The Highline Foundation had its board meeting yesterday to discuss budgeting and fundraising efforts for the school year of 2022-2023.

“[The] board meeting was this Wednesday and one of the things we did is approving our budget which includes fundraising goals and funds that are budgets for scholarships and emergency support,” said Foundation Executive Director Josh Gerstman.

The foundation at Highline helps student funding in many ways, Gerstman said. 

“The foundation raises funds to support student scholarships, emergency funds, and special projects on campus by faculty and staff,” he said.

The foundation board found social distancing difficult without having face to face contact with others during the pandemic, Gerstman said. 

“The pandemic has made it challenging to gather in person and have events or meetings with community members who contribute to the foundation,” he said.

“In our broader community, many non-profit organizations are facing challenges and are working to raise funds and without the opportunity to connect with people directly, it can be a challenge to get our message through to a broader audience about the need for and impact of the donated funds.”

Earlier this year the 60^th anniversary of the college was celebrated to raise money for students, Gerstman said.

“The foundation has been running a 60-year anniversary campaign to help celebrate and raise awareness of Highline’s 60^th anniversary and to raise money for the student support funds (scholarships and emergency funds). Just over $70,000 has been raised so far,” Gerstman said in June 2022. 

Gerstman also mentioned two events that took place earlier this year in June and one in May shortly after the pandemic in efforts to fundraise for Highline. 

“We hosted a 60^th anniversary social for Highline staff, faculty, retired faculty and staff, alumni and community members on June 2, 2022,” Gerstman said. “The May 17 ping pong tournament and June 2 social events are the first two in-person events we have hosted since before the pandemic.”

The staff on the foundation board are coming together with new plans for the school year, Gerstman said.

“Our foundation board of directors is currently working on updating our strategic plan, mission and vision to make sure it aligns with the new mission, vision, values that the college is working on and working to confirm our goals for the 2022-2023 year,” he said.

For more information on student funding, scholarships, and support, you may contact Josh Gerstman @jgerstman@highline.edu.