Ivy Tech Kokomo blows past Ivy Tech Day goal

Community leaders, local donors and faculty and staff of Ivy Tech Community College’s Kokomo Service Area combined Tuesday to amass $60,600 in donations to support Ivy Tech student success.

Together, they embodied the theme “One Day Can Mean Everything,” making the third annual Ivy Tech Day an incredible event, according to organizers.

“Yesterday’s level of engagement made for the best Ivy Tech Day yet,” said Dr. Ethan Heicher, chancellor of the Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area. “And the most important part of the day was the financial support that we generated for our students and the palpable sense of community we created on our campus.”

The Ivy Tech Kokomo team blew past its goal of raising $45,000 in the 24-hour day of giving, leading Ivy Tech’s system with $60,600 in donations compiled from 391 gifts received. On the state level, Ivy Tech received nearly 2,900 gifts totaling more than $480,000. The money is earmarked for student success projects, scholarships and emergency support.

“We are so incredibly grateful to our many community partners who joined in supporting the Ivy Tech Kokomo culture of pulling together to help our students,” said Kelly Karickhoff, executive director of Resource Development for the service area that includes Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski and Tipton counties.

“Those of us on campus all see the impact these donations have in breaking down barriers and supporting student success,” Karickhoff added. “But Ivy Tech Day shines a light on our impact in the communities and how much people believe in what Ivy Tech is doing.”

Last year, Ivy Tech Kokomo garnered 268 gifts totaling $41,687, far exceeding the first year’s results of 171 gifts and $25,000 in donations on Ivy Tech Day.

Karickhoff extended gratitude to Kokomo’s Ivy Tech Day partners, including Security Federal Savings Bank, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Kokomo, Community Howard Regional Health, La Fiesta Restaurant of Logansport, Pizza Quik of Peru, Larison Media and the Kokomo Post. She noted that donors had successfully met every match and challenge issued by more than a dozen supporters that honored everything from first-generation students to members of the Circle of Ivy Women in Philanthropy group to alumni and retirees.

“This one day ‘can mean everything’ for our students,” Karickhoff added. “All these gifts stay local and will help students who live and work in our six-county region.”