Alex Paul
At a recent meeting of the Linn-Benton Community College Foundation Board of Trustees, members were asked to introduce themselves and tell how long they had been associated with the college.
When it came to be retired Albany Realtor Russ Tripp’s turn, he simply stated, “Since before there was a community college.”
Thursday evening, during an open house to honor new LBCC President Rita Cavin and to publicly kick off a $10 million capital campaign drive, Tripp’s dedication was recognized with a plaque.
Tripp’s family has donated $500,000 to the renovation of Takeena Hall, the performing arts center on the Albany campus.
Gary Ruppert, director of the LBCC Arts and Communications Division, said that when Takeena Hall was completed some 25 years ago, it was a state-of-the-art facility that was the envy of other community colleges in the state.
Today, equipment is outdated and worn. Parts are nonexistent for many items resulting in the “cannibalization” of parts when a piece of equipment goes bad so others can be repaired.
Also recognized Thursday was the partnership between Samaritan Health Services and LBCC. Samaritan C.O.O. Steve Jasperson was presented with a plaque in honor of that cooperative educational venture.
Over the last two years the Foundation has worked with fund raiser Tom Wilson to reached $7.5 million of a projected $10 million goal.
Campaign chair Dave Schmidt said he has been close to the college for many years.
“I have seen that you can have the best instruction, curriculum and facilities, but if the students can’t pay for tuition, books, child care and living expenses, if the college budget can’t provide the latest training technology and if instructors’ training becomes obsolete, then the objectives for which this college of ours exists are severely limited.”
Schmidt, a former Linn County Commissioner, said that is where the LBCC Foundation comes to play. “Our goal is to fill the financial gaps our tax dollars are unable to fund,” Schmidt said. “More to the point, the human and economic gaps within our wonderful community.”
Schmidt said the Foundation is “in the business of ‘Making a difference one life at a time.”
He said that two of his sons attended LBCC and “I will testify that LBCC did make a difference in their lives.”
Schmidt said that of the $7.7 million raised to date, $1.25 million has come from staff, faculty and retired LBCC, $1.74 million from the Foundation board, $4.12 million from gifts of more than $45,000 each and $850,000 from Samaritan Health Services.
He encouraged those present to participate, ranging from joining the President’s Club (pledging $500 per year for four years); to making endowed scholarships of $15,000 to $45,000 or more.
“There is also the opportunity to make a ‘Heritage Gift” through your will or trust,” Schmidt said.
Although the official campaign goal is $10,000, Schmidt said his personal goal is $12,000,000, adding he knows the area served by the college will come through.
Mike Cowgill, chair of the community-giving portion of the campaign, told of the plan to sell paving stones will be used as an entryway area under the college’s capital construction program.
The pavers will include the name of the donor and will cost from $100 to $1,000 each.
Cowgill said the project could raise from $250,000 to $500,000 for the campaign.
“It will provide a first class image to those entering LBCC,” he said. “These pavers will be a great legacy in honor of someone you care about and help make your mark on LBCC.”
Want to know more? Would you like to learn more about the Linn-Benton Community College capital campaign or the LBCC Foundation. Call Douglas Keck, director of development, at 541-917-4209.