California has always been a place of opportunity—and no institution embodies this promise more than the California Community Colleges. California’s Community Colleges, the largest higher education system in the nation, were created to provide affordable and accessible educational opportunities for all Californians. Today, the system serves more than 2.9 million students each year, supplies the majority of the state’s workforce training, and provides a stepping stone for students on the pathway to four-year and graduate degrees.

The goal of the California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment is to support student success and opportunity by creating a permanent fund for scholarships, offering long-term relief to the rising costs that keep many students from completing their education.

With its commitment of $50 million to the California Community Colleges, The Bernard Osher Foundation has inspired a new trend in community college philanthropy, helping raise awareness of the need to increase scholarship support to California’s community college students.

 

The Osher Foundation’s lead gift of $25 million established the California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment, which has already begun benefiting thousands of students throughout the state with much-needed scholarship support.

The California Community Colleges and the Foundation for California Community Colleges are challenged with raising an additional $50 million by June 2010 in order to receive the remaining $25 million in match dollars committed by the Osher Foundation. With the clock ticking on this unprecedented campaign, it has never been more important to support California’s community college students. 
 

For Community College students across California, the possibility of a better life begins with higher education. Yet each year more students are struggling to make ends meet and stay in school as affordability continues to become a growing barrier to student success. Today, approximately half of all Community College students still have unmet financial need after all financial aid is considered.

Scholarships from the Endowment, which were first distributed to students throughout the state in Fall 2009 and will continue to be dispersed every year in perpetuity, address this growing need.

For every dollar contributed to the Endowment, the Osher Foundation will contribute 50 cents, helping increase the impact your contribution has on the lives of California Community College students. For example, a contribution of $13,334, with the Osher Foundation’s match of $6,667, will result in a $1,000 scholarship each year, forever.

What’s more, 100 percent of your donation will directly fund scholarships, ensuring the greatest possible support for our students.  

 

Learn more about the impact a contribution to the Endowment will have on future generations of students.

Just 17 months after its formation, the Endowment began benefiting students throughout the state. For the 2009-10 academic year, at least 1,250 students were awarded with Osher Scholarships through this Endowment. For many, the possibility of completing their education was an unattainable dream until these scholarships were awarded. Learn more about Osher Scholars.