Jim and Kathy Armatys

For more information or taped actuality, contact Darnell Holopirek, 620-792-9367. March 1, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Story by: Linda Dueser Barton’s Academic Enrichment Fund Campaign Says ‘Give Today – Create Tomorrow’ The Barton County Community College Foundation launched its annual Academic Enrichment Fund Campaign March 1 to raise money for academic scholarships. Conducted by direct mail for its fourth year, the AEF Campaign will continue through March 31. The goal of the 2007 campaign is $45,000, with the theme, “Give Today – Create Tomorrow,” said Darnell Holopirek, executive director of Institutional Advancement at Barton.

“Our future leaders are many of these students that we’re educating today,” she said. “We’re creating students who will complete certificates and degrees to go right back into our community, our workforce.”

This year, Jim and Kathi Armatys, Great Bend, are honorary chairs for the campaign, working with Mike Nicholson, who represents the foundation board of directors in the campaign.
The Armatyses have been supportive of BCCC Foundation initiatives for many years and Kathi served on the foundation’s board of directors for six years.

In her experience on the board, Kathi has seen firsthand the impact of the AEF Campaign on the lives of both traditional and non-traditional students. “The high cost of an education puts it out of reach for many,” she said. “The generous contributions of community members will open the doors for hundreds of students and give them the opportunity to pursue their goals.”

Jim echoes his wife’s sentiments. “As longtime supporters of Barton County Community College, we have always been impressed with the mission of the college,” he said. “That mission is not only to nurture the academic growth of the students served, but also to guide them socially and culturally, giving them the knowledge necessary to make good judgments for implementing their education in the workforce.”

Kathi added, “We all benefit each time a student receives a diploma and joins the workforce better prepared to meet the challenges of today’s world.”

Coleen Cape, Barton’s alumni association coordinator, who assists with the AEF Campaign, said giving to the AEF can go on all year long. “If people want to wait until after they do their tax return or wait until the end of the year, that’s OK,” she said. “The drive is for the entire year, but we do the campaign in March to encourage people to give.”

Holopirek pointed out a new opportunity this year because of a change in a law in August of last year. “After people turn 70, they are required to withdraw from their IRA. With this change, they are allowed to transfer funds directly to a nonprofit entity without having to pay income tax on the money withdrawn. It’s called an IRA gift,” she said.

“We will make it as easy as possible for people to give,” she added. “They may give cash or use a credit card, and if they’re a company and need to be invoiced, we will be happy to bill them.”

Donors also have an opportunity to designate how their funds are used. “The purpose of the AEF drive historically has been to raise money for scholarships and it still focuses on scholarships, but if someone would like to give to a particular program or department, they can step forward and tell us how to direct their contribution,” Cape said. “If they want to honor someone with a memorial, they can do it through this drive.”

Kathi Armatys added, “We hope many people will join us in this fund-raising effort and ‘give today to create tomorrow.'"

The AEF Campaign is one of the BCCC Foundation’s two big fund-raisers for academic scholarships. The Big Benefit Auction is the other event, which will take place on Aug. 25 this year.

Even though this fund drive is conducted by mail, anyone who would like to meet face to face with someone from the BCCC Foundation is welcome to contact the Foundation Office, Holopirek said.

Anyone not contacted by the AEF Campaign mailing is encouraged to contact the Foundation Office, 620-786-1136 or 620-792-9306, if they would like to donate to the academic scholarship fund.