Ribbon cutting, reception for opening of GCC offices at Central Park set for Tuesday

The public is invited to a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of Germanna Community College’s Educational Foundation and Marketing and Public Information offices and renaming of Central Park Town Center at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 1320 Central Park Blvd., across from Funland.

A donation by The Rappaport Companies  of 2,300 square feet of space for three years is providing the college with an address in the city. GCC has campuses at Massaponax and Locust Grove and centers in Stafford and Culpeper. No classes will be offered at the Central Park location.

Germanna’s Educational Foundation and marketing department have moved from the Locust Grove Campus to Central Park.

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Scholarship Monte Carlo casino night raises record sum for students

GCC faculty member Araceli Palomino deals cards during the college Educational Foundation’s Scholarship Monte Carlo casino night fundraiser.

Germanna Community College’s Educational Foundation raised a record $120,000 as a crowd of 300 people attended the college’s 18th Annual Scholarship Monte Carlo event April 21 at GCC's Daniel Center in Culpeper.

Event chair Clarissa Berry called it “One of our biggest crowds.” MORE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE FEELS GOOD

Philanthropist Doris Buffett, a Germanna supporter, met with dozens of students and parents at Friday's GCC Educational Foundation Scholarship Reception

Harlan Ellison once wrote that the only three words more meaningful than “I love you” are “Let me help.”
During the Germanna Community College Educational Foundation Scholarship Reception on March 16, 2012 at Fawn Lake, donors learned how much their uttering the words “Let me help” has meant to students they have helped attend GCC.
They learned their donations are turning lives around.
They learned they are giving those students a chance they might not have otherwise had to be successful, a chance to make lives for themselves and their families that they are proud of and to become good citizens in our communities.
And they learned that providing those chances is making a real difference for the students, their families and our area.
“In the past year,” GCC President David A. Sam said, “our Educational Foundation has provided $175,000 in scholarships to about 300 students. That’s great and we want to do even more. Without the support of the donors, that wouldn’t be possible. “
GCC Educational Foundation Director Mike Catell introduced one of those donors, Doris Buffett, sister of Warren, who has given $150,000 for scholarships over three years, in addition to other support for Germanna.
As of March 2012, Catell said, “Through Doris’ Sunshine Lady Foundation Scholarships, 25 students have received scholarships that allowed them to get an associate’s degree.” Many have transferred to four years schools to pursue bachelor’s degrees. “You have certainly changed the lives of thousands of people, including students at Germanna, and we thank you.”
Ms. Buffett lives in Fredericksburg and has given away $120 million of her own money in what her brother calls “retail philanthropy.” He says most philanthropy is “wholesale.” Hers is different in that she often deals with people “unlucky through no fault of their own” one on one, and stays involved in their lives, helping them turn things around.
“There are no short cuts.” she told a room packed with students, parents and donors. “You don’t go on to pro ball. You don’t go on to be a rap star. Those things don’t happen. But a good education will take you all the way. Here at Germanna, you can start a life for yourself better than you ever thought you could have.”
Also in attendance were Lee Kirk, president and CEO of Culpeper Regional Health System, who donated $35,000 on behalf of CRHS and the Culpeper Regional Hospital Foundation, to the Germanna nursing program at the event, and Fred Rankin, president and CEO of Mary Washington Health Care. Between the two of them, they have given over well over $2 million to Germanna, making GCC nursing the nationally respected, cutting-edge program it is and helping to double its size so it can produce the nurses our area needs.
Culpeper Regional Health System’s total overall giving, includes Culpeper Regional Hospital, Culpeper Hospital Foundation now stands at more than $600,000. CRHS was the GCC Educational Foundation’s 2011 Philanthropist of the Year.
Mary Washington Health Care has given a total of $1.4 million and is the Educational Foundation’s 2012 Philanthropist of the Year.
In the crowd were students Kim and Brian Morris, who have gone from living in their car to finding themselves on the road to success, in part because of the Germanna Guarantee Scholarship Program, which helps students who don’t qualify for financial aid or have gaps in that aid that might otherwise prevent them from attending college.
“Scholarships are an essential element, in order for many Germanna students to achieve their dream of higher education,” Catell said. “Our students are committed, intelligent, passionate, and persevering, but sometimes they face challenging obstacles – one of which is having enough funds to pay for their education. Time and again, our benefactors step forward to help students achieve their dreams, and I am most grateful on behalf of the Foundation for their very generous support.”
Kim Morris said the support has allowed her to focus on being a full-time student. She is doing so well she’s on the President’s List and was invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa honorary society.
“When I was living in my car, just trying to make it from day to day and find some way out, I never imagined this could happen,” she said. Both her parents are high school dropouts. “Now I can say my father is proud of me because I’m on my way to getting a degree.”

