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Date: 11/13/2023
HOLYOKE — The Care Center has received a $500,000 gift from the Irene E. and George A. David Foundation to propel the organization’s “Moving Women Forward” Endowment Campaign aimed at sustaining Bard Microcollege in Holyoke.
The Care Center, a Holyoke-based nonprofit championing the education of young mothers and women, developed the Bard Microcollege in partnership with Bard College in New York. The center’s “Moving Women Forward” endowment campaign is a bold initiative to secure the future of Bard Microcollege Holyoke, ensuring that young mothers and low-income women have access to a college education and the support necessary to succeed.
When first identifying how they could help young women and mothers getting this access to a college education, Bard and The Care Center identified while many of the demographic they serve were attending community college, many were not completing it and securing a degree.
“Our goal was we really wanted people to move into the world with a degree. These are folks who typically dropped out of high school and are mostly involved with the welfare system so our goal here was to stabilize families and move them out of poverty and into the middle class,” said Anne Teschner, executive director of The Care Center.
This led to the establishment of the Bard Microcollege in Holyoke. The microcollege is the first-of-its-kind tuition-free college designed for mothers and low-income women.
The Care Center has been acclaimed for its innovative approach to education through providing young mothers and low-income women the tools and support needed to attain a college education. Through small class size, a rich curriculum and extensive support services, the microcollege has broken down barriers in education.
The Bard Mircocollege through the Care Center boasts a 72% graduation rate, compared to 30% for associate degree programs nationwide, and just 8% for single moms nationally. This funding helps keep the microcollege program ready to continue forward in its work.
“This incredible gift from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation is a testament to their commitment to improving lives and breaking the cycle of poverty in Hampden County,” said Teschner. “We are deeply grateful for their belief in our work and their generous investment in the future of the mothers we serve.”
The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation is dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that strive to improve the quality of life for those living in Hampden County. With a focus on education, health, social services and the arts, the foundation invests in initiatives that drive positive change and contribute to the well-being of the community.
With this latest gift from the Davis Foundation, The Care Center has achieved 80% of its endowment fundraising goal.
“Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal and helps to secure a brighter future for our students and their families,” said Board Chair of The Care Center Sylvia Galvan. “We invite the community to stand with us and the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation in making educational achievement accessible for all.”
Teschner explained that Bard has established two other microcolleges both currently in New York City boroughs Brooklyn and Harlem and their experiment in this new avenues of education has only grown.
“It’s spreading around. We’ve been in discussions with folks in the Worcester area who are like, ‘that sounds cool, how can we replicate this?’ Discussions are definitely underway,” Teschner said.
When asked what she believes is the key to success thus far with the microcolleges, Teschner said the tangible resources they possess are extensive supports for the young mothers including daycare, counseling and access to mental health services.
“In addition to that, the whole sensibility here is we assume people are intellectually curious and that it’s a very human need to want to work that intellect and so I think that’s really inspiring for many students where school hasn’t really been their strongest suit, I think that’s a really welcomed message,” Teschner said.
She added that because of the school’s small class sizes and max of 75 students total in the program at once, it lead to a better sense of community and students typically become very supportive of one another.
“The Care Center’s work is unparalleled and embodies the values at the heart of our mission to improve the quality of lives in Hampden County. We are so proud to support such a groundbreaking organization that is making a tangible difference in the lives of young mothers, transforming our educational infrastructure and contributing to the overall well-being and progress of our community,” said Executive Director of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation Paul Besito.
Teschner added that she was thankful for the support the Care Center receives from the community.
“This is an effort that truly could not happen without the level of community support we receive. It’s an incredibly powerful staff and a staff that’s been here for a long time and I think that says something as well,” Teschner said. “We have been amazed at the level of support for this endowment.”