NMC Annual Campaign sets largest goal ever

October 13, 2009

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – The number of students receiving financial aid jumped a record 44 percent at Northwestern Michigan College this fall, the third straight year of increases in the ranks of both financial aid applicants and recipients.

It’s a sobering demonstration of the real-life needs that NMC’s Annual Community Campaign aims to meet. This week, volunteers for the 2009-10 fundraising campaign will begin their efforts to raise $365,000 for NMC college scholarships and programs, the largest goal ever for the campaign.

In the last two years, the Annual Community Campaign has exceeded progressively higher goals in terms of both dollars raised and donors recruited. The 2008-09 campaign raised more than $354,000.

Meanwhile, between 2005 and 2009, the number of financial aid applicants rose 40 percent. The number of recipients climbed 55 percent over that period, including the 44 percent spike in the last year.

“Our goal is greater this year because the need is greater than ever,” said Annual Campaign Co-Chair Bonnie Alfonso. “I’m confident we’ll be able to again count on our community to make a difference for NMC students.” Alfonso, president and founder of Alfie, Logo Gear for Work & Play, has volunteered to co-chair the campaign along with Paul Maurer, an NMC alumnus and president of Paul Maurer General Contracting.

A record 12 businesses, organizations and individuals have contributed funds to match gifts from first-time donors. Matching gift donors include American Waste, H. Cox & Son, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Insurance Agency, Huntington Bank, Jordan Exploration, the NMC Foundation Board, Northwestern Bank, retired faculty & staff of NMC, the Art & Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation, and TBA Credit Union.

In order to keep college as affordable as possible, NMC this year froze tuition rates for in-district (Grand Traverse County residents) students. The college is also lowering expenses in the following ways:

  • A re-bid of healthcare benefits that is saving $900,000 over three years
  • Energy efficiency initiatives that are saving more than $200,000 a year
  • A vehicle leasing arrangement that will save $400,000 over five years
  • Bond refinancing that will save $444,000 over 10 years
  • Converting to internal management of the Hagerty Conference Center that will save more than $100,000 a year

To contribute to the Annual Community Campaign, make a secure online gift here, or call (231) 995-1021.




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