Lionel Richie’s hit song, “Celebration,” was the perfect dance-floor choice for Bucks County Community College’s “Celebrating Student Success” gala on Nov. 5. This was the inaugural fundraiser for the Bucks Student Emergency Fund, which in its first year awarded $500 micro-grants to 75 students. The event, held at historic Tyler Hall Mansion and Gardens, raised over $90,000 that evening.
The fund was formed by the Bucks County Community College Foundation in 2020 to help students pay for any unexpected expenses that might jeopardize their ability to meet their educational goals –such as auto repairs, utility bills, and emergency child care.
Christina McGinley, the foundation’s executive director, declared in her introductory speech: “Our students work hard. They have grit, they have pride. They’re pushing, they’re running, they’re sprinting to overcome barrier after barrier, and then something amazing happens. They are given this gift from the Bucks Student Emergency Fund.”
Dr. Felicia Ganther, president of the College, shared her own story of an unexpected gift with the gala’s attendees. She recalled the time when she was a senior in college, working a full-time job by day and taking classes full-time in the evening.
“I was living in Norfolk, Va., which is below sea level. So any time it rained, chances are your car floated down the street.” Hers did, and as a result she needed four new spark plugs.
“At that moment I didn’t know what to do. I went to a four-year university that did not have an emergency fund for me to get help. There was one lady, her name was Janet Timberlake, and she still works there. That was the person who came up to me, put the money, all cash, in my hand and wrapped my hand tight and said, ‘Finish school.’ I’ll never forget it. If she didn’t do that for me, that might have prevented me from graduating on time.”
The micro-grants are not the only option for students in need of help. They are part of what Dr. Ganther refers to as BCCC’s “ecosystem,” which differentiates it from other community colleges. On campus, a student may access the Basic Needs Program, the Bucks County Opportunity Council, United Way, A Woman’s Place, the Career Link Workforce Development Board, as well as social workers and crisis counselors.
The “Celebrating Student Success” gala will be a biennial event held for the purpose of growing and sustaining the Student Emergency Fund. “We’ll be able to build an endowment for it,” said Dr. Ganther. “That’s why this gala is so important.”
In attendance with seven other representatives from the Student Government Association was SGA President Lateefat Adewale. A second-year business and innovation major from Croydon, Lateefat explained that “the goal of Student Life and SGA is to make sure we’re communicating [the availability of micro-grants] to the students. After finding out about the [Student Emergency Fund] program, I’ve been shouting it out from the rooftops ever since.”
The master of ceremonies for the gala was Charles Martin, Bucks County Commissioner Emeritus. He introduced the evening’s guests of honor, Bob White and Gladys Mendieta White, who were recognized for the establishment of their generous Gladys Mendieta White Scholarship Fund, in support of Latino/a/x students. For the past three semesters, a total of $20,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 10 students.
One of those recipients was Galilea Garcia-Guttierez, a freshman pursuing an associate degree in computer science. A resident of Croydon and a first-generation college student, Galilea expressed gratitude for the scholarship money which helped pay for tuition and book expenses. At the fundraiser, Gladys and Bob White presented to Galilea a renewal scholarship of $1,000 for continued academic achievement.
The gala’s festivities included a cocktail hour with a chamber music performance by musicians from the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County, a seated dinner and dancing to music provided by the award-winning nine-piece Uptown Band, plus auctions and raffles throughout the evening.
The sponsors of the inaugural event were The First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown, Jim and Maureen Siebert of The Brian Siebert Memorial Fund, and the Bucks County Herald as media sponsor.
Foundation Executive Director Christina McGinley reported that “together with college leadership, our supporters, alumni, community members, and friends, we raised significant funds to benefit such a meaningful and worthy cause – the Bucks Student Emergency Fund.
“Sometimes scholarship support for tuition is not enough for students who are struggling to make ends meet and who are working tirelessly toward achieving their educational goals. We know that earning a degree or credential is life changing. Thanks to everyone who played a role in a future success story!”
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