J.F. Fick foursome wins GCCEF's 6th Annual Ray Glazebrook Memorial Tournament, which raises $25,000

Congratulations to the team from J.F. Fick Inc, which won the Germanna Educational Foundation's 6th Annual Ray Glazebrook Memorial Golf tournament at Cannon Ridge Golf Club.
The victorious foursome consisted of John Fick, Preston Cox, P.J. Cox and Carl Shade.
Taking second place was Pelham Court Motors, which consisted of Eddie Tolson, Eddie Bennett, Taylor Bennett and Richard Stapleton.
Hallberg & O’Malley Financial took third with a foursome of Chris Hallberg, Michael O’Malley, Nick Seay and Keith Wampler,
The event raised a preliminary total of over $25,000 for the GCC Educational Foundation, Executive Director Mike Catell said.

Record total of scholarship funds raised at Germanna's Monte Carlo Night

Despite difficult economic times, Saturday night’s Germanna Educational Foundation Monte Carlo Casino Night scholarship fundraiser at the GCC Daniel Center in Culpeper set a record by raising over $100,000. All proceeds go the Germanna Guarantee Scholarship Program, which helps students who have financial need and can’t get enough aid from other source. One hundred and eighty people attended the event.

Germanna Educational Foundation 2011 Monte Carlo Night Co-Chair Clarissa Berry of Madison County said Saturday night’s event “couldn’t have gone any better.”

The foundation easily surpassed its goal of raising $100,000.

“This is our 17th year and we’ve raised more money than we ever have, and have one of the biggest crowds we’ve ever had,” Berry said. “The fact that people came out during hard economic times has blown me away.”

Culpeper resident Erica Hodge, a GGP scholarship recipient who graduated and became a nurse in 2010 altered the course of her life and saved her family’s home.

“If it wasn’t for the Germanna Guarantee Program, I would still be in school after having to take a year off,” Hodge said. “Because of it, I was able to start my career and grow my family and focus on continuing my education.” 

The 29-year-old Hodge, who has a 5-year-old son, was on the verge of dropping out of Germanna in December 2009 when her husband’s work hours were cut because of the recession. The scholarship she then received from GGP allowed her to stay and school and get her degree and become an LPN, then get a job working in a doctor’s office in Fredericksburg.

Because of the impact the recession had on her family’s income, they had found themselves in a whole, “and my first paycheck as a nurse came just in time to save our house,” she said.

“Everything fell into place for me because of the Germanna Guarantee,” Hodge said Saturday night during Monte Carlo Night at the Daniel Center. “When I found out about the Germanna Guarantee Program, I was amazed that people care so much about their community that they would help students they don’t know--help people like me and my family.”

As if to add an exclamation point, she then won a free trip for two to Las Vegas as Monte Carlo Night wound down Saturday.

Each year, the event features Las Vegas-style gambling for big prizes, libations, dinner, live music and dancing.

It's been a wonderful life for GCC 2011 Distinguished Person of the Year winner

When the Germanna Educational Foundation named Edward V. Allison Jr. its 2011 Distinguished Person of the Year Friday night at Fredericksburg Square, GCC President David A. Sam explained Allison's impact in a way everyone could understand.
Former winners of the honor include former state Sen. John Chichester and Dr. Jane Ingalls, R.N.

Germanna President David A. Sam said: "At the end of the movie, ‘'It's a Wonderful Life,’' George Bailey receives a book from the angel Clarence with the inscription: ‘'No man is a failure who has friends.’' Ed Allison is so far from a failure as demonstrated by all the friends in the room tonight and in our community.

“"But to have friends, you must be a friend. And to be a friend, you must give of yourself,” said Sam. “Ed Allison does that. He is a servant leader, living the ideal of giving of himself through leadership to a cause of calling larger than himself. He is a model for all of us, and most deserving of this recognition.”"

