College nets $15,000 in donations
The City College donation campaign to save fall 2010 classes has raised over $15,000, and efforts are underway to raise much more in the near future.
By Brian Rose and Don ClydeThe Guardsman
The City College donation campaign to save fall 2010 classes has raised over $15,000, and efforts are underway to raise much more in the near future.
The cash donation drive was originally set up by Chancellor Don Griffin on March 1, but many of the logistics are being managed by Katryn Wiese, department chair of earth sciences.
“Without him getting the ball rolling in the beginning we wouldn’t even be close to where we are at now,” Wiese said about Griffin.
The donations will be added to the existing $150,000 already raised by The Foundation of City College of San Francisco. It takes about $6,000 to fund one class.
Donations of all amounts have been given so far. Everything from $5 to $2,000 has been received.
“We all appreciate the great support and generosity from all those that have made donations. Great and small, all is needed, and all will go to great use,” Wiese said.
Still, an issue remains with the promotion of the campaign itself. Many students and faculty are still unaware the donation drive exists.
“I haven’t seen anything at all about a donation campaign anywhere on campus,” City College student Nathan Brinlee said. “You would think that for a topic as big as saving classes from being cut, we would be made more aware.”
Wiese said steps are being made to correct this issue. A link to the donation drive flyer was added to the City College website, and soon the link will be provided describing the donation process in general, as well as links to other donation drives.
A steady stream of e-mails to all faculty members will also remind them of their responsibility of helping spread the word of the campaign.
“We’ve developed internal logistics and processes that will help in future donation drives,” Wiese said. “So it’s been a success in more than just bringing in money for fall — it’s also helped simplify the process of bringing in money for future semesters. We’re still suffering large budget cuts. And we have lots of projects we want to fund.”
This donation drive will last until the end of this semester, but future donation drives will be undertaken until the budget situation has improved.
If approved student groups or faculty would like to take the initiative and help form their own fundraising efforts, they are encouraged to do so. Those interested can contact Bursar Rebeca Chavez in Conlan Hall, Room E103, to pick up a donation box.
Gail Barton of the physical education and dance department hosted a Waltz Party in the Wellness Center on March 12 and received over $500 in donations.
“This current donation drive is possible only because of the efforts and support of Rebeca Chavez and her office,” Wiese said. “The bursar’s office is our number one supporter.”
Visit www.ccsf.edu and click on the “CCSF Donate” button to learn how to make a donation.
Cash donations can be dropped off in donation boxes at the bookstores on the Ocean, John Adams, Mission, and Downtown campuses.
Check donations (subject reference: Restore Classes Fund) can be mailed to:
City College of San Francisco -- Bursar
50 Phelan Ave. Box E103
San Francisco, CA 94112
