State College of Florida Foundation
Delivering Scholars, Opportunities, First-Generation Graduates and a Local Impact Worth More Than $432.4 Million
The State College of Florida Foundation is the fundraising
organization for the State College of Florida,
Manatee-Sarasota or what many locals simply call SCF
(previously known as MJC and MCC). In addition to
providing scholarships, the Foundation raises funds for
equipment, programs, workforce degrees, infrastructure
and buildings.
SCF is the first and largest public college in the region
and has graduated more than 50,000 students since
1957—an open access institution that provides an
opportunity for students to fulfill their dreams. For
some that’s simply being a first-generation graduate
of their family, and for others, it’s to be a nurse,
famous musician or all-star athlete. Proudly, SCF
has celebrated all the aforementioned alumni!
56 SARASOTA SCENE | DECEMBER 2017
More than 25,000 alumni have chosen to return or stay
in the region and serve in leadership roles. Matt Sauer,
executive editor for the Herald Tribune; Melissa Larkin-
Skinner, MA, LMHC, chief executive officer of Centerstone;
and Mike Rio, director of elementary education
for Manatee County to name a few. In the 2015-16
fiscal year, SCF and its students added $432.4 million
in income to the region. Odds are that if you mention
SCF during your next outing, you’ll hear praise from
alumni or current students.
For many, college would not be possible without the
support and access provided by SCF, the Foundation
and its supporters. Many of us fondly remember our
time in college as “ramen noodle days” and with a
great appreciation for what “earning your grade or a
dollar” really means.
When asked what is the hardest part of the Foundation’s work, Executive Director
Cassandra Holmes says, “Seeing so much potential in our youth and on our campuses
that we have yet to fulfill.”