president’s letter

Innovation, strong community partnerships and empowerment have helped propel Monroe Community College to the upper echelons of our nationʼs community colleges. Through your support, MCC is one of 18 institutions recognized by the League for Innovation in the Community College as the best community colleges in the U.S. and Canada.
As the communityʼs college, MCC continues building on its reputation as a vital and vibrant resource in Rochester — all the more so as the college experiences a significant year-to-year increase in student enrollment for the first time in a decade. With our collective, laser-like focus on student success, we are moving determinedly forward together to foster a college-going culture across all ZIP codes of our community where everyone has an opportunity to benefit from MCCʼs many innovative offerings and services. We come together to fulfill the evolving needs and expectations of our students and to ensure educational equity and excellence. MCCʼs *Vision2027* strategic plan is our road map. Key performance indicators will monitor and inform our progress.
Our MCC students, some of whom are included in this publication and on the collegeʼs website, are empowered to change their lives for the better through their education. These students are a source of pride and inspiration to me and to many in our college community — they overcome challenges and persevere in pursuit of their educational goals, thanks to your support.
They are students like Jessica Horner, who was accepted into MCCʼs nationally accredited dental hygiene program as a high school senior. As she planned to begin her MCC journey in August 2022, her excitement quickly turned to grief after the sudden loss of her mother — her “best friend … and strongest role model.” Facing mounting expenses, she questioned her decision to go to college until “the MCC community accepted me with open arms and supported me tremendously.”
Jessica and 580 other students are the beneficiaries of your philanthropic support and the efforts of the Monroe Community College Foundation. Over half of our enrolled students are eligible for federal subsidies to attend college. Private philanthropy helps provide the additional support that, for many, puts them one step closer to achieving their dreams and aspirations. Your support enables the majority of students to graduate with little or no debt.
MCC is grateful for your continued support of the collegeʼs vision and mission of access and opportunity. Your investment in student success and educational excellence reaps rewards beyond the college campus, strengthening MCCʼs ability to impact the economic foundation of the community. The highlights within this *MCC Foundation Impact Report* reflect how MCC inspires every day and leads the charge of transforming the future together.

DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna, Ph.D.
President
Monroe Community College

Gretchen D. Wood, MPA, CFRE

VP, Institutional Advancement, Monroe Community College; Executive Director, Monroe Community College Foundation

Lori Van Dusen

CEO and Founder, LVW Advisors; Chair, Monroe Community College Foundation Board of Directors

LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

For your continued support of the Monroe Community College Foundation, your understanding of the vital role the college plays in our community, and for the impact our hard work and generosity have on so many of our studentsʼ lives, thank you.

This report is filled with examples of how private philanthropy is allowing the college to innovate, empower students and continue to be a national leader. From our Be a Healthy Hero Summer Camp to our MCC Assist program, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the MCC Foundation is able to provide funds that allow the college to implement innovative approaches that meet the needs of our students and our community.

For example, the MCC and URMC Histotechnology Program Partnership was made possible through an investment to develop and launch a histotechnology training program. It will help prepare MCC students for critical roles in clinical laboratory settings and careers, which are in great demand in our region.

The MCC Foundation ranks No. 1 for total support, unrestricted support and restricted support in fiscal year 2022 for all reporting SUNY public associate institutions. This is the second time weʼve been No. 1 in all three categories — a testament to your commitment to the success of MCC students.

Our continued success and growth are a result of the good work of our dedicated MCC Foundation Board of Directors, the leadership of MCC, and the commitment of MCC and MCC Foundation faculty, staff and our countless community partners. Working together, we are truly empowering innovation not just at MCC, but in our region.

“I am excited by the possibilities that await us as I step into the role of board chair. I look forward to building upon the partnership between ESL and Monroe Community College and the privilege of working with my fellow directors to support innovation at MCC. Together we will continue to empower our students and the Rochester community.”

