The LMC Foundation is a non-profit organization that secures financial resources and helps student success by providing scholarships and supporting technical training through academic programs.

The foundation was founded in 1997 and started building relationships with businesses, corporations, foundations, and individual donors who provide funding for the foundation.

This has enabled the foundation to give more than 4,000 scholarships and assist over 1,500 students transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Donors have given $6 million over the past 17 years, according to the Executive Director Lindy Maynes.

As a result, the foundation changes lives and builds futures.

The foundation’s website provides a short anecdote about the success of a student identified only as Raquel, a past recipient of a scholarship provided by the foundation. She wanted to transfer “to UCLA and eventually go on to become a doctor of osteopathic medicine.” She was able to do just that with help from the money raised by the foundation, and is working toward her goal.

Scholarships help students reach their goals by making it easier for them to fund their education.

The foundation currently “holds approximately $400,000 in scholarship funds for our students” said Maynes, who suggests the best strategy for students wanting to apply for scholarships is to contact LMC Scholarship Office.

One particular scholarship Maynes recommends students consider applying for is The Kennedy King Memorial Scholarship, which will be open for application soon.

“This transfer scholarship is worth a total of $8,000,” she said.

The foundation helps LMC as an institution as well, Maynes said, and “seeks grant funding for programs.” These programs include PTEC/ETEC, Drama, Nursing, Student Success, MESA, UMOJA, Buildings and Grounds, and LMC Police Services. In addition, the foundation provides emergency loans for veterans and mini grants to faculty and staff.

The foundation also donates to career tech programs that benefit the community. Emergency medical training, nursing, electrical engineering, law enforcement, and firefighting potentially lead to careers with earnings around $80,000 a year.

Current foundation donors include private foundations and businesses such as Wells Fargo and Kaiser, said Maynes.

“Companies that join the LMC President’s Circle also contribute to the funding,” Maynes added, including Dow, PG&E, Contra Costa Building Trades, Industrial Association of Contra Costa County. Individuals, faculty, managers, staff, and alumni also donate to the foundation.

“Because of you, the Los Medanos College Foundation has provided emergency financial and supportive services to veteran, homeless and disabled students, as well as awarding need and merit-based scholarships to students totaling $250,000,” Maynes said in a letter sent to donors of the foundation.

“Consequently, our students are reaching their educational goals, maximizing their professional potential and making a positive and lasting impact in the community,” she added.

Despite tough economic times, Maynes still manages to benefit the college by raising money. She said the foundation is both the fundraising and friend-raising arm of the college.