Mike Catell, director of GCC's Educational Foundation, said: "Ed Allison's extraordinary service has positively impacted thousands of lives throughout our region. He is a true servant-leader, and the Educational Foundation is honored to recognize and celebrate his life of service."

Chichester, a lifelong friend of Allison and himself the 2010 Distinguished Person of the Year, said "Most every city, county and town are blessed with ... one or two individuals who are always ready and willing to contribute to the betterment of their community, church, neighborhood or whatever may need a helping hand. Fredericksburg is a community that possesses one such individual. We are fortunate that Ed Allison lives here. Ed is, and has always been, totally committed to his community."

Chichester praised Allison for his contributions to higher education and banking, saying: "He always kept a keen eye on how he could contribute to the overall betterment of the entire Fredericksburg area. He is truly a deserving recipient of this most prestigious award."

Allison retired in 2003 as President of Virginia Heartland Bank
He was a member of the Fredericksburg School Board from 1971-77 and is currently a member of the University of Mary Washington Foundation, Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, and is on the board of the Rappahannock United Way.

The awards dinner raised $50,000 for the GCC Educational Foundation.

Fredericksburg Square and StellarOne Bank were sponsors of the event.

Capital One donates $20,000 to Germanna's Middle College to help high school dropouts get GEDs, make transition to regular college

Raymond R. Hall, District Manager for Capital One, left, and Bill Fulton, the company's Cosner's Corner Branch Manager, pass the first of two annual checks for $10,000 to Germanna Community College Educational Foundation Executive Director Mike Catell and Middle College Director Carolyn Bynum. GCC's Middle College helps young adults who have not earned a high school diploma get their GEDs and make the transition to regular college academic classes and Workforce training. "If this helps one student become a success in life, it will be worth it," Hall said. "We want to give back to people in the community--to people in our back yard. Ninety percent of our local branch associates were born and raised in the area and we want to make a difference here."
"Believe me, this will help more than one person," Bynum said. "Germanna and the Middle College greatly appreciate Capital One's support."
"We look forward to a long relationship with Capital One," Catell said.
Capital One's Fulton said he's gratified that the funds will help "the less fortunate--those that have great need for help-- in the area."
The funds will help GCC Middle College programs from across the region, including Culpeper, Madison and Orange. Middle College is not funded by the state and depends on local donations.

Chichester to be honored at June 3 Germanna Educational Foundation dinner

Retired Virginia State Sen. John Chichester has been named the Germanna Community College Educational Foundation’s Distinguished Person of the Year.

Mike Catell, Director of the GCC Educational Foundation, said Chichester was chosen “because of his extraordinary commitment to higher education--in particular his support of the mission of community colleges.”

Mary Washington Healthcare is the title sponsor of a June 3 event in his honor.

Chichester was President Pro Tempore of the Virginia Senate when he announced his retirement in 2007. He represented the 28th district in the Senate from 1978 to 2007. He initially entered that body by winning a special election following the death of Paul Manns, who had held the seat.

In 1985, the Republican Party nominated him for lieutenant governor, but he lost to Doug Wilder, who went on to become Virginia’s first African American governor since Reconstruction.

In 1995, Chichester became co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee. When the Republicans took control of the Senate in 1999, he became the committee’s chairman, a position of power and prestige.

There will be a 6 p.m. reception on Thursday, June 3 at Fredericksburg Square, followed by dinner and an award presentation.

The dinner is $100 a plate, with all proceeds going to the Educational Foundation. Contact the Educational Foundation office at 540/423-9060 or foundation@germanna.edu for more information and to purchase tickets.

For sponsorship and other gift opportunities, please contact Darla Burton, Foundation Executive Committee member at 540/371-3566 or Mike Catell, Foundation Director at 540/834-8988

Germanna's Monte Carlo Night draws big crowd, raises big money for students who couldn't otherwise go to college

Germanna's Monte Carlo Night fundraiser hits the jackpot ...
The Germanna Educational Foundation raised netted $70,000 with Saturday night's Monte Carlo Casino Night fundraiser at the Daniel Center. All the proceeds go to the Germanna Guarantee Program, which helps students in need.
Above, Culpeper native Dana Brill plays the slots at Monte Carlo Night.