Photo via SCCCD

Central Valley students will get a much-needed financial boost over the coming years thanks to the largest philanthropic donation in the history of the California Community College Foundation.

On Tuesday, it was announced that a gift of $100 million would be donated by the Jay Pritzker Foundation over the course of 20 years. This money will go towards target areas in the Central Valley, the Inland Empire and the far Northern California region.

During a Zoom news conference Tuesday with Dan and Karen Pritzker and the Community College Foundation, students in the target areas shared their experiences. Among them was Fulisha Oscar, a mother of six who is studying at Madera Community College. A survivor of domestic abuse, she said she plans to open a women’s shelter for those who’ve shared her experience.

“The scholarships that I have received have been more than just a financial contribution,” Oscar said. “They have helped me improve my family circumstances while trying to obtain my goals in education, and also give back to my community.”

 The amount of money that will allocated to the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) has not yet been determined.