MCC receives historic $4M gift from alums, kicks off campaign

Monroe Community College alums and former Rochesterians Robin and Timothy Wentworth donated $4 million to help kick off the MCC Foundation’s Every Bright Future Needs a Strong Foundation campaign. The couple joined the MCC Foundation to announce a $50 million campaign to increase the number of scholarships available to students and help grow the local economy through a well-educated and technically sophisticated workforce.

“A $50 million campaign is one of the largest for a community college and is ambitious,” MCC President Anne Kress said. “Our inspiring and generous alumni and community understand the remarkable impact MCC has. They know firsthand the incredible futures that result when we work together to invest in our students. They know their support truly changes lives,” Kress said.

To date, $39.5 million has been raised, including the Wentworth’s historic gift. Their donation, the largest in the college’s history, will expand the Wentworth Family Endowed Scholarship program at MCC to provide full scholarships to 100 MCC students each year. The gift surpasses the Wentworth’s previous gift of $2.25 million. MCC plans to name its arts building in the couple’s honor.

The campaign looks to engage alumni, corporate partners, private foundations, past benefactors and others to help ensure all students have access to the scholarship support they need to earn a degree or certificate at MCC and are ready to continue their education and begin their career.

In 2017-2018, roughly half of the students enrolled in degree and certificate programs relied on federal and state grants to attend MCC. In addition to benefitting these students, the campaign will positively impact Rochester and local employers since most (91percent) of MCC career and certificate program graduates who are employed full time are employed in Monroe or an adjacent county.

“Every dollar given is an investment in our school, our community and our future leaders,” Timothy Wentworth said. “MCC opens doors that might otherwise be closed to talented students. Robin and I know firsthand the value of scholarships and the MCC experience. We are changing the lives of others through our involvement in MCC and our investment in scholarships.”