The Lone Star College Foundation raised over $1 million as part of StarGala 2016, its annual signature event.
“Our goal for StarGala 2016 was one million dollars and we are excited to report that we reached a total of $1.1 million in donations, sponsorships, underwriting, and new or planned endowments,” said Leah Goss, chief advancement officer for Lone Star College “The impact this event will have on student scholarships, college programs and the community are far-reaching and long-term.”
This year’s event, with more than 700 guests in attendance, was held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center on April 16. It featured recognition of 15 outstanding LSC alumni, who shared their stories of the impact Lone Star College has made on their lives. The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Foundation.
There was also dinner, a live auction and music provided by Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters.
Among the guests attending StarGala 2016 to support the Foundation were State Reps. Cecil Bell, Mark Keough, and Mike Schofield; Harris County Tax Assessor/Collector Mike Sullivan; The Woodlands Township director, Dr. Ann Snyder; and Rowdy Hayden, Montgomery County constable. Also in attendance were LSC presidents and vice chancellors, former members of the LSC Board of trustees, former Foundation Board members, as well as representatives of LSC’s educational partners from Aldine ISD and University of Houston – Downtown.
“When I served as director of Financial Aid at LSC-North Harris many years ago, before the Foundation was established, I saw a definite need for more scholarships,” said Dr. Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor, in his welcome remarks. “For this reason, I have always been, and continue to be, a big supporter of the Foundation.
“A typical scholarship is around $1,000, and in most cases 20 or more students apply for just one scholarship,” said Dr. Head. “These funds will go a long way in helping to make a college education possible for many hard-working and deserving students.”
The live auction, which raised over $94,000, was also a record-setting auction. A traditional live auction item, “Golf with the Chancellor,” consisting of a day of golf for two foursomes, followed by dinner with Dr. Head, set the record for the highest-earning auction item when it sold for $50,000.
Other popular auction items included two weeks at a P Hotel resort in Argentina; an Astros suite for a party of 36; and a long weekend for four at Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa with transportation provided by a beautiful private Beechcraft Premiere 1 jet.
Carl Joiner, LSC Foundation Board chair, expressed his support of the Foundation’s history and future.
“Since the Foundation was established in 1991, there have been nearly 10,000 students who have benefited from 10 million dollars in scholarships,” said Joiner. “We are excited to see what the next 25 years holds!”
Goss extended a special thank-you to all the supporters who made StarGala 2016 a reality.
“We would like to thank our Founders Council members, who served as event leadership for StarGala: Fred Caldwell of Caldwell Companies, Lori Klein Quinn of Klein Wealth Management, and Terry Wheeler of Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center, as well as all of the sponsors, underwriters, volunteers and guests who made StarGala possible,” said Goss.
Sponsors included: Legacy sponsor – Caldwell Companies; Visionary sponsors – Entergy, Texas Inc. and the Humble Police Association; Champion sponsors – Linda Carruth, Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital, Follett, Klein Wealth Management, and Tom Oliverson, Republican nominee for Texas House District 130; and Dream Maker sponsors – Canteen Vending Services, G2X Energy Inc., Diane & Danny Wilson, Harrison Kornberg Architects, Joiner Architects Inc., Morris, a Huitt-Zollars Company, Netsync Network Solutions, PBK Architects, Rowan Companies, Twin Eagle Resource Management LLC, and Wells Fargo.
Please click here for a complete list of all sponsors and underwriters.
Entergy, Texas Inc. was a Visionary sponsor of the StarGala 2016.
Pictured left to right representing Entergy, Texas Inc. are Stuart Barrett, Allen East, Tess Ventress,
Alana Peddy, Dale Peddy, Sallie Rainer and Tom Rainer.
The mission of the Lone Star College Foundation is to change lives through student scholarships and quality educational programs achieved by excellence in relationship building, fundraising and investment management. Since its creation in 1991, the Foundation has expanded its initial investment of $20,000 into an extensive portfolio of $22 million. With an enrollment of 95,000 credit and non-credit students, attending classes in six comprehensive colleges, six satellite centers and two university centers, the need for financial support increases each semester. For more information, visit LoneStarCollegeFoundation.org or 832.813.6636.
Known for its leadership, innovation and steadfast commitment to student success, Lone Star College provides high-quality academic transfer and workforce education / career training programs to more than 83,000 credit students each semester, and a total enrollment of 95,000 students. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to promote student success and economic prosperity. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, which consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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