Executive Director of College Advancement and the C.R. Foundation, Marty Coelho and I want to provide regular updates to the college community highlighting the work of our Foundation Board.  The Foundation doesn’t often come up in conversation, so we thought a brief introduction to the Board would be an appropriate first blog article.

The C.R. Foundation Board exists to advance the mission of the College by raising, managing and distributing private, charitable contributions to College of the Redwoods.  The Foundation is guided by a Board of Directors whose job it is to determine the goals and objectives of specific fundraising initiatives, set policy with regard to investments and spending and ensure that proper attention is paid to stewardship of gifts received.

Although our Foundation is a separate entity from the College, the Foundation has, over the years, supported the District by distributing private gifts, funding student scholarships, supporting faculty and academic programs, and supporting important initiatives that improve student success and academic achievement.

Current membership includes Jim Maher, President, Monica Sperling, Vice President, Keith Flamer, President and Superintendent for College of the Redwoods District and Foundation Secretary/Treasurer, Bob Brown, Director of Athletics & Health, Kinesiology & Physical Education and the Corsair Club, John Corbett, Community Member, Danny Kelley, Board of Trustees Representative, Bill McAuley, Accounting Committee Chair, Colleen Mullery, Board of Trustees Representative, and Don Olson, Community Member.

Staff support is comprised of Marty Coelho, Executive Director of College Advancement & C.R. Foundation, Sheila Hall, Scholarship Coordinator and Julia Morrison, Controller.

The College of the Redwoods Foundation Board met this Wednesday.  The Board welcomed our newest members. Trustee Colleen Mullery, replaced Trustee Bruce Emad.  Trustee Emad stepped down from the Foundation Board when he assumed the Presidency of the C.R. Board of Trustees.  I would be remiss not to thank and mention Trustee Emad for 23 years of outstanding service to the C.R. Foundation Board. We also welcomed Don Olson, former Superintendent at Del Norte County Unified School District, and Trustee Danny Kelley to the Board.

Marty Coelho gave a brief summary of the fundraising efforts to date. The Redwoods Room and Board Scholarship Fund increased to $77,250.  This included a private donation made through the Humboldt Area Foundation in the amount of $30,000 to support our program.  We are continuing to work on raising two years of funding for this important program.

Additionally we received a $40,000 donation from Craig Hansen, of Craig C. Hansen Insurance.  Funds from Mr. Hansen will be used to provide scholarships for C.R.’s Truck Driving Program.

Board Chair Jim Maher appointed all board members to sit on at least two committees.  The Foundation Board now has the following committees:  strategic planning, bylaws, board nominations, finance & audit, and scholarships.  The ad hoc committee for strategic planning will be formulating both short term and long term strategic plans for the Foundation.  These will include establishing priority areas of focus for the Foundation as well as overall fundraising strategies.

I believe that it is an honor to serve on the Foundation Board, and high expectations have been placed before all members. The board will become increasingly important to the college’s commitment to educational excellence, student success, and financial stability.