2023 December Warrior web

Deeply Rooted, Future Focused EC A nnounces M omentous C apital C ampaign

East Central Community College will celebrate its 100-year anniversary in 2028, and under the leadership of President Dr. Brent Gregory, the col lege launched its first-ever capital campaign in January. Now, 12 months later, the college is already well over halfway to reaching the campaign goal of $4,150,000. The campaign, called Deeply Rooted, Future Focused, specifically seeks funding to renovate Founders Gymnasium, Ovid S. Vickers Fine Arts Center, Newton Hall, and the Bradford J. Tucker Applied Technology Center. Funds raised will meet the need to create an even more sustainable college that serves the students, faculty, staff, and five county district. “We are fortunate to receive public funding from a variety of sources,” said Dr. Gregory. “However, to complete several projects, we must add private support to the equation. We are collaborating with alumni, friends, corporate partners and foundations to ensure that we have the resources to be future focused.” To date, the campaign has raised over $3.5 mil lion. Campaign leadership held a public announce ment ceremony celebrating this milestone and the

largest fund-raising endeavor in college history. The event took place in Newton Hall on ECCC’s campus in Decatur on Tuesday, October 3. David Byars, the Campaign Chairman, presented a check to East Cen tral Community College Foundation Vice Chairman Aubry Cox in the amount of $3,548,754. “We are enthusiastic about the financial achieve ments we have witnessed in the campaign,” stated Byars. “Yet, it’s important to emphasize that this campaign goes beyond simply raising funds to en hance our programs and facilities. Campaigns ignite enthusiasm and enhance awareness. Deeply Rooted, Future Focused provides a chance to convey our present identity and our aspirations for the future. It has enabled us to connect with our alumni, culti vate supporters, and draw talented students to our campus.” Support for the campaign has been significant and East Central will continue to solicit donations until the campaign goal is reached. Leadership an ticipates all enhancements and renovations will be completed in the coming years. For more information, contact Dr. Stacey Holling sworth, executive director of the ECCC Foundation, at sholling@eccc.edu or call 601-635-6327.

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