Elgin Community College Foundation raises more than $150k at annual gala

The Elgin Community College Foundation’s “2024 Gala: Decades of Dreams” celebrated 75 years of student, faculty, and staff achievements with a night of entertainment and fundraising of more than $150,000 for student scholarships and mini-grants.

This year’s gala fundraising increased by 30% compared to last year.

“This is a special year for both ECC and the ECC Foundation,” said Susan Taylor-Demming, executive director of institutional advancement and the ECC Foundation. “Being the 75th anniversary of the college and 40th anniversary of the foundation, we had a lot to celebrate at the 2024 gala. We are so proud that each year, our students continue making great strides in their academic studies with reduced loans through the positive impact of the foundation. Let’s get ready for the many decades of excellence to come!”

Nearly 300 guests attended the event.

Robin Seigle, foundation board member, and Linda Hefferin, Ed.D., ECC professor emerita, were the gala committee co-chairs. ECC Interim President Peggy Heinrich, Ed.D., shared a state of the college update.

The program also included ECC student scholar Shynecka Manderson, who spoke about the personal impact of being a recipient of a foundation scholarship.

ECC alum and sensational 75 awardee Frank Catalano surprised guests with an impromptu saxophone performance.

The gala also honored recipients of the 2024 ECC Foundation Awards.

The 2024 Foundation award winners are: Roger Smith, ECC Friend of Education Award; Rita Shaw, Exceptional Friend of the ECC Foundation Award; and Danise Habun and Margaret Frisch, ECC President’s Lasting Impact Award.

The Presenting sponsor is Otto Engineering Inc.

The Premiere sponsors are: Assured Partners, DLA Architects, Middleby Corp., Dewberry Architects Inc., Lauderdale Electric, and Mark and Robin Seigle.

The entire gala presentation, photos of the evening, and videos from the award winners are available at elgin.edu/gala.