Central Carolina Community College’s campuses in Chatham, Lee and Harnett counties serve thousands of students, many of whom benefit from financial help from the college’s foundation. This week, we speak with Dr. Emily Hare, the foundation’s executive director. A native of Pinehurst, Dr. Hare received her Bachelor in Arts in communications from Wake Forest University, her MBA from Pfeiffer University, and her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration at the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Hare and her husband, Bud, have two children, Delaney and Caroline.
What is the primary role of the Central Carolina Community College Foundation? How does it contribute into the success of the college?
The CCCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with, but independent of, Central Carolina Community College. It receives donations of money and equipment on behalf of the college and uses them to promote its educational mission and assist students through scholarships and grants.
The primary mission of the CCCC Foundation is to support the needs of the college not covered by the state budget. A big part of that is scholarships. How significant a focus is that for the Foundation, and why are scholarships so important?
Our endowment and scholarship program is the bread and butter of the Foundation. Many of our students face significant financial barriers that impede them from persisting toward graduation. By providing scholarships to our students, we are able to alleviate some of their financial pressure that enables them to hopefully focus more on their schoolwork and stress less about where their next tuition payment is coming from. Many of our students work full-time along with going to school full-time. A scholarship potentially eliminates the need for a job or at least can help them reduce hours since the funds needed for tuition, books, and other fees are either reduced or zeroed out with the Foundation assistance.
CCCC is one school, but has campuses in three different counties. Thinking specifically of Chatham County, are there any ways in which the Foundation’s contributions to Chatham are unique?
The Foundation does have specific contributions to each county. In Chatham County, we have specific endowments that are for Chatham residents, graduates of one of the Chatham County high schools, or for students in one of the Chatham County specific programs like Sustainable Farming or Sustainable Construction. Another unique Foundation contribution to Chatham County is the Chatham Cottage Auction. The Chatham Cottage, handcrafted by Central Carolina Community College students enrolled in the college’s Building Construction Technologies program, is auctioned each year. The proceeds roll back into the fund, allowing our Building Construction Technologies students to gain practical experience each year. A third contribution we have is our Dream Keeper Fund, which has specific monies set aside to assist Chatham County students in emergency situations. Another contribution to Chatham County is the Hayes Sustainable Speaker Series. This series is held annually on our Pittsboro campus. We are proud of all of our Chatham programs and the Foundation is pleased to be able to support our students, faculty, and staff at the Chatham Main Campus in Pittsboro and the Siler City Center in Siler City, and in the future, at the Chatham Health Sciences Center that is being built in northern Chatham County.
Does the Foundation host any certain events during the year?
The Foundation is proud to host the Scholarship Donors Luncheon each November, which is a way to show our thanks for the Foundation’s many generous supporters and allows an opportunity for our student scholarship recipients to thank the donors for their support of their education. One of our major fundraisers each year is a Foundation golf tournament held in each of our three service counties. The 6th Annual Chatham Golf Tournament will be held at Chapel Ridge Golf Course on May 8, 2019. For golf tournament information, contact Jonathan Hockaday at (919) 718-7231 or email at: jhockaday@cccc.edu.
The Foundation provided nearly $500,000 in support for CCCC in the last fiscal year. How has that level of support changed over the years, and what do you think is the Foundation’s potential impact on the college in the coming years?
The Foundation growth has been impressive, thanks to the generous support provided by our area citizens who believe in our mission: to support the needs of the college in order to advance its academic mission in areas not covered by the state budget. Contributions from the Foundation help fund the needs of faculty and staff and also provide financial assistance to students.
When you talk about the Foundation, you share the idea that a give “of any size” helps. Elaborate on that, and talk about how — financially and otherwise — people can support the foundation…
When you make a gift to the CCCC Foundation, you change the lives of the students through providing financial support to those who may not otherwise be able to attend CCCC. Gifts to the Foundation’s Annual Fund are crucial to the success of the college and our students. Gifts of any amount are welcome and necessary to ensure the sustained success of CCCC. I welcome the opportunity to speak to any individual or organization that would like to join the efforts of providing assistance in our educational mission of serving the citizens of the Central Carolina area. We are especially appreciative to those who may wish to consider an estate gift to the CCCC Foundation. Please contact me at 919-718-7230 or by email at ehare@cccc.edu. Or, if you would like to make a contribution, make checks payable to the CCCC Foundation and send to CCCC Foundation, 1105 Kelly Drive, Sanford, N.C. 27330.