INSIDER VIEW: Daytona State College Foundation reaching out to community partners

by Kay Burniston, executive director, Daytona State College Foundation

Kay Burniston

With summer in full swing, the Daytona State College Foundation has been gearing up for what I expect will be a pivotal fall season, as we consider a new capital campaign and prepare for our widely anticipated annual gala scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 18.

In June, the Foundation began meeting with more than 60 community leaders both individually and in a series of listening sessions to learn about how the college can better serve the present and future needs of our communities, particularly in areas of workforce training, and to gauge interest in fostering new community partnerships, a key strategic priority for the institution. Today, state allocations comprise a lesser proportion of Daytona State’s total funding, requiring the college to reach out to individual, corporate and foundation constituents. These workforce partnerships are evermore essential to meet critical initiatives in areas of academic excellence, student success and scholarships.

Individuals and businesses that ally themselves with the mission of the college also become beneficiaries. They ensure themselves of having a trained pool of workers that will help business run more efficiently and productively, attract new industry to the region and enhance the quality of life for all who call our area home.

You’ll be hearing more about this important initiative in coming months.

In the meantime, I hope you will join us on Sept. 18, when the Daytona State College Foundation honors the Bert Fish Foundation and its president, Dr. William Schildecker, at our annual gala. The festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. in the Hosseini Center on the Daytona Beach Campus and will feature foods from around the world, meticulously prepared by Daytona State culinary students and their award-winning chef-instructors.

Dr. Schildecker and the Fish Foundation have donated millions for capital improvements and scholarships to Daytona State throughout the years. Through their generosity, students pursuing degrees in nursing, respiratory care and many other allied health programs have received help defraying the cost of their education. Our communities are stronger and countless lives are lifted because of their extraordinary service.

As always, all gala proceeds will benefit student scholarships. Individual tickets are $125, with sponsorships available on multiple levels. We hope you will join us in honoring the commitment and dedication Dr. Schildecker and the Bert Fish Foundation have demonstrated toward the college and the community at large. It is certain to be a splendid evening.

For more gala details, or to reserve your tickets/sponsorship, call (386) 506-3407 or visit DaytonaState.edu/Foundation.

I look forward to seeing you there.