Foundation Matters
Opportunity Changes Everything
Guided by this belief, the Miami Dade College Foundation promotes access to affordable, quality education to all. The success of the College is directly linked to the ability of the Foundation – supported by alumni and generous donors – to map and execute ambitious community-centric plans.
The Foundation has succeeded in solidifying strong philanthropic partnerships and support from individuals and organizations. The College’s endowment has reached more than $203 million.
One of the Foundation’s most recent partners is AT&T, a global leader in the telecommunications industry. AT&T recently gave the College a gift that was established as a permanent endowment for scholarships to students in computer sciences and digital media. It is partnerships like this that continue to propel MDC toward its goal of providing quality education to deserving students.
The Foundation also fosters professional and academic growth for faculty. Through the Endowed Teaching Chair program, MDC professors are honored for their passion and commitment to education as well as the positive impact to the College and community. The new programs that the instructors create enrich the educational experience for students, thereby producing well-trained individuals who drive the local economy.
Also enhancing opportunities for our students is the MDC Family Campaign. Through this campaign, MDC employees are encouraged to make donations that go directly to student scholarships. Within the past five years years, more than $1.1 million (including state match) has been raised, demonstrating the shared vision of the College and its faculty and staff.
With such innovative strategies in place, the Foundation is continuously recharging its efforts to engage faculty, students, alumni and the community. To lead that effort is a rejuvenated board of directors led by Sheldon Anderson, president of Northern Trust Bank, Miami-Dade County. With a focus on the potential growth and community involvement necessary to support the College, the board is leading the way in generating new ideas and planning ambitious long-term strategies. The varied experience that is part of a diverse 24-member board allows for many new ideas that drive the success of the College.
“MDC has experienced unprecedented growth in the past few years and that trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down,” Anderson said. “We have to find new ways to fund the growth of the College, and the work of the board along with the Foundation staff has been great in keeping us on track.”
Working with the board to design and implement fundraising programs is an enlarged staff of advancement professionals led by executive director and CEO Glenn Kaufhold, a seasoned fundraiser with extensive experience in nonprofit management and higher education marketing.
“With a dedicated board and the addition of talented experts in fundraising, marketing and alumni relations, the Foundation is poised to lead the College to new heights,” said Kaufhold. “By developing creative strategies, pioneering programs and authentic alumni relations, the Foundation team is well on its way to enhancing the future of the College and the South Florida community,” he added.
— Lourdes C. Balepogi