LBCC Foundation's ‘GIVE DAY’ Surpasses Last Year By Nearly 50%

Event Raises Critical Dollars for Student Scholarships and Emergency Funds

Small but mighty applies to roadrunners, and not just the feathered kind. For 24 hours on May 12th, Roadrunners—the faculty, staff, and supporters of Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC)—came together to raise $37,388 for the college’s students and programs.

Contributions raised during LBCC’s second annual Give Day surpassed last year’s inaugural event by more than $15,000 and beat the goal set by the LBCC Foundation Board of Directors by nearly 50%.

“We set a stretch goal and the community stepped up to meet it,” said Joan Reukauf, president of Willamette Community Bank and president of the LBCC Foundation Board of Directors. “Because of who we are and who we serve, a donation to LBCC is an investment in our local economy.  These students who will go on to be the workforce that fuels growth and stability in our region. They’re a great investment."

LBCC Give Day allowed donors to select from 12 funds across the college ranging from the Roadrunner Student Emergency Fund, to student scholarships, to initiatives that support programs and students in Agriculture, Healthcare, Business, Industrial Technology, Science, Education, Arts & Humanities, and more. 

Those donor contributions come at a time when LBCC student scholarship applications outnumber available dollars by nearly 4 to 1.

“Coming out of a really challenging year, it is more important than ever that we support students who want to go to college, but have been derailed due to finances,” said Jennifer Boehmer, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement. “These are the same students who will be tomorrow’s nurses, teachers, small business owners, machinists, artists, engineers, and leaders. We could not be more thankful to our community for refusing to leave them behind.”

LBCC’s Applied Industrial Technology and Transportation received a special boost from an anonymous donor.

“Thanks in part to a generous anonymous donor, the Advanced Manufacturing and Transportation Technology division raised over $9,500 that will go towards students who are experiencing financial difficulties,” said Steve Schilling, dean of the division.  “These funds will help students pursue their dreams of graduating and working in a highly skilled, high demand, occupation. We want to thank our program partners, faculty, and staff for their dedication and generosity.”

Of the 252 Give Day donors who participated, there was strong mix between LBCC employees and community members and alums. The event included several challenges from Give Day “champions” that occurred throughout the day, including a visit to Margins Coffee by LBCC’s Rocky the Roadrunner.

For more information about donating to the LBCC Foundation, or to start a named scholarship, please visit linnbenton.edu/give.