HCC Giving Day Campaign Surpasses Six-year, $1 Million Goal

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College (HCC) Foundation raised more than $131,000 for scholarships and student support programs during its “Together HCC” one-day giving campaign on March 4, surpassing its six-year, $1 million goal.

The sixth annual “Together HCC: Drive to Change Lives” campaign received donations worth $131,278 from 455 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college during the 24-hour fundraising drive.

All of the money raised goes directly to six areas that support HCC students: academic excellence and innovation, scholarships, the Thrive Student Resource Center and Food Pantry, the President’s Student Emergency Fund, the President’s Fund for Opportunity, and the HCC Foundation’s general, unrestricted fund.

“Six years ago, this community first came together to support our students during one of the hardest moments any of us had faced — the COVID pandemic,” said Julie Phillips, HCC’s executive director of Development. “Since then, we’ve raised $1,042,721 for students. We know this philanthropy has a ripple effect in strengthening our region.”

The HCC Foundation, the college’s charitable, nonprofit foundation, launched “Together HCC: A Campaign for Caring” in March 2020 to build community support and raise money for students experiencing financial distress during the pandemic. In 2021, with Holyoke auto dealer Gary Rome signed on, HCC added the “Drive to Change Lives” theme and collectively raised more than $1 million for student support programs.

“When we invest in HCC students, we’re investing in the doctors, teachers, and business owners who are going to build this region’s future,” said Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai and a member of the HCC Foundation board of directors. “That’s worth showing up for, year after year.”

Anyone who missed this year’s day of giving and still wants to contribute to the HCC Foundation can do so at hcc.edu/give.