EMPLOYEE DONOR VOICES
Employee giving is a cornerstone of the college community, fostering a sense of shared commitment and unity among faculty and staff. Employee giving creates a powerful ripple effect, inspiring a culture of philanthropy that resonates with students, alumni, and our campus community. It showcases the collective belief in the transformative power of education and enables the colleges to allocate resources strategically, supporting scholarships and innovative programs that enrich the academic experience. Ultimately, employee giving strengthens the bonds within the college community, reinforcing the notion that every member plays an integral role in shaping our students' future success.
Dr. Jessica Robinson
Cuyamaca College
“As an alumna of Cuyamaca College, I am proud to deepen my connection by giving back. Cuyamaca College laid the foundation for my personal and professional growth, equipping me with knowledge and skills that have shaped me. I believe in the power of community college education to unlock potential and create positive change, which is why I am committed to contributing to the future success of current and upcoming Cuyamaca students. By giving, I am creating opportunities for others to thrive. Every contribution, no matter the size, has the potential to make a significant impact, and I am honored to be part of this legacy of support. I invite you to join me in this effort”
Veronica Romero
Grossmont College
“Community colleges are the open door to higher education. Once our students are here, they often face financial challenges. By making monthly donations, I can help support our students in staying and achieve academic success. This is also a way for me to honor my parents and their values of higher education and giving back”
Ken Emmons
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
“I donate to the Foundation for student scholarships because the cost of living here in San Diego is very high and that is just one more hurdle for our students to try a tackle daily. Students have so many challenges and obstacles to overcome when trying to get an education, I feel that if I can do just a little, I may be able to help make a difference in our community”
Laura Gordon
Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges
“I know what it's like to be a poor college student. I grew up in a family that was low-middle class…like very low. If we went to college, we had to pay for it ourselves. I went to Mesa College and the cost per unit was inexpensive, but the books? Ridiculously priced! I started donating to the Promise Plus program because I know all the money in that account goes directly to students through scholarships that they can use for books and supplies”
Dana Rivers
Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges
“Giving back to my community has always been important to me, so I’ve donated and volunteered whenever and wherever I could. It wasn’t until I started working for FGCC that my life came full circle. As an alum of Grossmont College, I know the reality that our students go through and the impact that the support of the community has on their success. Now, I have the opportunity to give back in a much more meaningful way to a place that helped shape my future, paying it forward to help other students become successful, too!”
Sara Varghese
Grossmont College
“My work is about providing impactful opportunities for our students. On a daily basis I see first-hand how important it is for our students to have access to financial resources – often to meet daily basic needs. I give because I believe in the Grossmont College mission and the amazing people, scholars, and community leaders it produces. I am proud to be a FGCC donor”
Ernesto Rivera
Grossmont College
“Giving to the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges means directly supporting students at Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College. Any gift, big or small, impacts the success of our student and their education. As a recipient of scholarships during my time as a community college student, I know the difference these gifts make in the lives of our students. Our students are in the midst of transforming their lives and our communities, and I am honored to be a part of it in my own small way through employee giving”
Vanessa Murrell
Cuyamaca College
“My participation allows me to give back in a small, convenient way to make a significant impact in the lives of students. In looking back at my college experience, I only needed to have a part-time job for most of my college experience since I lived on campus full-time. I cannot even imagine students managing both the cost of living and the cost of education at the same time. Our students are making a good economical choice in starting or getting their education at our community colleges. I want to do my part to support their decision”
Marvelyn Bucky
Cuyamaca College
“As an educator for over 20 years, I have seen how earning scholarship funds can be transformative for our students. Whether they are refugees fleeing war-torn towns to seek safety and a new life, single mothers working hard to set an example for their children, or first-generation students hoping to change the future for their families, all of our students deserve our assistance in reaching their goals. It doesn’t take a lot to change someone’s life for the better. By coming together as a community to support our students, we help them find the resources needed to earn certificates and degrees in order to secure well-paying, fulfilling jobs. This in turn creates a legacy of hope for our students’ families and a new path for future generations to achieve their dreams as well. Please join us in supporting our students and help to create lasting change which makes a difference in the world”
Kerri Ewing
Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges
“I contribute because I see the direct impact that a small, monthly contribution can make on a student's life. I've been fortunate enough to interview several of our scholarship recipients and hear their stories. Many are grateful not only for the monetary support, but also to know that their college community cares enough to invest in their futures. For me, it's just one way that I can show our students that I believe in them and want to see them succeed!”
