The Valencia Foundation and Valencia Community College will be closed December 23, 2009 – January 3, 2010 for Winter Break.

Students are invited to check Atlas for answers to many of their questions during the winter break.  Atlas is Valencia’s online system that allows students to receive e–mail and check information in student records using a secure personal identification number.

This season is a special time of year, one when we focus on friends and family and express generosity and love to those we care about. If you are considering extending your generosity to make a difference in the lives of others this year, please consider a donation to Valencia Foundation

Our student’s lives are impacted tremendously by the kindness of our donors. Without foundation scholarships, many would not be able to attend college. If you wish to make a donation please visit our secure donation site online at www.VALENCIA.org and click on Give Now: Make a Donation or you may also send your contribution to Valencia Foundation 190 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801.

I trust that you will give as generously as you can to provide the opportunity for a genuine learning experience for our Valencia students. I thank you in advance for committing to make a remarkable difference.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and blessed new year.

–Donna

It’s the season of giving and what better way to support Valencia then to save your corks. With the holiday parties and get togethers on their way, this is the perfect opportunity to save a special collection of corks for the Save the Corks! campaign.

Now through the end of December, we will receive two cents for every cork recycled through the Save the Corks! campaign. Matching funds will add another two cents per cork.  So, when you have enough saved in those ziploc bags, tupperware and/or boxes run by one of your local ABC stores to find a collection container.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

These photos, showing the installation of graphics/messages at the Winter Park campus, give a sneak peek of Valencia’s new LifeMap campaign. This college-wide project is the result of hard work and efforts from many departments including marketing and media relations, student affairs, facilities and Valencia’s office of information technology. Also instrumental were provosts, deans, campus teams, faculty leaders and facilities leaders on each campus

 Great job everyone and stay tuned for the unveiling of the new Web site (MeInTheMaking.com) – coming in January 2010.

$388,000 in scholarships created for Valencia and UCF students in financial need.

VALENCIA FOUNDATION AND UCF FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP LEADS TO SUCCESSFUL ‘A TASTE FOR LEARNING’
FUNDRAISING EVENT

 Over 800 people came together on Oct. 17 for ‘A Taste for Learning,’ which generated $388,000 for scholarships, including matching funds. 

Valencia Foundation and UCF Foundation partnered this year to present the international wine sampling and auction at Rosen Shingle Creek. 100 percent of all sponsorships, tickets and auction receipts from A Taste for Learning will go directly to scholarships and is eligible to earn dollar-for-dollar match through the state of Florida First Generation in College matching grant program, doubling a donor’s investment. 

In 2005, Valencia Foundation board member Jess Bailes and his team at ABC Fine Wine and Spirits first brought the concept of A Taste for Learning to Valencia Foundation. The unique event formula unites partners who donate every product for the event including the venue, décor, media, food, wine and auction items. In all, Taste events have raised more than $1.65 million for students in financial need. 

This year’s event marked an important beginning in joint philanthropy efforts between Valencia and the University of Central Florida (UCF), and will benefit 2+2 scholarships for DirectConnect, a proactive initiative that assures Valencia students access to UCF. Since 2006, UCF has guaranteed admission to all Valencia graduates through DirectConnect to UCF, the most productive community college/university partnership in the nation. Nearly 38,000 Valencia students have enrolled in DirectConnect to UCF since 2006, when the program first began.

ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, Rosen Shingle Creek, Fry Hammond Barr and McCree General Contractors and Architects Inc. were among the lead sponsors. Other sponsors included Baker Hostetler LLP, BB&T, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, Clancy & Theys Construction Company, Collier Jaguar, C.T. Hsu + Associates PA, Edlen Electrical Exhibition Services of Orlando Inc., Fifth Third Bank, Freeman, Paul and Mary Ann Kinser, LarsonAllen LLP, Orlando Event Photographers, Orlando Health, Orlando Magic, PPI Construction Management Inc., Progress Energy Florida, Progressive Communications, Schoolfield Properties Inc. – Wayne and Dianne Schoolfield, SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove, Siemens, Skanska USA Building Inc., Terra Firma Construction Management, UCF Regional Campuses, Universal Orlando Resort, Valencia Community College, Walt Disney World Co. and Kay Walters – Second Chance Fund. 

ABC Fine Wine and Spirits invited wineries from around the world to donate hundreds of bottles of their finest wines for tasting and auction. Gourmet hors d’oeuvres and sample entrée selections from B.B. King Blues Club, Cala Bella – Rosen Shingle Creek, Kouzzina by Cat Cora™ at Disney’s BoardWalk and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, among others, were served during the event.

Funds are still being raised to support A Taste for Learning through ABC Fine Wine and Spirits and the Save the Corks! campaign. Now through the end of December, corks can be dropped off at participating ABC Fine Wine and Spirits locations. Through a partnership with Nomacorc and Terracycle, ABC will donate two cents per cork for scholarships. Matching funds will add another two cents per cork. For more information on Save the Corks!, visit www.abcfws.com#corks. 

