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Kingsport Times-News
January 30, 2005
MECC Foundation exceeds fund-raising campaign goal
By STEPHEN IGO
BIG STONE GAP - In 1999 the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation set for itself a fund-raising goal of $3.5 million, the largest undertaking the foundation had ever attempted. On Friday, the campaign was officially closed, and it turns out the foundation was more than up to the challenge.
The "Opportunity is the First Step" campaign exceeded the goal and raised $4.2 million. Although Friday brought to a close the fund-raising effort, MECC President Terrance Suarez said the campaign's success should be considered a good beginning and not the end of anything.
"I am proud of the MECC Foundation for surpassing the goal. However, this milestone is not the end," Suarez said during a celebratory gathering at the college's Goodloe Center. "The college has long-range future goals, and the foundation will be an integral part of meeting those future goals, and I am excited about the work yet to be done."
Campaign Chairman Jim Shelton said a year ago he announced the $3.5 million was in the foundation's grasp, "and now we have surpassed that goal." He said the campaign was especially important because 70 percent of MECC students receive financial assistance. With declining state budgets, increasing tuition rates, and rising costs of providing education, this campaign was about finding additional resources to help the college meet its current and future needs," Shelton said.
Suarez praised the foundation board and staff for achieving success with something that "moved from a dream to a discussion to a reality." He said the college raised $1.7 million in unrestricted funds, $1.9 million in scholarship funds, and an additional $461,000 to create other endowments or fund special projects.
A special memorial dedicated the campaign to the late James R. Robinson, who co-chaired the fund-raising committee with Shelton until Robinson's death in 2003. Robinson's widow, Anita Robinson, attended Friday's ceremonies as honorary campaign co-chair and accepted a posthumous award on behalf of her late husband.
The Slemp Foundation, the region's oldest and most respected philanthropic organization and a major supporter of MECC, received special mention by Suarez for contributing the $1 million lead gift to jump-start the campaign in 1999. The Slemp Foundation was represented Friday by Nancey Smith and her husband, Jim.
"This was more than just a very generous monetary donation," said Suarez. "This gift gave the foundation and the college the confidence to begin this campaign."
There were more than 1,500 donors to the campaign, and a host of them also received special mention Friday.
Copyright 2005 Kingsport Times-News. All rights reserved.
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