Last Updated on August 11, 2016 by cassnetwork
KOKOMO, Ind. — Jean Cole, a long-time supporter of Ivy Tech Community College, has been honored for her efforts with an endowment established by her family to support the work of Ivy Tech Kokomo Region’s Circle of Ivy, Women in Philanthropy, organization.
The endowment was established in honor of Jean’s work as a founding member of the Circle of Ivy and is the first endowment to the Circle of Ivy in the state. The Circle of Ivy was established last year as a statewide women’s giving circle committed to raising funds to diminish barriers to higher education.
Members of her family, including husband Milt Cole, sons Randy and Keith Cole and wives Candy and Carmella, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, were on hand recently when a commemorative check for $10,000 was presented to the Ivy Tech Foundation to establish the Jean Cole Circle of Ivy Endowment to benefit the Circle of Ivy – Kokomo Region. Members of the group will determine each year how proceeds from the investment of the funds will be used to support projects in the Kokomo Region.
“The Cole family’s generosity over many years has greatly benefited the students of Ivy Tech Community College, especially in Logansport and Cass County,” said Kelly Karickhoff, executive director of Resource Development for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Region. “The Circle of Ivy members will be accepting proposals from throughout the region – which could include scholarships, needed equipment, and innovative programming – and will select projects they feel best support our students.”
Jean Cole is a Logansport businesswoman, community volunteer, benefactor and visionary who, with her husband, has been an enthusiastic supporter of Ivy Tech for decades, Karickhoff noted. She has served on the Ivy Tech Kokomo Region Board of Trustees since 2011.
The Coles have been honored for their service to their community and their state with a number of awards. In 2010, the Coles were honored with Ivy Tech Foundation’s Benefactor of the Year award in recognition of their $1 million pledge toward construction of the new Logansport Campus and their three-year service as honorary chairpersons for the Kokomo Region’s extremely successful capital campaign. In 2014, Jean was honored with an honorary Associate of Science in College and Community Service degree in recognition of her contributions to the College, its students and the communities served by Kokomo Region.
“We are proud that Jean was instrumental in starting Ivy Tech’s statewide Circle of Ivy, Women in Philanthropy,” Milt Cole said. “This endowment honors her commitment to this great initiative that is designed to expand the power of women as philanthropists and focus energy and funding on support of the College and its students.”
Membership in the Circle of Ivy is open to female students, alumni and community members at various levels of giving. Members have the opportunity to attend social events and philanthropic planning events throughout the year and help choose the projects to be supported by the Circle of Ivy fund. For more information on the Circle of Ivy, or to participate, contact Karickhoff at kkarickhoff@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5501.
SOURCE: News release from Ivy Tech Community College