LSC Foundation

On April 26. 2022, Dr. Bob McAllister (LSC Foundation Board Member) and Nicole Robinson-Gauthier (LSC Foundation Executive Director) spoke to the membership of the Magnolia Rotary Club about the Lone Star College (LSC) Foundation and what it does for its students. Pictured above from left to right are: Nicole Robinson-Gauthier, Kelly McDonald (President of the Magnolia Rotary Club) and Dr. Bob McAllister.
 
Dr. McAllister talked about how he became involved with the LSC Foundation because of his daughter who was in college studying to be a nurse when she had to drop out to have a baby. Later she went back to get her Associate Degree in Nursing at LSC and then went on to become a nurse. His daughter died about 10 years ago and Dr. McAllister and his wife were so impressed by the quality and reasonable costs of the education at LSC and how the focus of LSC was the student instead of the professors (like many Ivy League Colleges), that they started up an endowment at LSC in their daughter's name (Katherine Ann McAllister) to help other students who wanted to become nurses. There are currently two Katherine Ann McAllister Scholarships given out each year in perpetuity because of the way the LSC Foundation manages all the endowments.
 
Dr, McAllister than introduced Nicole Robinson-Gauthier and turned the presentation over to her.
 
Nicole than went through a series of slides that showing some background information about LSC:
  • LSC has over 80,000 students enrolled each semester
  • LSC is one of the top 3 largest colleges in the nation
  • LSC is one of the fastest growing college systems in the U.S. There were 9,563 students added between the fall semester of 2011 and the fall semester of 2021 (a 13% increase)
  • LSC has 11 school districts, covering 2700 square miles with a population of 2.4 million
Nicole then spoke to the size of LSC and showed a map of the area covered by LSC:
  • 11 in-District ISD's
  • 80,000 plus students
  • 2.4 Million population
  • $402 Million biudget
  • AAA credit rating
  • 6,900+ employees
  • 10,500+ sections each fall
Nicole then spoke to the fact that for the 5th year in a roll, LSC has been named one of the Great Colleges to Work For before showing a  photo of the eight existing campuses.
  • CyFair
  • Houston North
  • Kingwood
  • Montgomery
  • North Harris
  • Tomball
  • LSC-Online
She also showed what are the three LSC facilities currently being planned:
  • Magnolia Center - Scheduled completion is TBD
  • Kingwood Fire Science Facility - Scheduled completion in the fall of 2022
  • University Park Visual Performing Arts Center _scheduled completion is TBD
Nicole then spoke to some Bachelor Degree Programs that LSC is adding to meet the needs of local job markets for those students not planning on going to a typical 4 year college:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy, Manufacturing & Trades Management
  • Bachelor of Applied Technology & Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management (scheduled to begin in the fall of 2022)
Nicole then moved the presentation to talk specifically about the LSC Foundation starting with the Mission Statement of the LSC Foundation and who they are:
  • To change lives through student scholarships and quality educational programs achieved by excellence in relationship building,fundraising, and investment management.
  • The LSC Foundation is:
    • A philanthropic arm of the college - 501(c)3 nonprofit
    • Only part of the college eligible to accept donations (in-kind or monetary)
    • Separate Foundation Board of Directors.
Nicole then spoke to the history of the LSC Foundation:
  • Founded in 1991 with a $20,000 donation from the LSC college
  • Now an extensive portfolio of more than $40 million
  • $16.5 million in scholarships awarded to more than 18,000 students, plus more than $8 million in program support
  • In the 2020-2021 schools year, $1,500,000 in scholarships given out to 1,712 students, plus $1,300,000 in program & emergency support
Nicole then spoke about Foundation activities:
  • In honor of their fallen son, Don and Ruby Staley created the Gary Staley Memorial Fund providing scholarships for firefighters to improve their ability to protect the health and safety of the public.Funds from the Lift High Foundation covered the end of semester costs (board exams, licenses and certification fees) that are a barrier to graduates starting a job.
  • Funds from the Tomball Regional Health Foundation (more than $2 million since 2013) benefiting Pharmacy Technology, Surgical Technology, Nursing. In addition, they are now helping to fund board exams, licenses and certification fees for health professionals. A slide showing some of these costs ranging from $30 to $1000+ was also shown.
Nicole the spoke to some other ways the LSC Foundation supports students beyond scholarships:
  • Faculty Senate Student Emergency Funds
  • Disaster Funds (Harvey, Imelda, Winter Freeze)
  • Book Funds (Textbook and Technology)
  • COVID Computer & Technology Support
  • Exam Fees
Nicole then finished up her presentation talking about some specific students who were helped by the LSC Foundation.
 
Taking some questions from the group, Nicole explained that anyone can set up an endowment fund and direct how the funds will be used. However, the minimum endowment is $15,000. However, that amount can be built up over 1-7 years. Once the funds reach the $15,000 mark, the endowment is created (and named). Additionally, funds can continue to be added to the endowment and the endowment will live on in perpetuity with a guaranteed annual percentage increase based on the size of the fund at that time.
 
For more information, go to https://www.lonestar.edu/giving/ or contact Nicole Robinson-Gauthier, CFRE directly at:
 
Email: Nicole.RobinsonGauthier@lonestar.edu
Phone: 832-813-6636
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