The University of Central Florida Foundation Inc. is the official fund-raising and gift beneficiary for the University of Central Florida. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and the university’s primary partner in securing philanthropic resources. The foundation enhances relationships with alumni, friends, faculty, staff and community partners. The foundation secures and manages charitable resources for the university and always acts with integrity and honesty. 

Valencia Community College Foundation Inc. provides the margin of excellence for which Valencia Community College has long been known. The foundation is a separate, not-for-profit, IRS-approved 501(c)3 corporation chartered in 1974 with the objective of financially providing for the educational needs of students that cannot be met through state or federal assistance. Valencia Foundation’s mission is to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Central Florida through the support of scholarships, teaching chairs, programs and buildings for Valencia Community College.

For more information or to make a donation, please call (407)582-3150 or visit www.VALENCIA.org.

On December 9, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the Tax Extenders Act of 2009. The $31 billion bill will extend over 40 tax provisions from 2009 to the end of 2010. Major tax provisions include extension of the research and development credit, the teachers’ supplies deduction and seven charitable provisions.

There are seven charitable provisions in the extenders bill. These are as follows:

1. IRA Charitable Rollover – Distributions will be permitted up to $100,000 per year for IRA owners directly from the IRA to charity.
2. Food Inventory Gifts – Businesses may give food inventory to charity and receive an enhanced deduction for gifts of apparently wholesome food.
3. Computer Equipment – Corporations may receive an enhanced deduction for gifts of computers to educational organizations.
4. Book Inventory – Corporations may receive enhanced deductions for gifts of books to elementary and secondary schools.
5. Subchapter S Corporations – A Subchapter S corporation may gift appreciated property and the shareholder benefits from the full deduction.
6. Conservation Property – Gifts of conservation property qualify for expanded deductions and longer carry-forwards.
7. Rent Payments to Parent Charities – Fair value rent payments by subsidiaries will not be unrelated taxable income to the parent charity.

Editors Note: This list of tax extenders is nearly certain to be passed by both House and Senate. However, because the Senate has in the past objected to these revenue-raising provisions, it may be 2010 before the final extenders bill is passed.

For more information please visit Valencia Planned Giving website.

This holiday season is a special time of year, one when we focus on friends and family; our gifts express generosity and love to those we care about.

This holiday season I’m reflecting back on blessings received in 2009.  There have been many in my personal life including health, travels, new family members, additional academic accomplishments, and visits to and from extended family.

One of the most profound blessings is the work I do for the Valencia Foundation and the students that are served because of our mission.  I have witnessed the generosity of our Orange and Osceola community in supporting education for our students.

 Despite the echo of economic turmoil, or maybe because of it, Valencia students are more determined than ever to improve their opportunities in life, and perhaps change the future of their family for generations.  This is where your generosity makes a huge difference.  Our student’s lives are impacted tremendously by the kindness of our donors. Without foundation scholarships, many would not be able to attend college. 

This holiday season is a special time of year, one when we focus on friends and family; our gifts express generosity and love to those we care about.  If you are considering extending your generosity and want to make a difference in the lives of others this year, please consider a donation to Valencia Foundation. 

If you wish to make a donation please visit us online at www.VALENCIA.org and click on >>Give Now for our secure website.  You may also send your contribution to Valencia Foundation 190 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801.

I trust that you will give as generously as you can to provide the opportunity for a life-changing learning experience for a Valencia students.  And I wish many blessings to you and your family in the New Year. 

Happy holidays!

$1,500 vampire hit in the mix at Brouhaha — OrlandoSentinel.com

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Valencia’s Vitae alumni magazine won “Best in Show” at the Florida Association of Community Colleges (FACC) Institutional Advancement Awards in the “colleges with more than 10,000 FTE” category.

 This magazine is truly a team effort. Congratulations to everyone who works so hard to create this very special publication!

 Click here to see this award winning magazine. The next issue of Vitae is due out mid-January.

 Valencia’s other publications also received awards with a first place tie in the brochure category for its internship and placement brochure (combined FTE) and a second place tie for the Skillshops class schedule (more than 10,000 FTE).

 All the awards were presented at the FACC’s 60^th anniversary convention in November.

 Members of Valencia’s faculty and staff also received awards:

Region 3 – Unsung Hero Award: Joe Nunes

Cameron Hall Practitioner Award 2009: Dr. Joyce C. Romano

2009 Learning Support Exemplary Award: Joshua Murdock, manager of learning support services (West Campus); presentation title: Learning Summit

Career and Professional Employees Commission Exemplary Practice Award finalists: Phil Graves and Josh Murdock; program: Universal Design: Blending Accessibility with Availability in Assistive Technology

Congratulations!

….in the name of scholarships never hurt anyone! 

Thank you to our nursing students and faculty – they helped collect 11,911 corks for the Save the Corks! campaign!

In the words of our nursing department: 

The competition was fierce and sometimes very close. Nursing IV grilled Nursing I for information, Nursing I held out until the bitter end. Nursing II & III were the silent ones (we truly were afraid). When all is said and done, however, we know that ultimately, all of our efforts are going to help students in need.

Final totals:

Nursing 1         4937
Nursing II         1178
Nursing III        2588
Nursing IV       3208
     Total:        11,911.00

Now that’s some friendly competition!