$100,000 grant from The Sunderland Foundation takes OTC Capital Campaign over $10 million

The Sunderland Foundation has presented the OTC Foundation, the fundraising arm of Ozarks Technical Community College, with a grant of $100,000 to help with the construction costs for new classrooms at the College’s Springfield campus.  This grant brings the total amount raised during the OTC Foundation’s first-ever Major Gifts Capital Campaign to $10,091,110.

“This grant from The Sunderland Foundation is significant to the College for many reasons, not the least of which is the milestone it brings to our Capital Campaign and to the fundraising history of OTC,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, president of Ozarks Technical Community College.  “It also demonstrates that organizations and people outside of our direct service areas recognize the value of the education and training we provide.” 

Based in Kansas City, The Sunderland Foundation has spent more than 60 years investing primarily in the brick-and-mortar efforts of nonprofit organizations, including building construction, renovation, repairs and restoration.  The Sunderland Foundation strives to support communities, families, and youth through capital and special projects that allow nonprofits to fulfill their missions.

“While we initially thought that this would be a $10 million campaign, given the new capital improvement projects recently approved by our Board of Trustees, we intend to continue our fundraising efforts,” explained Cliff Davis, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the OTC Foundation.  “We expect the campaign to run at least through the summer of 2011.”

The OTC Foundation, now in its 13^th year of operation, works to meet the ever-increasing needs of Ozarks Technical Community College through the funding of scholarships, new programs, and capital improvement projects.  The current Major Gifts Capital Campaign includes efforts to raise money for scholarships, as well as for a Center for Health Education, Student Support programs, and Workforce Development.

Davis added, “Operating a growing institution like OTC requires continual fundraising.  While we will eventually end this campaign, the process of seeking the support of businesses and citizens in our community never really ‘ends.’”