2 schools to receive combined $65M
Philanthropist donates large sums to Cal Poly and Chaffey College
Cal Poly Pomona and Chaffey College will each receive millions of dollars in donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the two schools announced Tuesday.
Cal Poly Pomona will receive $40 million and Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga will receive $25 million.
Scott announced on her website that she was donating $2.7 billion to 286 organizations. She has given billions in support of higher education and marginalized people.
“Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for 2- and 4-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved,” Scott said in the announcement.
Leaders at both Inland Empire education institutions were looking forward to helping students and programs on campus.
“We are very proud that Cal Poly Pomona is the number one polytechnic university in the nation in advancing student social mobility,” university President Soraya M. Coley said in the release. “This tremendous gift will play a vital role in sustaining and growing our unparalleled student success.”
The gift at Cal Poly Pomona is the largest individual donation. The largest donation it has received was a $42 million gift from the Kellogg Foundation 10 years ago, said Daniel Montplaisir, vice president for University Advancement. Scott’s gift will be used to support and expand student success programs, particularly “with helping them graduate and eliminating equity gaps,” he said.
“This generous contribution will really allow the university to build on programs to support our students, many of whom come from challenging backgrounds,” Montplaisir said. “We have a high percentage of low-income students from underserved and minority communities.”
He said the university already has been working to help students who are struggling with housing and food insecurity, and over the last year during the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to keeping the food pantry on campus going, has even provided students with laptops and hotspot devices to help with internet access.
“While more than half of our population consists of first-generation college students, we are also highly ranked for social mobility,” Montplaisir said. “These are some of the reasons why our campus was selected for this grant.”
With this donation, Scott is sending a message to others in philanthropy to “make an investment where it is most impactful” and “really commit to supporting underserved communities,” he said.
Cal Poly will put a portion of the new grant into short-term investments and use some of it to create a new endowment that will provide ongoing support for future generations of students.
At Chaffey College, Superintendent/President
Henry Shannon said the college is overwhelmed by the generosity.
“Headlines across the country detail the ripple effects that Mrs. Scott’s gifts have created in the philanthropic world,” Shannon said in the release. “The ripple effects we will experience here at Chaffey College and throughout the region will be tremendous. We are extremely grateful to Mrs. Scott.”
Chaffey College plans to use the gift to support students who are the first in their families to go to college, students of color and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Scott described the recipients and others she has supported as “agents of change.”
“Their service supports and empowers people who go on to support and empower others,” Scott said.
Many other groups throughout Southern California
also received donations, including Asian Pacific Community Fund, A Place Called Home, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, Long Beach City College, Pasadena City College, Homeboy Industries, and L.A. Arts Endowment Fund, among others.