The Fergus Area College Foundation remains true to its founding mission as a vehicle for citizen participation in the life of the college in Fergus Falls.

The Chamber of Commerce's "Committee of 100" organized and worked to bring a two year college to Fergus Falls in 1960. Many of the college founders took the next steps to incorporate a nonprofit to support the college's mission in 1963. Subsequently, Foundation board members went door-to-door downtown Fergus Falls to tell the community about our college and their plans to organize the Foundation.

In 2008, this good work continues. Today's Foundation Board of Directors tells our story and shapes our vision in support of the Fergus Falls campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

We've been extraordinarily fortunate in receiving scholarship support for our students through local individuals and businesses as both outright contributions and as legacy gifts. During this academic year alone, we've received new scholarship gifts totaling more than $630,000. Planned gifts by bequest provided the funds to establish scholarships in the names of Chester G and C. Jon Rosengren, Cyrus A. and Mary K. Field, Henry and Elizabeth Cowles, and Ruth E. Hannay Sparling and Byron J. Hannay. Outright gifts from family members established the Ann Porter Nelson and the Marsden G. Brimhall Scholarships.

We've also received donor support for new initiatives and ongoing needs on the Fergus Falls campus. Unrestricted gifts and gifts designated for the performing arts, the visual arts, the nursing program, and endowments for new initiatives bring our total gifts during this academic year to more than $839,768, an unprecedented annual achievement.

A member of the board of directors once called the Foundation "an affair of the heart." This is so right. Our relationships with our donors and our community keep us going through tough decisions, goals, fundraising calls, challenges, and celebrations. Those very relationships are the most joyful aspect of my work and I am always delighted to work with prospective donors in realizing their dreams.

It's been a big year for the Fergus Area College Foundation --- "such stuff as dreams are made on" to quote Shakespeare's Prospero. Our assets have grown to about $2.8 million. We awarded 120 scholarships totaling more than $110,000 for this academic year. We now manage more than 80 named funds and provide operating support to the campus for special events, athletics, activities and faculty initiatives. New funds continue to come our way.

As we revel in our successes and pursue our dreams for the future of our college, we will do as we always have. We will keep our feet firmly on the ground and support the Fergus Falls campus. Thank you to our community of supporters for helping to bring our dreams to life.