The South Plains College Foundation has reported the December 2024 donations exceeded $1.24 million compared to December 2023’s $1.49 million.
Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Julie Gerstenberger shared her End of Year Foundation Donation Report and 2025 Scholarship Gala update to the SPC Board of Regents Thursday.
“I’m so grateful and pleased to report to you we had a better December in 24 than we did in 23,” said Gerstenberger.
A list of cities from which donations came was presented to the regents. The list included 254 individuals and 106 businesses, trusts and organizations contributed to the SPC Foundation in calendar year 2024. Those numbers included 86 cities across the nation and 24 states.
“I’m so pleased that our reach looks like this and of course the great majority of our support comes locally,” said Gerstenberger.
In terms of endowment growth in 2024, $308,040 was contributed for individual endowments and that includes nine new endowments created.
“When I say new endowment what I mean is that they are fully funded,” explained Gerstenberger. “Our minimum level of endowment funding is $10,000 and the last one that we received in 2024 was for $40,000.”
Three new endowments were chartered which means the individual organizations donated at least $2,500. Gerstenberger did many were much more than that and four endowments that had been building and growing reached full endowment status of $10,000 within 2024.
A total of $148,000 then was added to the endowments in the calendar year. The Foundation also had $98,000 given to them in the impact scholarship donations.
“If you will recall, impact donations are money-in and money-out,” explained Gerstenberger. “These donors do not want us to invest and endow those to be used utilized in perpetuity, but it is money-in and money-out.”
The college also received a couple of significant grants from Google grants that they received. Distinguished alumnus Kevin Dane spearheaded those efforts and that resulted in $100,000. The college also received a $120,000 grant from the Ray Charitable Foundation which is going toward a capital project for the renovation of seating in the theater. The renovations also included flooring and paint.
“We have a fantastic 21 member board of directors who work diligently,” said Gerstenberger. “Within that board is a seven member finance and investment committee. We are fortunate.”
A scholarship gala update was provided by Gerstenberger. She added that $68,250 in sponsorships for the gala have been brought in.
The host for this year is City Bank and that is a that is a $10,000 sponsorship. The underwriting partner is the Hockley County Credit Union.
Two additions have been made to the diamond sponsors. Brett Taylor Royalty Trust and Great Western Dining were added. Others include Richard and Carrie Ellis, Bobby and Ann Capps and Eagle Rubber and Supply. Diamond level sponsorship is $5,000.
Several ruby sponsors were added, Crestridge Funeral Home, Quick Lane, Smith Auto Family and the South Plains Community Action Association. Other ruby sponsors include Jim Cole, Mike Box, BT’s Level and Shear Imagination, BGR Architects, Inc, and Ag Products.
The sapphire sponsors had two additions in the Edens and Mara families. The sponsors in the sapphire category also include Jeb Wilcox and the Wilcox Family, Reese Technology Center, The Bob Veretto Family, Plains Motor Supply, SPC Texan Club, TTUHSC School of Nursing and Edward Jones-Brian and Shelby Lewis.
Some changes for the event will be made as Gerstenberger explained that the need to be nimble and make some changes is necessary to help keep the interested and involved. There will be an outside master of ceremonies joining the event, alumnus Kirk Knowles will be serving as the master of ceremonies. Similar to 2019, the entertainment will be a house band of faculty members and we will feature current students as well as some alumni.
This year’s pacesetter will be Randy Wilson. Wilson is an SPC alumnus and attended the college in 1978 on a full ride basketball scholarship. Wilson lives in Odessa and he serves on the Odessa Board of Trustees.
Gerstenberger added that Wilson continues to have ties to SPC and Levelland.