IVCC Foundation Provides Scholarships
By Holli L. Rapp
In 1975, retired teacher Helen Taylor of Peru left her $100,000+ estate to the college. The following year the IVCC Foundation was formed.
That Foundation currently has almost $2 million in assets. And over the years, hundreds of students have received scholarships to help them complete their education at IVCC; this fall alone, 129 students were awarded $52,025.
While the scholarship program is a significant focus for the Foundation, the Foundation has also provided equipment to a number of college offices and departments, including computers for the library, a piano for the music department and a satellite dish. The Foundation has also purchased art works for exhibit, and sponsored concerts and lectures.
Providing resources for equipment, materials and programs which the college could not otherwise afford is one of the Foundation’s goals.
Director of Development Bonita Dahlbach, who works with the Foundation and is a link between the Foundation Board and the college said, "They (the Foundation and its donors) see the need that the state doesn’t provide the funding for."
Foundation Board President Ralph Bowermaster described the Foundation as "an important element and enhancement of the college. The foundation is a integral part of the college."
Dahlbach explained that while the Foundation Board does work closely with the College Board, many people mistakenly think the Foundation is governed by the College Board.
The Foundation is governed by its own board of directors, separate from the College Board. The 12-member Foundation Board oversees the finances of the foundation, carrying out the wishes of donors and deciding what to do with unrestricted funds, those that can be used as a Foundation decides.
In the past, the Foundation has done some fund-raising, but Dahlbach is hoping to increase those efforts. IVCC’s first Director of Development, Dahlbach assumed her post this fall.
Dahlbach added that the Foundation does not currently have a mission statement, but developing one is one of her goals. Lack of a full-time staff member to work with the Foundation has been a problem in the past, Dahlbach said.
Joan Moyle serves as the Foundation secretary. She is developing a database of IVCC alumni stretching back to the first graduates of LaSalle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College, IVCCs predecessor (See the Apache issue Nov. 19, 1998, "IVCC Alumni Database Under Construction").
Encouraging donations from those alumni is one goal of building the list.
Bowermaster, a retired businessman from Ottawa, said the Foundation Board is pleased to receive a donation of any size, but the special benefactors have made a real difference.
"We are extremely pleased to the benefactors," he said. "Several benefactors have contributed significant gifts."
Donations of more than $100,000 have come from Rhea and Murray Crowder of Spring Valley, whose Indian artifacts are on display in building A., and from Watson Bartlett of Mendota.
Scholarships provided through the Foundation are funded through interest off of the principal which is invested.
Anyone interested in contributing to the Foundation may contact Dahlbach, at 224-2720 ext.224. Donations are tax deductible.
12/10/98