Donors honored at BCC Foundation's Annual Meeting

The Broward Community College Foundation Annual Meeting on February 7, was highlighted by the attendance of a significant number of private and corporate donors who were recognized and honored.

Executive director Nancy R. Botero’s objective was to broaden public awareness of the variety of the foundation’s constituents by honoring the leading donors from each group.

Lloyd Rhodes, newly elected chair of the foundation, stated in his remarks that, “At the BCC Foundation, our daily commitment is to build awareness throughout the community of how vitally important the college is to the future of Broward County. The foundation is dedicated to raising funds to support students in their educational endeavors and support faculty and staff to enhance programs and curricula on all BCC campuses. We cannot do this without your support – the leadership of Broward County.”

Receiving special honors were participants in the First Generation in College Challenge Grant Program, a joint effort of BCC, the BCC Foundation and the State of Florida. “The foundation was able to raise more than $340,000, which will be matched by the state,” Rhodes said. The result is that more than $680,000 is now available to provide scholarships to BCC students who are the first in their families to pursue a higher education.

Donors to this fund include the R.K. Mellon Foundation, the Lillian S. Wells Foundation, the Gertrude Skelly Foundation, Ed Morse Automotive Group, Causeway Lumber, the Leo Goodwin Foundation, AutoNation, Annie and Kevin Kessler, the Foundation for Florida’s Community Colleges, Handy, Inc., James LaBate, Hamilton Miller, Roepnack Corp., Cowan Family Foundation, Alma Foundation/Nick’s Fund, the Honorable Michael Davis, JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Bill Lank, Karin and Lloyd Rhodes, and Dr. Willis Holcombe.

Singularly recognized for their exceptional support of the foundation were Dr. Floyd Koch, Mindy Tillis, and Jim LaBate, the retiring chair. A special presentation was made to Betty Leonard, the widow of William Leonard, a founding member of the Broward Community College Foundation. Mr. Leonard facilitated the largest gift the foundation has ever received from a private donor.

Of special mention was Mr.Ray Kendrick, vice president for human resources at Memorial Healthcare System, who presented the foundation with a check for $1 million. The presentation of the symbolic, oversized check at the meeting brought participants to their feet. The Memorial Healthcare System scholarship gift will provide scholarship opportunities for students in several healthcare programs at BCC. Upon graduation from BCC, the scholarship recipients are guaranteed jobs within the Memorial Healthcare system.

Lloyd Rhodes, left, Nancy Botero, BCCF executive director, Ray Kendrick, vice president of human resources, Memorial Healthcare System, presents a check for $1 million, and Dr. Willis Holcombe.	Kirk Brown, left, HANDY director of independent living; Lloyd Rhodes, Broward Community College Foundation chair; Arlene Ratner, executive director of HANDY; BCC President Dr. Willis Holcombe, George Kress, member of the foundation’s International Travel Committee; Ellen Aguiar, BCC alumna, psychologist and parent of a BCC Honors Institute student; Bill Pennell, BCC chief financial officer, and Jerry Hamilton, attorney, and member of the foundation’s board of directors.
Honoring the family of the late William Leonard, a longtime supporter of the foundation, are Dr. Willis Holcombe, left, Betty Leonard, Bill Leonard, Jr., and Melanie Leonard.	Diane Madio, BCCF development officer, with Dr. Floyd Koch, BCCF’s Philanthropist of the Year.
Longtime supporters of the BCCF, Gale Butler, left, vice president for corporate affairs for AutoNation, Russell Cheatham, BCCF director emeritus, and Walter Banks, BCCF honorary director.	Dr. Willis Holcombe, left, BCCF honorary directors Dr. Michael Chizner, chief medical director of the North Broward Hospital District’s Heart Center of Excellence and a recent gubernatorial appointment to the Florida Board of Medicine, and Walter Banks, president, Lago Mar Resort Club.
Dr. Willis Holcombe, left, Ellen Schulman, president, Proseplus, Inc., BCCF secretary and chair of the philanthropy committee and Lou Wolff, BCCF honorary director.