Dear Friends,
On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of Holyoke Community College, thank you. Your generosity this past year has done more than provide resources—it has inspired our students to dream bigger, take chances, and believe in themselves and their futures.
What an incredible year this has been. Massachusetts free community college has opened doors for so many, contributing to a remarkable 12 percent increase in our enrollment. More students than ever before are seeing college as a real possibility for themselves and their families. And here’s what makes me so proud: the HCC Foundation has remained absolutely committed to ensuring that once students arrive at HCC, they are met with the programs, services, and experiences that ensure their success. That is exactly what you have funded, and we are deeply grateful.
Because of you, students found support when they needed it most. Your gifts sustained the Thrive Student Resource Center and Food Pantry, ensuring no student had to choose between registering for class and feeding their family. You made it possible for parents to continue their education through Itsy Bitsy Child Watch. Through these programs and so many others, you sent a powerful message: you belong here, we see you, and we believe in you.
The new scholarships you established this year celebrate academic achievement and remove barriers that might otherwise keep talented students from completing their degrees. Your support is launching graduates into exceptional four-year institutions and meaningful careers. You are quite literally changing lives.
I believe—and I know we all believe—that education is the pathway to a better life and a more vibrant community. That is exactly what you are making possible, one student at a time. This year, we’ve had so much fun celebrating your impact! Through our “60 Seconds of Change” newscast, Gratitude Day following our TogetherHCC day of giving, and our inaugural Taste of Gratitude luncheon, we’ve brought together donors, students, faculty, and staff to witness firsthand the transformation your generosity creates. We genuinely love this work, and we love seeing how your gifts change lives. It is truly our honor and pleasure to celebrate that impact each and every day.
You can feel confident that your investments are meaningful and well managed. Our Foundation Board of Directors—community leaders who are passionate about community college education—remain committed to advancing our mission to “Support. Invest. Make possible.” This year, we are proud that 91 percent of our expenses were directed toward exactly that: possibility.
As HCC develops its next Strategic Plan, the opportunities for you to make your mark on this institution are endless and life-changing. Please stay involved and engaged in all the ways that are meaningful to you. I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together.
With deepest gratitude,
Amanda E. Sbriscia, Ed.D.
Executive Director
