Creating Tomorrows for College of the Desert Students

Congratulations to the COD Foundation on celebrating 40 years of distinguished service to College of the Desert and to the entire Coachella Valley. COD’s leadership, their alumni and the current student body are thankful for the integral funding the COD Foundation, their Board of Directors and their donors have given to support and enhance educational opportunities for all students. For 40 years, our generous patrons have helped COD students Spread their Wings raising more than $100 million to support student services and now manages endowments and other assets of more than $55 million.

“I am deeply inspired by the progress the COD Foundation has made,” shares Christine Anderson, Chairperson, COD Foundation Board of Directors. “In the past five years, I have witnessed the college assume a 24/7 commitment to meet students’ financial, academic and emotional needs, enabling them to truly enjoy the educational experience. For many, this is the first time in their lives a school has understood and supported them. These high-achieving graduates are critical for excellence in our workforce. Businesses need quality workers, and COD supplies them. Some graduates launch careers locally; others earn a four-year degree before coming back to serve the community in essential fields. The impact of their contribution returns to its roots, with nearly 80% of students returning to the Valley and rendering the college as a crucial link to our thriving economic success.”

For more than 60 years, COD has made it possible for local students to pursue their academic dreams and for 40 of those years the COD Foundation has financed a myriad of successful programs like the EDGE/plEDGE tuition program (since 2010), Fund for Student Success, Scholarships, and Internships making it possible for hundreds of thousands of students to pursue their education and chosen careers. In turn, these students have become the skilled nurses caring for you and your loved ones, the firefighters and EMTs who respond to your 911 calls, the chefs who prepare your meals in your favorite restaurants, and the entrepreneurs and business leaders who consistently give back to our community and generate over $300 million annually into our local economy.

“Through donor generosity, the COD Foundation has the opportunity to support the College in increasing enrollment enabling more students to attend,” adds Executive Director Catherine Abbott. “With a myriad of ways to give, people are responding to the value the school brings to the Valley. I am so grateful to be involved in this worth-while endeavor.”

Thank you for your tremendous support and we look forward to seeing you at one of our many events this year.