Activity Overview
The Foundation manages 80 endowed scholarships and 26 annually funded scholarships. Contributions have been made by individuals, families and businesses which support student opportunity and excellence in program delivery for virtually every academic area of the college.
The Foundation oversees the annual Distinguished Alumni program, which has been in place since 1991. Nominations are made annually and the recipient is asked to speak at the May graduation ceremonies. The Foundation created its first Distinguished Service Award in 2011.
Special events sponsored by the Foundation raise funds for student opportunity at Eastern Wyoming College, and also serve to provide opportunities for the community to enjoy a night out, or a day on the golf course. The Foundation receives significant local support from businesses and individuals through sponsorships and general support, and we sincerely thank those who have helped make these events so successful.
Annual Giving The Foundation has raised nearly $130,000 in its first three years of operating an annual appeal program. Annual giving is designed to raise unrestricted funds that can be used to support specific requests from the College president. The 2012 Annual Appeal is chaired by two EWC Distinguished Alumni – Barbara Bonds and Todd Peterson – and Mr. Gary Olson.
State Endowment Challenge
The Foundation is involved with the state program that matches endowment gifts on a dollar for dollar basis. The maximum amount that can be raised privately through this program is $5.0 million. We are currently at approximately $4.5 million on this program.
Special Events
The Foundation works with the staff and instructors in the Agriculture and Livestock Judging programs to put on an annual fund-raising called Sagebrush and Roses. The Foundation additionally operates an annual golf tournament to support general activities of the Foundation.
Estate Planning
The Foundation and Development Office have initiated a program to involve small numbers of individuals in an educational setting, and lead by an estate planning attorney. The Foundation has contracted for its first charitable gift annuity, which is also matched by the state endowment challenge fund. The Foundation and College completed a major gift campaign in 2011 that raised $1.2 million for college needs identified through its strategic planning process, including remodeling of the student residence hall, the Veterinary Technology Building, and the Machine Tool Technology building. The Foundation will explore other opportunities for support of programs in outreach areas in collaboration with College leadership and within College strategic priorities.
Sagebrush and Roses
Eastern Wyoming College Foundation and the College’s agriculture department sponsor an annual fund-raising event titled Sagebrush and Roses. This event is a “Black Tie and Blue Jeans” dinner and dance held at the Goshen County Fairgrounds Rendezvous Center in support of scholarships and other program needs for agriculture students at EWC.
The annual Sagebrush and Roses dinner and dance will be held Saturday, January 30, 2021. The event not only raises funds for the agriculture program and its students, but is a major social event for Goshen County. Next year’s event will feature a top-notch meal and dancing with a live band.
Tickets for the 2021 event will be available in December 2020. For more information about Sagebrush & Roses, please contact the EWC Office of Institutional Development at 307.532.8397.
EWC Foundation Golf Tournament
The annual EWC Foundation golf tournament will be held Saturday, June 14, 2020 at the City of Torrington Golf Course and Cottonwood Country Club. This event raises an average of $9,000/year for Foundation programs in support of EWC students. Corporate and hole sponsorships are available by calling the EWC Office Institutional Development at 307.532.8397.
The event is a four-person scramble. The 2020 entry fee will be set in April 2020, will cover one team and includes one team mulligan. A barbeque and Calcutta with Horse Race betting is Friday, June 13th at 6:30 PM at the Cottonwood Country Club in Torrington, Wyoming.
For more information or to enter a team, please contact the Office of Institutional Development at 307.532.8397