FA officers and leaders at the Education Without Limits luncheon on November 18 pose with SCCC President Bonahue. From left are Kevin McCoy, Cynthia Eaton, Marlene Kellner, President Bonahue, Dante Morelli, Courtney Brewer, Kristie David and Kim Ng Southard. (photo by Joan Wozniak)

As a Specialist II in the SCC Foundation, I wear several hats, from managing the Foundation database of donors and alumni, including managing data for employee giving and payroll deduction, to ensuring scholarships are processed after they are established and awarded to deserving students—which is the single most rewarding part of the work I do for the Foundation.

As the scholarship liaison between the college and the Foundation, I have the privilege of reading student applications and connecting faces, stories and struggles to the opportunities our donors provide. Donors often share how deeply moved they are when reading recipient thank-you letters, which is an option students are given to show their appreciation to our generous donors. In many cases, this connection inspires donors to increase their giving or expand the number of students supported.

For example, the Diverse and Non-Traditional Students Scholarship, created by an FA member and spouse, originally funded one $1,000 award per year. However, after reading the recipient’s thank you letter, they increased their gift significantly. This scholarship now awards $1,000 to five students each year. Though these donors remain anonymous, they frequently express admiration and pride in the students supported through their generosity.

Stories like these demonstrate how even one gift—large or small—ripples outward and transforms lives.

About the Foundation

The Suffolk Community College Foundation exists to support student access to quality education, workforce training and academic success by providing scholarships ranging from $250 awards to full tuition, fees and books; emergency student loans; and funding for program development. The Foundation awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year—typically over $500,000, depending on new scholarships, available funds and endowment performance. The Foundation is proud to have a 98% distribution rate annually for scholarships.

The Foundation also works to engage alumni in continued connection with SCCC through philanthropy, mentorship, internship opportunities and participation in Foundation events. I encourage you to read Russell Malbrough’s companion article about alumni and FA member giving to the Foundation.

Faculty and employee giving

Because I am an FA member, I especially appreciate seeing faculty contribute to student scholarships. When faculty donate to support the students, it sends a powerful message that those working closest with students believe in them deeply and care about their success. It shows passion for setting their students up for success at SCCC and beyond.

Gifts range from $5 to $10,000, and every contribution makes a difference. Over 200 SCCC employees currently donate to the Foundation in some way. Of those employees, approximately 135 contribute through payroll deduction, and we estimate that of those, around 75% are FA members. In the Foundation, we are deeply grateful to all FA members who give to students and, remember, the Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are fully tax-deductible.

There are several ways that FA members and fellow employees support students through the Foundation.

• Scholarships
  
  Faculty can support student success through scholarships in a variety of meaningful ways—by contributing to existing scholarship funds, creating an annual scholarship or, for those interested in a more lasting legacy, establishing an endowed scholarship. Gifts of any size truly make an impact and help students overcome financial barriers to education.
  
  Many faculty choose to make annual contributions through payroll deduction. Even a small recurring gift—such as $20 to $40 per paycheck—adds up over time and helps fund scholarships that directly support our students. These are dollars you may hardly notice, yet they make a world of difference to the students who receive them year after year.
  
  For those interested in making a larger or more permanent investment, scholarships can be established with greater levels of support, including endowed scholarships, which begin at $10,000 and are designed to provide funding in perpetuity. These commitments can be fulfilled over time, typically through a multi-year pledge or payroll deduction, rather than as a one-time gift.
  
  Faculty who wish to establish a scholarship at a higher level may also help shape its purpose (within legal guidelines), such as identifying student eligibility criteria such as their major, whether they are new versus continuing students and other considerations. Foundation staff are available to guide donors through every step of the process. And for those who prefer to give quietly, anonymous giving is always an option.
  
  
• Donations to hardship funds
  
  The Foundation currently has six hardship funds which, as the name suggests, help students facing acute hardship. The three most active are Sister Mary Ann’s Helping Hands Fund, the Richard & Mary Morrison fund and the Grant Campus fund set up by FA retiree Marc Fellenz.
  
  When faculty decide to contribute by payroll deduction, they can choose to direct their donations to scholarships in general, to hardship funds in general or to any particular one in either category—and they can change their designation later if they so choose. Sometimes faculty make a donation and say, “We trust you in the Foundation to direct this money where it’s needed most,” and we welcome that approach too.

Other ways FA members and colleagues support students through the Foundation include:

• Department fundraisers such as the physical education department’s annual scholarship fundraiser “Spin for Scholarships” or Campus Activities’ “Books for a Buck”
• One-time or recurring online gifts
• Event participation such as the Education Without Limits luncheon, the annual golf outing and the Salute to Excellence Gala (returning in spring 2026)
• Sponsoring students to attend events
• Planned giving and gifts-in-kind
• Fellowship grants such as the Retirees Association of SCC award

How to give

Payroll deduction is one of the easiest ways to support students. Employees can enroll by completing the online payroll deduction form. Gifts can be designated to general funds such as the areas of greatest need, hardship funds or scholarships—or they can be designated more specifically to named scholarships, named hardship funds, departments or initiatives.

Gifts can also be made directly through the Foundation’s website. Employees are encouraged to participate in upcoming Foundation events and opportunities to support students throughout the year. Finally, there’s matching gifts: Many employers match charitable contributions made by employees or their spouses/domestic partners—especially gifts to higher education. FA members whose partners work for companies with matching programs may be able to double or even triple the value of their gift. To participate, employees simply need to contact the partner’s Human Resources department.

FA members, friends and family interested in learning more are encouraged to email me or contact me in the Foundation by phone (631-451-4653).