(Orange, CA) – The Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Foundation recently received a $15,000 grant from the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation to support student veterans with access to higher education and basic needs resources that help keep military-affiliated students in school.
The grant is a renewal of an existing gift to the SCC Veterans Resource Center (VRC) from the Orange County-based nonprofit. The funds will provide SCC veteran students with vital resources such as laptops, textbooks, school supplies, and emergency funds when necessary.
The Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation was founded by the late Stanley W. Ekstrom, the former president of Cardinal Paint, who died in 2015. Stanley W. Ekstrom was an innovative businessman, humanitarian and philanthropist, and his Foundation honors his legacy by continuing to fund causes he supported throughout his life. The self-funded nonprofit also supports causes that promote better social welfare, education, animal welfare and the wellbeing of active duty and retired military members and their families.
According to Steven A. Silverstein, president and board chair of the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation, the nonprofit gives to many veteran-focused entities, and supporting SCC's student veterans is a natural fit.
“We believe all citizens have a responsibility to help our veterans," Silverstein said. “They volunteer to support us – we must support them in return."
VRC Program Director Dr. LaKyshia Perez said the gift from the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation will help SCC student veterans to continue working toward their career and academic goals.
“The pandemic has had a significant impact on our student veterans; donations such as this amplify our ability to provide continuous services," she said. “Like the rest of the world, the pandemic has impacted students' employment; the emergency funds will help students keep afloat alongside the support services at SCC."
To support the SCC Foundation and learn more about the organization's mission, visit www.sccollegefoundation.org.
# # #
About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) is one of two colleges in the Rancho Santiago Community College District and serves approximately 16,000 students annually. Accredited in 2000, this dynamic and award-winning institution is located in Southern California, in the city of Orange, and provides an array of educational opportunities to the over 195,000 residents comprising the eclectic community. SCC offers 221 degree and certificate programs (including 28 associate degrees for transfer). SCC has been ranked among the “50 Best Community Colleges" in the U.S. by College Choice, recognized multiple times by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of “The Great Colleges to Work For," received Gold-level status as a Military Friendly School®, and boasts award-winning, dedicated faculty, high-quality and student-centered education, and has an excellent university transfer rate supported by transfer-guarantee programs. www.sccollege.edu
Media Contact(s):
Ruth Cossio-Muniz
Phone: (714) 401-7884
Contact by email
