NEWS
Contact:
Sally Cox, The Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges
Jennifer N. Kearns, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
December 18, 2025
The Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges reaches Promise Plus endowment goal of $4 million
The Promise Plus will provide $200,000 in scholarships each year to East County students
El Cajon, CA — At the December 16, 2025 Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board meeting, the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges announced successfully reaching the Promise Plus endowment campaign goal of $4 million. By achieving this goal, the Foundation will be able to distribute $200,000 in Promise Plus scholarships annually, in perpetuity, benefitting up to 400 East County students each year.
Since its inception, the Promise Plus has provided nearly $500,000 to fund more than 900 scholarships for Grossmont and Cuyamaca college students. The Promise Plus has received over 16,000 individual donations, provided by nearly 600 donors, approximately 200 of whom are employees of the District, the colleges, and the Grossmont Union High School District.
“As a Navy veteran and father, studying aerospace and mechanical engineering, this scholarship has helped fund school supplies, gas for my commute, and most importantly, allowed me to allocate more funds to put food on the table for my family,” stated Cuyamaca College student Antonio Williams, Samuel M. Ciccati Promise Plus Scholarship Recipient.
Grossmont and Cuyamaca College students are able to apply for the competitive Promise Plus scholarships, in categories that include:
· Promise Students: Full-time California students who have not yet earned a degree or certificate
· Workforce Promise: Full-time students coming from the workforce to earn a degree or certificate
· Adult Education Transfer: Students transferring from Grossmont Adult School and Mountain Empire Adult School
Endowment funds will also be used to support emergency scholarships for students who experience an unexpected cost which interferes with their ability to remain in college, such as a vehicle repair or a medical bill.
Promise Plus fundraising efforts were bolstered by an early $1 million gift from Dr. Samuel M. Ciccati, which allowed the campaign to gain momentum, along with a $100,000 donation from the Rice Family Foundation. Most recently, a $100,000 matching donation from Roger Frey provided the final funds to reach the endowment goal. Other noteworthy Promise Plus donors include Lawrence Cayton, The Retiree Network, Yehudi Gaffen, Bill and Judy Garrett, Stan and Darlene Flandi, the Barona Band of Mission Indians, California Coast Credit Union, the East County Federal Credit Union, Marty and Bessy Glaske, and Chancellor Lynn Ceresino Neault.
The Promise Plus is further funded by Legacy Donors, who have added the Promise Plus in their will or estate plan, and include Al and Carol Kadhum, Mary Barton, Dale Oliver and Georgella Jean Campbell, Donald Patterson, and Ginger Lee Navarro. Altogether, nearly 600 people and organizations made contributions to reach the $4 million goal.
For the past five years, Promise Plus funds have allowed hundreds of students to successfully start and complete their higher education journey by providing funding for critical unmet needs. To learn more about the Promise Plus, visit https://foundation.gcccd.edu/the-promise.
About The Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges
The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges serves the students of Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges and our campuses, and raises both grant and philanthropic funds in support of our students. Our grant programs have been very successful with a specialty in receiving government funds to support workforce development, and we are among the largest community college foundations in the state. We focus our philanthropic fundraising on scholarships and are currently providing more than 650 scholarships, and nearly $500,000 annually to Grossmont and Cuyamaca College students. To learn more, visit foundation.gcccd.edu.
About the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD) includes Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, which offer hundreds of degree and certificate programs, including Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Advanced/Basic Certificates. GCCCD is the largest provider of higher education and job training in East County, and is a top transfer pathway to San Diego State University. The colleges lead the way in developing educational programs, classes and services that meet the needs of the community of learners, and prepare students to meet changing community and workforce needs, while advancing social justice and economic mobility. Learn more and enroll at www.gcccd.edu/enroll.
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