Pathways to the Future<= /p>

November 2011 Editorial=

The Labette Community College Foundation = is in the final stage of the Pathways to the Future Capital Campaign. This pro= ject is the most expansive capital campaign in the college’s history. We currently stand at $9,438,476 to reach the total goal of $10.4 million by December 31, 2011.

Over the last three years people from thr= oughout Labette County and across the country have recognized the need and stepped forward pledging support and dollars to fund the project. I am thrilled with the support received from individuals, businesses, and foundations. The new allied health programs and building will change lives for generations. Our = core values focus on accessibility, integrity, quality, and community. These val= ues along with our mission statement - Labette Community College provides quality learning opportunities in= a supportive environment for success in a changing world – are the buil= ding blocks of our campaign.

The first goal of= the campaign is constructing a new Health Science building. A state-of-the-art facility efficiently designed for specific program requirements makes good business sense. It will not only meet the needs of the current students but= has also been designed with room to expand and to adapt to future needs. The programs to be housed in the Health Science Center include Nursing, Radiography, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapist Assisting, Dental Assisting, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Our project will create new opportunities for students to train in healthcare fields and begin rewardin= g careers upon graduation.

The second goal is expanding our scholars= hip endowment. We have seen a tremendous amount of support for this goal. In fa= ct, we have received gifts and pledges of over $1 million for this purpose ensu= ring that more and more scholarships will become available to students for years= to come. The final component of our campaign is funding deferred maintenance projects. The contributions received for this purpose have allowed the coll= ege to make needed facility improvements. The projects completed so far include: correction to a water problem as well as renovation of the library, a new H= VAC system in one of the buildings, new classroom doors and locks, and a new biology lab in the Main Building.

This is probably = the first time a fundraising campaign of this magnitude has occurred within Labette County. The process = has expanded the relationships between many community members and the college, = as well as strengthening relationships with alumni who live all over the United States. It is incredible to see the interaction among individuals, business= es and the college. So many people have come together for the common goal of improving Labette Community College.

With that being said, we still need more people to make a commitment to our campaign to aid in completing our goals.= The timing for our campaign completion coincides with the Kresge Challenge Grant deadline of December 31, 2011. Meeting this deadline will ensure LCC receiv= es the $1 million grant from the Kresge Foundation. To date, the campaign has raised $9,438,476. So you can see that this campaign has continued to do amazing things in an economic recession. Gifts of cash are not the only way = to contribute – many alumni and donors have taken advantage of other options, some of the most common being gifts of stock, land and life insura= nce. We will be happy to work with you to space your gift over a period of up to= 5 years to make your giving a reality.

Another giving option that is attractive = for persons age 70 ½, or older, is giving through an IRA. If you are eli= gible, you can transfer a donation directly to the Labette Community College Found= ation’s Pathway to the Future Campaign from your IRA. Simply request your IRA administrator transfer an amount to the LCC Foundation. Then the administra= tor transfers the funds directly to us, thus giving you a “qualified charitable distribution,” which is excluded from your adjusted gross income. For example, you could have $500,000 in an IRA and be required to withdraw approximately $25,000 this year, and suppose you also want to contribute $10,000 to the campaign. You can authorize your administrator to transfer $10,000 to the LCC Foundation and $15,000 to yourself. The $10,000 distributed the LCC Foundation will not be subject to tax and will be count= ed toward your annual required minimum distribution. Please discuss this with = your tax advisor for more information.

It is a tremend= ous joy to give to a project of this magnitude and know you are working together with so many other supporters to accomplish this important mission for our students and the future of higher education in Southeast Kansas. This may b= e a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to something so remarkable, far-reaching and yet will benefit our friends and neighbors for many years.=

This project is truly one of the signific= ant endeavors in Labette County and the history of the College. I would like to thank all the staff, steering committee, Board, and community support for t= he successful future of our students. These individuals, along with so many ot= hers are truly creating a “Pathway to the Future” for our students.<= o:p>