Report from the Foundation Chairman Bob Polentz

The Golden West Foundation continued its participation in the Scholarship and Awards Ceremony held in May by awarding scholarships to over 200 students. Since 1986, the Foundation has awarded over $2,800,000 to deserving students. This has been extremely gratifying to the Foundation as the awarding of scholarships is a direct contributor to the enhancement of student success at Golden West College.

On Saturday March 25, the Foundation held its ninth annual major fundraiser, the “Golden West College Gala.” Our success with this event continued, raising approximately $132,000-- a new record. The proceeds funded the Foundation’s Wish List Program and the Foundation’s Endowed Scholarships. We particularly want to thank Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Elmore Toyota and Union Bank of California as major sponsors and all the other underwriters who gave so generously to this event. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Gala Committee and its co-chairs, Emilee Young and Charla Kabana, as well as the community at large for continuing to support this very important event for the college. We are looking forward to continuing success at our tenth Gala scheduled for March 24, 2007.

Our 15th Annual Courtyard of Honor Ceremony was celebrated last October. We had six Pillars of Support (+$25,000) including the Profesóra Cronk Memorial Pillar, Charlie and Margie Bunten Pillar, Carolyn Cunningham Pillar, El Viento Pillar, the James Jordan Memorial Nursing Pillar, and the Norah Morrison, J.D., C.F.P. Pillar. The donor wall was increased by 40 donor names, with seven in the Golden Society ($10,000+) category. Three outstanding GWC alumni were honored as Alumni Pillar of Achievement recipients. Since the inception of this awards program in 1991, seventy-three alumni have been honored.

As we look to 2007, we want to express our collective gratitude for the support and leadership of the Foundation Board members whose continued commitment and participation is critical to the overall success of the Foundation’s mission. The Foundation’s objectives for 2007 include

expanding Board membership and continuing a high level of participation from our members

while seeking fresh ideas for new fund raising opportunities and existing programs.

This year has continued to be relatively challenging from an investment perspective with the market basically performing in a relatively narrow range. Under the guidance of the Investment Committee and its chairman, Doug Fabian, we have exercised a high degree of conservatism relative to our investments during the past year and will continue to exercise prudence in our efforts to increase the value of the portfolio and to provide a reasonable return on endowed funds. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Fabian Investment Resources and Spectrum Asset Management for their continued support and guidance on a volunteer basis.

In closing, I would like to personally thank the Foundation Board of Directors, Golden West College President Wes Bryan, and those who have provided advice, counsel, professional guidance, financial support and personal time to the Board during the past year. It is not often that I have had the unique opportunity to work with such a dedicated group, and I look forward to the upcoming year in which we will work as a team towards the goal of enhancing student success at Golden West College.

Robert Polentz, Chairman
Golden West College Foundation