Tri County Technical College Receives One Million Dollars,
Its Largest Financial Gift Ever, from the Abney Foundation

CONTACT: DR. DON GARRISON, EXT. 2100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/16/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri County Technical College has received its largest financial gift ever -- one million dollars from the Abney Foundation.

"This generous gift is concrete evidence of the Abney Foundation Trustees' commitment to the mission and purpose of this institution -- to provide educational opportunities to deserving and needy local citizens and to support economic development and creation of new jobs in our region," said Dr. Don C. Garrison, president of Tri-County. "Rarely does a two-year college receive a donation of this magnitude, and we can truly be proud that the Abney Foundation holds our College in such high esteem."

The Abney Foundation gift will fund two endowments: $500,000 will go to the Health/Science Building Technology Endowment to keep the equipment in that building up to date, and another $500,000 endowment will keep faculty current in their fields.

Established in 1957, the Abney Foundation, located in Anderson, supports higher education and makes awards for social service and youth organizations.

The Abney Foundation has given consistently to the Tri-County since 1989. Over the past 12 years, the Foundation has helped approximately 650 students to attain their educational goals. No other foundation individual or company has contributed so generously to the College.

"Tri-County values its partnership with the Abney Foundation," said Linda Elliott, Tri-County's vice president for development. "The foundation has demonstrated over and over its belief in two-year postsecondary technical training for the people of the community," said Mrs. Elliott.

She continued: "The College represents a solution to the skill shortage problems experienced by local companies. Each time the Abney trustees make a contribution, they are having an enduring impact on human lives and on their community."

In addition to endowing scholarships, throughout the years Abney has made development opportunities available to faculty and staff and has provided endowment monies to all five academic divisions of the College. Because of this money, faculty and staff have had development opportunities as never before.

Now with the establishment of a technology endowment, the Abney Foundation will provide a perpetual source of funding for equipment, software, or other requirements of state-of-the-art health education and science programs.

"We are so lucky to have the Abney Foundation who understands our students and the role our College plays," said Mrs. Elliott. "Scholarship, faculty development and technology endowments are keys to Tri-County's continued role in sustaining economic development."

Late last year, the Abney Foundation was among the individuals, families, corporations, and foundations that South Carolina's technical colleges honored for their benevolence in supporting technical education at a benefactors' dinner in Columbia. The event highlighted the efforts of those who have donated funds and real property that have resulted in the expansion and enhancement of the 16 technical colleges' facilities and made college educations possible for hundreds of students. Carl Edwards, executive director, accepted the honor for the Abney Foundation.

The Abney Foundation was named the Philanthropist of the Year by the Tri-County's Foundation Board in 1998.
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