Narrative History

NARRATIVE HISTORY
YCCD Foundation

The Founding: YCCD Foundation was granted status as a not-for-profit by both the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service (U.S. Government) during the 1972-73 academic year. The purpose of the foundation at the time, as stated in the Articles of Incorporation, could be encapsulated in a single sentence: “The specific and primary purpose for which this Corporation is formed is to establish an organization to manage and administer funds and other property bequeathed or donated to Yuba College for the educational benefit of students and former students of Yuba College.”

The original Board of Directors of the YCCD Foundation reflected the District’s Service area at the time, emphasizing Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties. This Board included many of the most distinguished leaders of these communities at that time:

YCCD Foundation
FOUNDING BOARD - 1972

Throughout the 1970s, the District grew to include Woodland and Clear Lake, with these new service areas providing membership to the Board as well. As a rule, the Board has subsequently included 12 to 14 community members and four “ex officio” internal members.

The Sawtell Endowment: In the late 1970s, a memorial gift in the name of a regional agriculturalist, Harold Sawtell, provided a corpus of more than $2 million dollars from which the Foundation’s investments would be able to generate annual scholarship gifts based on both merit and need. Surrounding the completion of the Sawtell gift (1990), were the donation of 33 other endowed gifts to support programs, services and scholarships at the various campuses throughout Yuba Community College District. These endowed gifts are listed below:

YCCD Foundation
Endowments

Amar Kaur Bains Memorial Scholarship
Judith Barr Memorial Scholarship
Beeghly-Merritt Memorial Endowment
William Dexter Black Memorial Scholarship
Algeo Brill Memorial Scholarship
Scott Evan Chew Memorial Scholarship
Grace Clement Memorial Scholarship
Jefferson Davis Memorial Scholarship
Tony Deegan Memorial Scholarship
Diane Pruim-Dowden Memorial Scholarship
Ted and Darlene Dress Family Scholarship
Gary Engelken Memorial Scholarship
Jack Feldman Memorial Scholarship
Eileen Frye Memorial Scholarship
Gern Music Scholarship
Don Hubbard Memorial Scholarship
Rose & Alvin Huckins Memorial Scholarship
Reita Huckins-Bell Memorial Scholarship
Larner-Peri Memorial Scholarship
Don Laughlin Memorial Scholarship
Literary Awards
Gavin Mandery Memorial Scholarship
Brian Meilbeck Memorial Scholarship
Kewal Singh Nagra Scholarship
Harold Sawtell Memorial Scholarship
Albin Sluzalis Memorial Scholarship
Elmer and Clemmie Stohlman Memorial Scholarship
Tierra Buena Woman’s Scholarship
Paul Jason Welch Memorial Scholarship
Mark White Memorial Scholarship
Woodland-Bigelow Progress Fund
Yuba City Choir Memorial Scholarship
Yuba City Women’s Club Scholarship
Yuba College Scholarship

Over the years, hundreds of additional, short-term scholarships have been named in support of most academic programs throughout the District. Additionally, funds have been donated to support such projects as campus beautification, laboratory equipment, faculty/staff mini-grants, athletic programs, cultural events, the libraries, disabled students, the food services program, law enforcement, music and the arts, and student emergency relief.

Staffing: During the early decades of YCCD Foundation’s history, it was managed by various assistants within the Office of the President. Most recently, these have included Keya Chlebeck (Ret.) and Donna Johnson. These individuals developed and organized a complete set of donor records dating to 1972, a set still utilized in tracking our donors to this day.

The first Director, Penny Fredell, was hired on a part-time basis in 1991 to oversee the expansion of the Board of Directors and to initiate a series of special events, such as the “Arts and Flowers Festival,” conducted during the early 1990s.

For information on current staffing, see Administration; Staff Members.

Future Initiatives: YCCD Foundation will continue to support the mission of the District while focusing, as well, on direct assistance to students.

• Woodland Community College Friends Group: Much effort, over the next two to three years (2006-2008) will be focused on the establishment of an active Friends group for Woodland Community College.
• Expand Annual Fund: Current expansion of the Annual Fund to include Athletics and Woodland Community College has encouraged the Foundation to grow the Annual Campaign further yet to include other programs, services and scholarships.
• Support Campus Growth: The Foundation will join efforts to support the growth and beautification of our campuses. Renovation of Marysville and the further development of Woodland remain high on the priority list.