Palomar College Foundation Sees Record Giving Tuesday Results

Dec 2, 2022

Image of a Palomar College Student

The annual fund-raiser brought in more than $92,000 of donations to remove financial barriers for Palomar College students.

SAN MARCOS — The Palomar College Foundation received a record-breaking $92,270 in donations durings the annual Giving Tuesday fund-raiser on November 29, 2022, providing significant support in the Foundation’s mission to remove financial barriers to student success.

The results were driven in part by two matching donors, who pledged to match $25,000 and $7,000 of donations dollar-for-dollar, as well as a coordinated campaign to highlight student stories in the weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday.

“We are truly humbled by the outpouring of generosity that we’ve seen from the community this year,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director, Stacy Rungaitis. “Thanks to our faithful supporters—and some new donors who came through for us this year—we will be able to say ‘yes’ to more students who need a little extra support to stay in school.”

This year for Giving Tuesday, the Foundation introduced two new initiatives: an employee giving club named “Comets Investing in Really Changing Lives through Education,” or C.I.R.C.L.E., and “Cupcakes for a  Cause,” an open house on campus featuring games, snacks and an opportunity drawing.

“On behalf of our Governing Board, employees and especially our students, I want to thank every one of the generous supporters who gave on Giving Tuesday,” said Superintendent/President Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey. “The Foundation does such important work on behalf of our students, and we are thrilled with these results.”

Rungaitis shared the story of one student, a veteran, who was sleeping in his car after losing access to housing: “We were able to provide a small emergency grant to help support him during his housing transition—and through it all he remained in school,” she said.

All funds raised on Giving Tuesday will be used to support the Foundation’s core programs—scholarships, textbook assistance and emergency grants—all of which serve the Foundation’s mission to remove financial barriers to education.