MUD FORK — Over $7 million dollars has been pledged to the Vision 2020 Major Gifts Fundraising Campaign since it was launched in 2006 by the Southern West Virginia Community College Foundation, Inc. Contributions continue to come in as preparations are being made for Phase II of the campaign which has a goal of $20 million dollars by the year 2020.

Working diligently to reach that goal is Southern's President Joanne Jaeger Tomblin who said she is overwhelmed by the support from local businesses, alumni and college employees. She explained even though Southern is a state assisted institution, budgets are tight and will continue to shrink.

As a proactive measure to future budget cuts, contributions to the Vision 2020 fundraising campaign, has enabled Southern to implement new programs, expand current ones and award more student scholarships. Since 2006, the Southern Foundation has awarded over $600,000 in scholarship monies to local students.

"Vision 2020 is the first campaign of this magnitude by a community college in the state of West Virginia. We have been blessed from the beginning to have employee support. As president, I am extremely proud that our foundation board members and employees have embraced this ambitious goal," President Tomblin said. "This campaign is a testament to our communities and to the world that Southern is committed to serving all students and to meeting the futuristic needs of workforce training with modern technology."

Southern has made it convenient to support the fundraising efforts via the college's web site. A Vision 2020 Major Gifts Campaign contribution link is available on the main web page at www.southernwv.edu. The new on line giving form is easy to fill out and submit. Also available on this link are levels of giving, current donor names and much more.

President Tomblin, who is in her 10th year in the college's leadership role, stressed that no matter what the amount is, all gifts are important to the Vision 2020 Campaign. Gifts to the Southern Foundation are tax deductible.

Since the onset of the Vision 2020 Major Gifts Campaign, contributions have enabled Southern to initiate programs in Cosmetology/Salon Management, Dental Hygiene, EMT-Mining, Medical Assistant, Respiratory Care Technology, Survey Technology, and support for the Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies, and financial assistance through the Foundation has more than tripled.

Investments from the campaign will continue to support these efforts. As the campaign grows, the College will pursue additional programs to meet the demand

Gifts to the Foundation assist Southern to fulfill its mission of providing innovative and comprehensive educational opportunities for students. For more information, contact the Foundation Liaison and Vice President for Development Ronald E. Lemon at 304-896-7425.

Southern operates four campuses and two sites located in Boone, Logan, Lincoln, Mingo, Raleigh and Wyoming counties. Kentucky students residing in Pike, Martin, Boyd and Lawrence counties are eligible for in-state tuition rates. The college's web site is www.southernwv.edu and the toll free number is 1-866-798-2821.

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is a member institution of the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.