Representatives from Edmonds Community College attended our February meeting to discuss the details of a major fund raising program being conducted by the Edmonds CC Foundation. The new fund raising program is called the “Boots to Books and Beyond Campaign”. Pam Wanser, who is the Director of Development for the College Foundation, informed us that, to date, the initiative has raised almost three quarters of the one million dollar goal. The funds will be used to provide financial support to student veterans attending Edmonds Community College and members of their families. In addition, the Campaign will support on-campus resources, services, and other veteran oriented activities. This wonderful Edmonds Community College initiative will ease the transition to civilian and college life for veterans and serve to retention and graduation rates among veterans.
Accompanying Pam was Chris Szarek, who is the Director of the Veterans Resource Center at Ed-monds CC. The College has dedicated office space for the Center, which provides counseling, resource, and support services at the College. Edmonds Community College is, perhaps, the most veteran-friendly college in the state, and the Veterans Re-source Center and Boots to Books and Beyond Campaign are examples of best practice for other colleges and universities to emulate.
At the conclusion of Pam and Chris’ presentation, Commander Fred Apgar presented them with a check in the amount of $2000 to support the fund raising campaign.