The Morgan Community College (MCC) Foundation reports great success in raising funds at its 20th annual Gala, held February 22 at Wickham Tractor Company. The event raised over $100,000 through admission and raffle ticket sales, sponsorships, and proceeds from the silent, live, and paddle auctions. The proceeds will go to support MCC students by funding scholarships, programs, innovative technology, and facilities.
The MCC Foundation set and exceeded ambitious goals this year to increase proceeds and sponsors. The Gala gained seven new sponsors, raising the number to over 40. The Paddle Auction surpassed its $10,000 goal, generating over $20,000 to launch the capital campaign for Poplar Hall – Agriculture Center for Innovation. This new facility will provide a modern teaching and learning space for students in the Agriculture and Business Management and Precision Agriculture programs at the MCC Fort Morgan Campus. The facility also provides space to grow additional agriculture programs in the future.
“I continue to be overwhelmed by the loyal support our generous community provides to help MCC fulfill its mission to empower students and enrich the community,” states the Foundation’s Director, Kari Linker. “We were proud to honor our agriculture industry in this year’s Gala theme, “Boots, Bling, and Blessings,” and we will continue to do so as we support the future plans of MCC.”
The event included special recognition of Dr. Jarrold (Jarry) and Sue Schaefer as the 2019 Distinguished Donor recipients. The MCC Foundation announced a new scholarship, the Dr. Jarrold Schaefer and Family Endowment Scholarship, which will honor the legacy of Jarry through continued support for students in MCC’s Nursing Program.
The winner of this year’s FMS Bank-sponsored reverse raffle grand prize, a 2019 Can-Am ATV provided by Wickham Tractor Company, was Kent Bauer of Brush.
The Foundation thanks the numerous sponsors who made the Gala possible: Wickham Tractor Company, FMS Bank, Bank of Colorado, Cargill, Colorado Plains Medical Center, BSP, Ehrlich, Furniture Mart, Keith Bath Farms, Morgan Federal Bank, Triple S Party Rental, Viaero Wireless, Allo Communications, Arrow Realty & Management, CHFA, East Morgan County Hospital, Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, High Plains Bank, LPL Financial – Marci Wickham, Edward Jones – Timothy Guggenmos, The Mav, AC Ice, Ackley Building Center, Best Western Plus, Big City Light & Sound, Brush- Fresh Foods, Brush Meat Processors, Country Do It Best Hardware, Colorado Land Company ,Equitable Savings & Loan Association- Brush, Heer Mortuaries and Crematory, Ingmire-Phillips Insurance, Insurance Connection, Media Logic Radio, Morgan County REA, Northeast Colorado Broadcasting -KSIR/B106, Plains Realty & Management LLC, Scott Aviation, Smirks, State Farm Insurance – Gregg Mullen, and Zazzy Café.
Many volunteers also contributed to the success of the event, including emcee hosts Wayne Johnson and Lindsey Bruntz of Media Logic Radio and Auctioneer Bryson Miller of Miller and Associates; and Kim Maxwell, Patti Lewis, Glenn Crossley and Melody Christensen, who were auctioned as the evening’s VIP servers.
For more information about giving to the Morgan Community College Foundation, contact Kari Linker at (970) 542-3113 or [email protected], or visit the MCC Foundation website at https://giving.morgancc.edu