THE PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC

As a Direct Service Organization (DSO) for Pensacola State College (PSC), the Pensacola State College Foundation is committed to supporting the institutional priorities of the College. Like the College, the Foundation is committed to continuous improvement and our overarching goal is to create opportunity for lifetime success in an atmosphere of concern, respect, integrity and responsibility for students and each other.

As a DSO, we are continually working to support the institutional priorities of the College. Our ultimate goal is to ensure students are able to focus on their education and personal path to success.

Our goals are to remove barriers to access. Typically, these are financial barriers and the Foundation works to ensure students have the financial support necessary to attend and complete their preferred program of study. Annually, we fulfill this goal by providing scholarships from one of 279 privately funded scholarships that are geared to areas of donor interest. With roughly $550,000 in scholarships provided annually, we can meet a students need for funds to purchase books, supplies, or pay tuition. Our goal is always to ensure a student has access to education and that they complete their studies with no debt when they graduate.

In addition to scholarships, we also work to engage the communities where our facilities are located. Our goal is to ensure community leaders are involved in the work of the College and that they are invested in the success of our students. We strive to make sure programs have the resources necessary to improve curriculum and facilities so that graduates are trained in the using current tools. In turn, our graduates will be sought after by local employers.

We host local business partners in small groups to gather feedback and to introduce them to students and faculty. This encourages dialogue and engagement that enables us to form stronger partnerships and relationships that are mutually beneficial.

Through four membership groups (listed below), we encourage additional engagement from the community who benefits from the programming offered by the College.

Friends of Performing Arts- The Performing Arts Department plays an integral and vital part in Pensacola State College’s rich history and promising future. Members of the Friends of the Performing Arts Affinity Group support our talented students as they pursue their passions. The support of members enables our students to obtain new equipment, to earn a quality education, to practice in functional facilities, and to have exceptional opportunities. Friends of the Performing Arts not only support our students by giving financially, but also by being present at events. Each year, the department hosts the Lyceum Series which presents approximately fifteen events for the community to enjoy. Support from the Friends of Performing Arts is directed at deserving PSC students and the future of performing arts while enjoying the distinguished Lyceum Series events!

Friends of Culinary Arts-The Center for Culinary and Hospitality Management prepares its students for a profitable and exciting career. Students get hands-on experience serving members of the community throughout the lunch and dinner series each semester. These meals are so popular that tickets for an entire semester sell out in just a few hours! Program graduates have placed in the top 10 at National SkillsUSA Championships and in the World Food Championships. The Friends of Culinary Arts enable our students to obtain new equipment, to earn a quality education, to practice in functional facilities.

Anna Society for the Visual Arts-The Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts is a Pensacola State College teaching institution that strives to exhibit, collect, interpret, lend, and preserve the visual arts. Located on the College’s Pensacola campus, the center has served students and the community with quality arts education, exhibits, and programs for over thirty years. Anna Society enable our students to obtain new equipment, to earn a quality education, to practice in functional facilities, and to have exceptional opportunities. Anna Society members not only support our students by giving financially but also by enjoying the Center’s events, exhibits, and galleries.

Athletic Boosters-The Pensacola State College Athletic Department is woven into the fabric of the College. Our six talented athletic teams compromised of over 85 student-athletes are a source of pride and comradery for both the College and the community. The Athletics Booster Club promotes and supports the Pirates’ athletic program through volunteer service, financial gifts, and event attendance.

Pensacola State College has been serving the community for 72 years. For 55 of those years, Pensacola State College Foundation has successfully engaged partners and private support that has made college more accessible and affordable for individuals who wish to pursue a higher education. Over the 55 years, PSC Foundation has been able to create sustainable support for students through 179 endowed scholarships that span a variety of programs. In a routine year, close to 700 donors give over $100 to support the work of the Foundation in order to ensure programming at the college remains relevant and to support students who wish to pursue a brighter future at PSC.

Pensacola State College has graduated over 110,000 students who are leave armed with a degree or certificate that will help them improve their quality of life.

Our endowed scholarships routinely provide 55% of the funding necessary for continued scholarship awards to students in the form of financial aid.

Considering Pensacola State College is among the top 1% in affordability nationally, we feel we are on target to fulfill our mission. Over the last 55 years, we have built assets of $29M (of which $11.2M is endowed and non-expendable). These endowments will enable us to support the College and students into perpetuity.

In 2019 alone:
• 17 new scholarships were established to support students
• 55% of scholarships awarded were funded from endowment interest (over half were possible and will be funded into perpetuity)
• 764 individual students received 1,117 awards
• Athletic Film Room for game film and recruitment
• Women’s locker room upgrades
• Upgrades to the softball and baseball fields
• International travel for student-athletes signing from other countries
• Warm-up uniforms and shoes for the newly formed Women’s Cross Country Team
• Purchase microphones for the Ashmore Auditorium
• Six students by funding scholarships to help them afford their PSC courses for fall and spring terms
• PSC donors funded 35 awards that supported 20 culinary and hospitality students
• Purchased shelving for the permanent collection vault
In 2019 we launched a new Nonprofit Center for Excellence and Philanthropy at Pensacola Sate College. In the first year, we hosted 21 members (7 organizational memberships) and had 4 individuals sign up for memberships. 161 attendees participated in training workshops. They were representative of 24 nonprofits from Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties and demonstrated a 220% increase in knowledge from the before/after quizzes conducted.