PR # 105                 December 18, 2006

SCHOLARSHIP GIFT TO RVCC TO ASSIST SINGLE MOTHERS

Holiday gift returns are a staple of the season, but the returns on the gift made by one Hunterdon County woman will keep on giving for years to come.

Karolee Dousa Glassman made a heartfelt presentation of a $25,000 endowed scholarship in her name to the Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Foundation at a recent reception she hosted at her Annandale home for the members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Mrs. Glassman asked that the endowment provide an annual scholarship for a single mother continuing her education at RVCC, recalling her own experience many years ago when she found herself divorced and raising a one-year-old daughter alone. “I know what it’s like to be on your own, and I especially remember the worry of paying the bills. I was very fortunate to meet Sandy,” she said, acknowledging her second husband whom she married in 1969, “and the rest is history.”

The couple’s history is one of hard work and good fortune. The Glassmans are now committed to generously sharing that good fortune with students at RVCC who cannot afford to continue their education because of financial need. Two years ago, they established a similar endowment, the Sanford and Karolee Glassman Endowment, to support a scholarship for an engineering student, honoring Mr. Glassman’s professional field.

When Mrs. Glassman returned to her native Elizabeth, NJ, after her divorce, she had the necessary skills and education to get a job as a bookkeeper, but she hasn’t forgotten what a struggle it was to care for a young child and manage a household and a career without help. “I’ve been there, so I know what it’s like,” she told her guests. Now the mother of four in a blended family and the grandmother of seven, she added, “If this scholarship can help ease some of the strain for someone trying to get ahead, I will be happy.”

Dr. Casey Crabill, RVCC president, accepted the gift, noting, “We will do everything you ask, I promise you.” She reminded everyone that “it is the role of the community college to give that kind of opportunity to our students. We are so grateful for your generosity and for the example you set for others,” she told Mrs. Glassman.

The RVCC Foundation is committed to its mission of raising private funds to ensure that a quality education at the College remains accessible and affordable. For more information on making a gift to support scholarships, contact Executive Director Betty Demy Hutcheon, 908-526-1200, ext. 8349.

RVCC, located on Route 28 and Lamington Road in North Branch, NJ, and serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for 30 years, offers more than 80 associate degrees and certificates. In addition, customized training programs and non-credit courses are available for those seeking personal and professional development.

The College is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.