SPC Foundation concludes 2022 with new highs in fundraising, student support

2/23/2023

It was another record-breaking year for the St. Petersburg College Foundation, as supporters for the college showed their continuing support with more than $8.6 million in contributions. This marked a six percent increase over 2021.

The increase in donations to the foundation in 2022 was complemented by continued growth in scholarship and programmatic support for SPC. The foundation awarded over $2.4 million in scholarship support to SPC students during the calendar year. SPC programs benefitted as well, with a 15 percent increase in support, year over year, to more than $2 million.

These increases in both giving and in impact came during a year that proved challenging for investors and investments alike, and that fact was not lost on St. Petersburg College’s Vice President for Advancement, Jesse Turtle.

“We are grateful for the many foundations, corporations, and families that continue to support the people and the mission of St. Petersburg College,” said Turtle. “Their generosity, even in a year that saw an uneven economy, has proven resilient. Our students are the ones that benefit the most, and we were pleased to increase our support for them in both scholarships and programmatic support.”

Highlights from the year included the Inaugural SPC Day in September. This day of giving saw 340 donors contribute $225,695 to the Titan Fund, supporting several college-wide initiatives that provide students a helping hand when they need it the most. Another groundbreaking gift in 2022 came from the Speer Foundation, whose $125,000 gift created the First Step scholarship program for students seeking to earn a certificate from SPC.