Paths Forged | Futures Discovered
Thank YOU to Our Los Rios Family
It is no secret that this has been an exceptionally difficult time, but with the help of all our caring and generous colleagues, we have made things a little less difficult for students. With your help, we were able to raise $210,536 in COVID-19 Relief Funds to help students impacted by the pandemic.
We wanted to share some of the ways you have made a positive impact on the lives of students since we went remote in March:
- 160 students received Student Emergency Fund grants totaling $102,415.00
- 83 computers were shipped directly to students who did not have one at home
- 150 hungry students received $50 food gift cards
- $34,000 was transferred to the campus Cares programs to provide hotel stays for homeless students
Because of the generosity of donors like you, we are lucky to still have some remaining funds to do more of this good work as we kick off another semester of remote operations. We have already earmarked $25,000 to pay for low-cost internet for students, purchase 180 more computers, and we continue to provide emergency grants.
How You Can Help: Help Us Celebrate CRC's 50th Anniversary!
Paths Forged | Futures Discovered: Celebrating 50 Years of Education and Opportunity at CRC
We invite you to become a 50th Anniversary donor by making a gift to support CRC's students as they forge their educational path to discover their future. To join us in commemorating the celebration, all donors who make a minimum $25 gift will receive a CRC 50th Anniversary branded mug and pen. Your name will also be added to our Honor Roll of Donors on CRC's website and digital donor wall in the Winn Center. Make a gift today and help CRC celebrate 50 years of living our vision "to be an exemplary and innovative community college that empowers students and employees to strengthen the cultural, social, economic, and environmental well-being of their communities."
You can also support CRC students by enrolling in payroll deduction. Payroll deduction is a fast, easy way to support the program of your choice. Fill out the Payroll Deduction form and you are one step closer to contributing to the success of our campus.
Emergency Hotel Program
Being homeless while trying to complete a college degree is always exceptionally difficult, but it has become an especially urgent issue during the pandemic. We are happy to share that we kicked off the Emergency Hotel Program this past spring. This new program allowed staff to provide homeless students shelter for up to two weeks at a discounted rate at an Extended Stay Hotel. If you know of a student in this situation, please refer them to Oscar Mendoza Plascencia, Supervisor, Student Life and Leadership Center: (916) 691-7669 or MendozO@crc.losrios.edu.
One such student who benefitted from the Emergency Hotel Program is Amanda Fleshman. Amanda is a student enrolled at CRC who found herself unemployed and homeless. Using CRC President’s Circle funds, we had the ability to place her in a hotel for two weeks. Amanda was extremely grateful it provided time to help her secure additional resources and find employment. Amanda is grateful for the roof over her head, food to eat, and less stress from having nowhere to live.
“It has taken me twenty years to return to school and it means the world to me to show my kids and myself that age is nothing if you have a dream you can make it come true. Things are hard now with all that's going on in the world and that is making my current problem even worse, but with your help, I have had at least a week to catch up on my school work and be safe and try to get back on my feet. I know I cannot accomplish that in a week, but it is getting me that much closer. The help came at the right time because I was ready to call it quits. I was in a state of constant anxiety and panic and all I was doing was crying all day and night. Unless someone goes through the stress of not knowing where they will sleep at night you could never understand the stress, the shame and all the troubles that come with it.”
Amanda can continue her education thanks to you - our generous donors.
One Foundation Team Serving Four Colleges
With all the changes happening in our remote environment, we have one more for you – it may be time to update your address book! We are coming together as one Foundation team. Our goal is to streamline operations in this reality of budget cuts, a hiring freeze, and increased efficiencies. Please be assured, we will never waiver from our commitment to our mission to raise the most resources possible for our students and colleges. Michele Steiner will still be deeply engaged with CRC and Elizabeth Starbuck, our Donor Relations Specialist, will focus on scholarships and mini grants districtwide, allowing for less redundancy and more opportunities to enhance our philanthropy work and increase our results. Donations raised for CRC will continue to support our campus and the area donors designate; nothing will change. Visit our website for more information, but rest assured, we are still looking forward to providing you with the same customer service no matter who you call.
Please feel free to contact Michele Steiner at michele.steiner@losrios.edu or (916) 691-7491 with any questions.