HCC Foundation receives largest single gift in history of the college
A gift of $1 million to the Houston Community College Foundation, the largest single gift in the history of the college, will establish the Kathrine G. and John P. McGovern Opportunity 14 Scholarship. This is the largest gift received, to date, to the Opportunity 14 Endowment Campaign – a $30 million endowment campaign to ensure the Opportunity 14 Scholarship is available for future generations of Houstonians.
The gift, made by the John P. McGovern Foundation, recognizes the legacy established by Dr. McGovern and his lifelong support of education. “Dr. McGovern was a champion for education and gave generously to encourage literacy and family dynamics; he had stated many times that our future is in the hands of today’s youth,” says Gay N. Collette, Grants Manager for the John P. McGovern Foundation.
The HCC Foundation established the Opportunity 14 Scholarship to send a message to Houstonians that we must change our expectations about the minimum amount of education required for our children. Every child in this city must obtain at least 14 years of education: 12 plus two years of college. The first two years of college are free for entering full-time HCC students who qualify for an Opportunity 14 Scholarship.
The scholarship covers all college expenses – including tuition, fees and books – not covered by federal and state grants. Opportunity 14 is a commitment to help those whose financial circumstances put them just out of reach of higher education to invest in their futures, and to see them through to better jobs and a better quality of life.
“Opportunity 14 is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when a community comes together and commits to solving a problem,” says HCC Chancellor Dr. Mary S. Spangler. “We are honored and delighted by this gift, which affirms Houston Community College’s position as a leader in providing excellence in education to meet the needs of our diverse community and to ensure all Houstonians have access to higher education. The John P. McGovern Foundation’s visionary generosity will help to ensure that every Houston schoolchild enters adulthood with the knowledge and skills necessary to get ahead and to give back to our city.”
The Houston Community College Foundation annually ranks among the top one percent of community colleges in the nation for its fundraising success. The Foundation is responsible for raising all private, corporate and foundation gifts on behalf of Houston Community College, providing student scholarships, program development, faculty opportunities, as well as facility and technology enhancement.
To learn more about Opportunity 14, visit opportunity14.org
