College Foundation is an independent, 501(c)3, not-for-profit corporation formed to solicit, receive, and administer gifts, grants, bequests, and donations to support the educational purposes of the college.