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SUNY GCC - Genesee Community College

How We Make a Difference

The Genesee Community College Foundation supports excellence, access, economic vitality, alumni and community involvement, and the development of important capital resources.

Historical Milestones

1985 – Civic and business leaders form the Genesee Community College Foundation

1988 – Community leaders gather at the Batavia Campus to celebrate volunteer involvement at GCC, and inaugurate Foundation activities

1991 – The Foundation hosts A Star is Born, commemorating the opening of the Genesee Center for  the Arts

1992 – Encore begins as an annual holiday tradition

1995 – The GCC Foundation begins its first annual fund raising campaign

1996 – The GCC Foundation launches the Wall of Honor in the Batavia Campus’ William W. Stuart Forum

1996 – A “blue-ribbon” citizens committee recommends that the GCC Foundation pursue the development of student housing and other ventures that benefit GCC and GCC students

1999 – The Foundation launches Investing in Our Future, a capital campaign in support of the construction of the Conable Technology Building

2001 – The Foundation acquires the College Meadows apartment complex adjacent to the Batavia Campus for student housing, renaming it College Village

2003 – The Foundation launches the first Wolcott J. Humphrey Symposium on Leadership and Community Life

2004 – The Foundation launches, Building a Legacy, a capital campaign in support of the construction of the Humphrey Student Union

2006 – The Foundation begins The Alpha Medal of Service recognition at GCC commencement

2007 – The Foundation constructs and opens Spruce Hall and Willow Hall at College Village

2012 – Alumni volunteers launch the first annual Fall Fest, Alumni and Friends Homecoming Weekend

2013 – The Foundation launches Creating Our Future Together, a comprehensive campaign in support of the construction of the Student Success Center and Richard C. Call Arena, and new scholarship funds

2014 – The Foundation constructs and opens Hemlock Hall and Lilac Hall at College Village

2015 – The Foundation inaugurates the GCC Alumni Council

2016 – The Alumni Council launches the Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble at Stafford Country Club

Giving and Giving Back

Honoring Our Legacy, Empowering Our Future – 2017-2018 annual campaign – an opportunity for all alumni and friends of GCC to financially support scholarships and other important programs

Alumni and Friends Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble – The third annual Cougar Classic Golf Tournament – July 23, 2018, Stafford Country Club

Encore 2018 – A celebration of the holiday season – December 1, 2018, Batavia Campus, Richard C. Call Arena

Gift Annuity Program – provides supporters with the opportunity to make a permanent gift in support of GCC while receiving quarterly income for life

Heritage Program – a Foundation initiative helping supporters build a permanent legacy to their interests and ideals through named scholarship funds, field-of-interest funds, and deferred giving tools

Reaching Out

Sign up for The Clocktower – produced by The GCC Foundation, our periodic e-bulletin for friends of GCC. Easy-to-read, fast-breaking news about GCC delivered to your inbox.

Sign up for The Cougar Roar – produced by Alumni Affairs, our periodic e-newsletter for GCC alumni and their families, featuring College news, and class and program notes.

The Forum Newsletter – our twice-yearly publication featuring GCC alumni, and stories of special interest to alumni and friends, distributed by U.S. mail to all alumni. To sign up for The Forum Newsletter, please email Jennifer Wakefield at jgwakefield@genesee.edu with your name and mailing address.

Discover the Stars – a gathering of scholarship benefactors and the students they support –September 10, 2018, Batavia Campus, Genesee Center for the Arts

Arts Night – a special “thank you” gathering of GCC Foundation donors and volunteers

Annual Report – our yearly compilation of Foundation accomplishments, financial statements, and Honor Roll of Donors

The GCC Foundation inspires generosity and volunteerism. Read Inspiring Reflections and Stories from the GCC Foundation.

Recognition and Honors

Wall of Honor – our beautiful recognition wall on the south end of the Batavia Campus’ William W. Stuart Forum, honoring supporters who have made lifetime gifts of $1,000 or more

Alpha Medal of Service – the Foundation’s highest award, recognizing an individual for exemplary volunteer and philanthropic leadership

President’s Circle – distinguished supporters of Genesee Community College, who are invited by the College President and Foundation President to occasional briefings about the work and achievements of GCC

Grants and Services

During the last five years, the GCC Foundation has distributed $958,464 in scholarships and need-based grants, $2,970,761 in capital facilities grants, and $117,474 in grants to college programs. Some of our services and events include:

  • Alumni Programs and Service – a comprehensive program of communications, outreach, networking, and service opportunities for Genesee Community College’s 24,000 alumni and their families
  • Fall Fest, Alumni and Friends Homecoming Weekend – an opportunity for alumni and friends to visit the Batavia Campus, meet old and new friends, and enjoy athletic, arts, and social activities
  • College Village – our residence for 447 students featuring garden-style apartments and programs that foster personal growth and academic success
  • Foundation Land Bank – property held by the Foundation to help GCC meet the challenges of the future
  • Wolcott J. Humphrey III Symposium on Leadership and Community Life – a periodic community forum featuring speakers and ideas that inspire transformative change in our local communities

Additionally, there are 13 grant programs that provide scholarships to Genesee Community College students, or support of innovative College programs.

President’s Scholarship Program

Prestigious awards granted to high-achieving graduates of high schools in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties

Honors Program Awards

Recognizes Genesee Honors Program students who pursue rigorous interdisciplinary honors courses and independent research projects

Merit Scholarships

Recognizes students with outstanding academic performance or potential in a variety of academic disciplines

Program Scholarships

Provides support to students who excel in specific academic disciplines or out-of-class activities

Need and Emergency Awards

Provides financial support to deserving students who face financial hardship through no fault of their own, and who seek to enter or remain at GCC

Community Scholarships

Community-based scholarships that recognize and support GCC students living in GLOW region communities

Students of Promise Program

Recognizes local students with academic potential, with a special emphasis on students living in communities served by our six campus centers

Corporate and Organizational Scholarship Program

Scholarships created in partnership with business and civic organization as an expression of their support for GCC and the wider community.

Recognition and Citizenship Scholarship Program

Recognizes outstanding qualities of students, and student commitment to community volunteerism

Recruitment Award Program

Helps GCC attract students with unique talents that enrich the College community

Alumni Legacy Award Program

Recognizes the achievements and potential children (or parents) of GCC alumni

President’s Innovation Award Program

Provides mini grants to faculty, staff, and student groups that help develop new initiatives, strengthen College-community relationships, and help maintain Genesee Community College as a center of excellence, creativity and innovation

Capital Resource Program

Provides philanthropic support for new and innovative facilities that help GCC offer exemplary programs and services, including the Student Success Center and Richard C. Call Arena that opened in 2017

students with gold medal

Honoring Our Legacy, Empowering Our Future: Our Annual Campaign

Your annual fund gift supports the Genesee Community College Foundation’s Scholarship Programs and other important initiatives that keep Genesee Community College on the forefront of innovation and excellence.

In order to continue fostering academic excellence and help deserving students overcome financial hardships, Genesee Community College Foundation is able to offer over 200 Scholarships to qualified students. GCC Foundation Scholarships are funded through the philanthropic investments of our generous donors to local students, thus providing the everlasting gift of education.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” (Benjamin Franklin)

By supporting GCC Foundation’s annual fund you are investing in students and the future vitality of our community. Seventy-five percent of our students remain in the GLOW region, therefore reinforcing a strong local workforce which can lead to a strong local economy.