​Florida

The College of Central Florida (CCF) will receive $1 million as part of a bequest from Cory Pool, chair of the District Board of Trustees. The future gift will ensure the continuation of college scholarships as part of the STEP program, through which promising fifth graders at area schools receive $4,000 to attend CCF upon high school graduation.

Tallahassee Community College’s Healthcare Provision and Excellence Campaign got a $100,000 boost from an anonymous donor. Funds raised during the campaign will enable the college to make improvements to healthcare programs with investments in updated facilities and technology and expanded student services and scholarships.

Illinois

Elgin Community College (ECC) has been chosen to receive a development grant to expand opportunities for students taking English as a second language (ESL) and adult basic education (ABE) classes. The funding will come from a $1.6-million grant awarded to the Illinois Community College Board. ECC was one of eight Illinois colleges selected to participate in Integrated Career and Academic Prep System (I-CAPS) initiative, which helps ESL and ABE students enroll in selected career and technical training programs.

New York

LaGuardia Community College (LGCC) will continue its Global Skills for College Completion (GSCC) program with the help of a $1.05-million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. GSCC brings together a network community college faculty and researchers to improve pass rates for students in basic skills classes.

The college also received a $25,000 grant from the National Center for Family Literacy. The funds will allow LGCC to expand their work to raise college awareness among immigrant families through the college’s Center for Immigrant Education and Training and its Pre-College Academic Programming.