VENTURA, Calif. - s4story -- The Ventura College Foundation announced it surpassed the $7 million goal of its "Invest in Success" fundraising campaign by $117,289.

The Invest in Success campaign was launched when the Ventura College Foundation Board of Directors approved a plan to sustain the long-term future of the VC Promise Program and Basic Needs Centers.

"Ventura College exists because our community believes that education has the power to transform lives. The outstanding success of the Invest in Success campaign is a powerful reflection of that shared commitment in action. Together, Ventura College, the Ventura College Foundation, and our generous donors are ensuring that financial hardship doesn't stand between a student and the opportunity to access education and pursue their educational goals," says Dr. Luca E. Lewis, Ventura College president.

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"Each year, more than 12,000 students attend Ventura College with the hopes of bettering their lives," says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. "Too often, financial burdens and other obstacles keep students from reaching their academic and career potential. That's where the Ventura College Foundation steps in to help."

Donations to the Invest in Success campaign support Ventura College's Basic Needs Centers at the Ventura Campus and at East Campus, which serve the Santa Clara River Valley. Over 500 students visit the centers each day to receive groceries, hygiene items and snacks at no cost. Students can access a variety of other support systems, such as transportation assistance, mental health support, and housing referrals for unhoused students through the Basic Needs Centers.

"Because of Invest in Success donations, the Basic Needs Centers can expand their services so more students can focus on their education instead of day-to-day financial pressures," says King.

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Campaign funds also sustain the Ventura College Promise, a program that provides two years of tuition-free education to first-time, full-time students. According to Ventura College's Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Ventura College Promise program recipients are more than 70% more likely to complete their comprehensive programs of study.

When state budget cuts threatened the program in 2024-25, the foundation stepped in with $158,000 in gap funding to enable over 4,000 eligible students to continue their education entirely tuition-free.

"This campaign is about meeting students where they are. Our goal is to cover essential costs, close funding gaps, and ensure the support that leads to graduation and long-term success," says Dr. Rick MacLennan, VCCCD chancellor and campaign cabinet co-chair.

To learn about ways to invest in Ventura College students, visit https://venturacollegefoundation.org/donate.