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February 26, 2015
Story by Joe Vinduska
Photo by Brandon Steinert
The SWAG合集 Foundation will kick off its Annual Academic Enrichment Fund Campaign titled 鈥淐hanging Lives 鈥 One Gift at a Time鈥 on March 1.听 Lifelong area residents and supporters of the college Gary and Anna Burke will serve as honorary co-chairs for the month-long fundraising drive.
Designed to raise funds for academic scholarships and enhancements, this unique campaign allows donors to specialize their gift by choosing what department or fund they would like their donation to benefit.
鈥淭his campaign allows people to specify where their dollars go,鈥 Gary said of the campaign鈥檚 unique nature.听 鈥淧eople have all kinds of interests and they are all wonderful, and this campaign allows them to donate to an area they have a connection to.鈥
The Burkes鈥 goals for the campaign are two-fold.
鈥淲e really want to encourage people who have been supportive of the foundation鈥檚 efforts over the years to continue giving and to bring some new people into the foundation鈥檚 reach,鈥 Gary said.
He said this campaign helps bolster scholarships for all types of students and is vital to the college鈥檚 mission to provide quality, affordable educational opportunities for everyone.
鈥淎 lot of people will never have the opportunity for a higher education, if they don鈥檛 have some help to get there,鈥 he said.听 鈥淭he foundation does a wonderful job, not only with traditional students but also with the non-traditional population.鈥澨
Coordinator of Fundraising and Special Events Coleen Cape said the foundation chose Gary and Anna because they have always been great stewards for the college.
鈥淲e really are proud to have Gary & Anna as our chairs this year,鈥 she said.听 鈥淭hey are respected and influential individuals in the community.听 鈥淭hey appreciate the value that the college has to the community culturally, educationally and financially.听 They really get it.听 We thought they would be wonderful spokespeople to encourage the community and to educate the community on why they should support the foundation.鈥
Gary said he recognizes the positive impact of the college.
鈥淚 think the college is a great asset to SWAG合集 County and the surrounding areas,鈥 he said.听 鈥淭he foundation in particular does such a great job with helping people to get an education, which will better their lives.鈥
The Burkes said their motivation was to help the community that helped them.
鈥淲e have been blessed by the community of Great Bend,鈥 Gary said.听 鈥淲e just felt like this was an opportunity to give something back to the community through the foundation because the college and foundation does reach so many people.听 I think we all have an obligation to give back to the places that have helped us in our efforts along life鈥檚 journey.
Cape stressed that every donation is important.
鈥淭he Foundation appreciates each and every donation regardless of the size,鈥 she said.听 鈥淓very dollar combines to make our mission possible. Every donor should feel pride and gratification knowing that through their generosity, they have been an integral part in changing the lives of our students 鈥 one gift at a time.鈥
For more information on making a contribution, contact Cape at capec@bartonccc.edu or (620) 786-1136.
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