Sue Fisher
Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges
“The cost of college continues to rise each year and can be extra stressful for a student who is struggling financially. Donating monthly is my way of helping the student receive resources for their success in college by not worrying about finances so they can focus more on their education”
Josh & Mayra Franco
Cuyamaca College / Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges
“The Franco Family is proud to support students majoring in political science through our first endowed scholarship. The Foundation has been an excellent partner in helping us pay it forward for the next generation of students. Attending and excelling at community college is one of the best decisions any student can make”
Katie Cabral
Cuyamaca College
“I donate because direct aid is one of the most impactful gifts we can provide students who are pursuing their passions at Grossmont and Cuyamaca College! I am privileged to be a GCCCD employee donor, and I encourage other GCCCD employees to donate what they can so students receive the support they need to attain their goals.” -Katie Cabral, Cuyamaca College Consider joining the hundreds of employees who are choosing to make an impact on our students' lives! Become a Change Maker today”
Thank you to our current employee donors!
- Elena Adams*
- Joan Ahrens
- Heba Almasraf
- Kasi Althaus
- Anonymous
- Rafael Ayala
- Liz Barrow
- Linda Beam
- Jennifer Bennett
- Amaliya Blyumin
- Wayne Branker
- Kat Brodie
- Brianna Brown
- Marcella Brown
- Sydney Brown
- Marvelyn Bucky
- Tom Bugzavich
- Katie Cabral
- Jeanette Calo
- James Canady
- Juliana Cardenas
- Heather Cavazos
- Martha Clavelle
- Michael Copenhaver
- Sally Cox
- Blanca Cummings
- Stephen Davis
- Adam Deutsch
- Cindy Emerson
- Ken Emmons
- Michael Erickson
- Kerri Etzel
- Kerri Ewing
- Taylor Fiehler-Roose
- Malia Finnegan
- Sue Fisher
- Hilda Flores
- Vanessa Fountain
- Josh & Mayra Franco
- Joyce Fries
- Jennifer Fujimoto
- Ray Funk
- Marsha Gable
- Barbara Gallego
- Laura Gordon
- Ryan Griffith
- Lance Grob
- Aida Gutierrez
- Stephanie Gutierrez
- Lauren Halsted
- Brianna Hays
- Narges Heidari
- Karen Hern
- Scott Herrin
- Dawn Heuft
- Shirley Hughes
- Tate Hurvitz
- Debbie Justeson*
- Julie Kahler
- Patricia Larkin
- Uhmbaya Laury
- Wendy Laver
- Craig Leedham
- Luis Legaspi
- Pearl Lopez
- Karen Marrujo
- Tammi Marshall
- Joan Mathison
- Bradley McCombs
- Candy McLaughlin
- Brad Monroe*
- Genie Montoya
- Alicia Munoz
- Jessica Murguia
- Vanessa Murrell
- Lynn Ceresino Neault
- Terrie Nichols
- Terri Noble
- Irene Palacios
- Tina Perez
- Natalie Ray
- Kerry Kilber Rebman
- Donald Ridgway
- Bonnie Jo Ripley
- Ernesto Rivera
- Dana Rivers
- Jessica Robinson
- Tonette Salter
- Denise Schulmeyer
- Mary Sessom
- Karl Sherlock
- Janet Shipstead
- Juan Soto
- Daniela Sow
- David Steinmetz
- Sosha Thomas
- Heyley Troyer
- Randall Tweed
- Genie Machado Tyler
- Lauren Vaknin
- Diana Vance
- Sara Varghese
- Juliana Vega
- Tina Vásquez
- John Waller
- Rochelle Weiser
- Courtney Wilis
- Valeri Wilson
- Leslie Wisdom
- Barbara Wojtach
- Lekaa Yaldekko
- June Yang
- Christine Yoshioka
- Tina Young
*Governing Board Member
JOIN OUR EMPLOYEE DONORS
Consider joining the hundreds of employees choosing to make an impact on our students’ lives. Become a Change Maker today.
The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges is a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 33-0034353). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.