— Maureen R. Wolfe

INNOVATIVE PROGRAM RAISES $730,000

More than 30 MCC Foundation donors were able to support Monroe Community College students this year while receiving tax savings because of an extraordinary opportunity through the New York State Charitable Tax Credit program offered by the SUNY Impact Foundation. Qualified contributions designated to the MCC Foundation were eligible to receive an 85 percent New York State tax credit.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we raised $730,000 to support student success at MCC. We were ranked #4 in dollars raised among the 21 participating SUNY campuses — and #1 among community colleges!

With a minimum amount of $10,000 up to a maximum of $100,000, gifts to the MCC Foundation through this program are considered unrestricted, directed to establish or increase a named scholarship, or even qualified for a naming opportunity on any of the MCC campuses.

“This is an impressive benefits program and an exceptional way to support the MCC Foundation. As a long-time Foundation director, I have seen firsthand how the power of private philanthropy can make a difference for our students. I personally encouraged my colleagues to take advantage of this program and consider making their own significant investment in our local community college. Funds raised through this innovative program help make the dream of a college education a reality for so many students through scholarships, emergency grants and programs that ensure student success.”
— Lori Van Dusen, CEO and founder, LVW Advisors and MCC Foundation board chair

INAUGURATION OF MCC’S 6TH PRESIDENT

Dr. DeAnna R. Burt-Nannaʼs inauguration as Monroe Community Collegeʼs sixth president took place September 22, 2022, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of when MCC opened its doors to students for the first time at its Alexander Street Campus. Dr. Burt-Nannaʼs inauguration marked a new beginning and vision for MCC. Since assuming the MCC presidency in May 2021, Dr. Burt-Nanna has dedicated her efforts to ensuring MCCʼs work is mission-centric, to facilitating campus and community-wide development of an ambitious new five-year strategic plan, and to prioritizing efforts that promote equity, education and economic development to create a better Rochester. She has also convened an Educational Partners Summit in collaboration with the local academia community to work toward creating a college-going culture in the region and has reinforced MCCʼs position as a leader in innovation and excellence through the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center. Dr. Burt-Nanna has moved quickly to more effectively align MCC with area workforce and economic development needs, serving as a New York gubernatorial appointee on the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Councilʼs Executive Committee and co-chairing the councilʼs Workforce Development Work Group. Her testimonies in front of four New York State Assembly committees and the Monroe County Legislature have also resulted in increased funding support.

“For six decades, MCC has fulfilled its mission of access for all, maintaining an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We will elevate this focus in the years ahead to ensure we leave no one and no ZIP code behind in our commitment to improving the quality of life across our region.”
—President DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna

EMPOWERING STUDENT SUCCESS

Monroe Community College Professor Emerita and Honorary Trustee Dr. Barbara P. Lovenheim, pictured with John Lovenheim greeting an MCC student, recently made a gift of $46,500 to grow the Dr. Barbara and Mr. John Lovenheim Scholarship fund. This scholarship celebrates the Lovenheimsʼ lifelong passion for learning and supports high-achieving MCC students with financial need.

A distinguished member of the MCC Board of Trustees, including service as Chair of the Board, Dr. Barbara P. Lovenheim taught in the collegeʼs English/Philosophy Department and Honors Institute for 17 years. The late John Lovenheim served on the MCC Foundation Board of Directors for more than 35 years after serving as chief executive officer of Great Lakes Press, one of Rochesterʼs largest commercial printers, which was founded by the Lovenheim family in 1939.

“Thank you so much for choosing me for this award! It means so much to me. I was struggling financially, deciding whether to attend MCC part time or full time, and this award gave me the opportunity to attend as a full-time student for a semester. It also is helping me achieve my goal of graduating from MCC and going on to earn a bachelorʼs degree faster and with less debt. I will be the first person in my entire family to finish or even go to college. I wish you could feel how grateful I am.”
— Jasmine Hamilton ʼ25, recipient of the Dr. Barbara and Mr. John Lovenheim Scholarship