The Coos County Board of Realtors® has joined with the Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation to create a permanent scholarship fund. Over the next four years, the Realtors®’ will donate $10,000 to an endowment to fund annual scholarship awards to Southwestern students in their second year of college. “Coos County Realtors® want to reach out to our community and enhance education. A scholarship is the best way to directly benefit students,” said Brooke Yussim, president-elect of the Coos County Board of Realtors®. The Coos County Board of Realtors® represents nearly 200 members, including Realtors®, appraisers and affiliate members throughout Coos County and the surrounding area. “We’re hoping that for many years to come this scholarship will benefit many people. Whether they become Realtors® or not, these students will live and work in, and contribute to this community,” Yussim said. The Board of Realtors® is participating in the college’s Superhero Scholarship Campaign, which gives organizations and businesses the ability to build an endowment through a one-, two- or four-year investment plan. Since its inception in 1962, the Foundation in collaboration with individual donors and organizations has placed more than $3 million into endowments to fund scholarships for future generations. “Scholarships like this make it possible for people of all ages to achieve their educational dreams and ultimately improve their lives,” said Foundation Board Chairman Ken Brooke. Southwestern’s College Foundation funded nearly $86,000 in scholarships benefiting 75 students this year. Also each year, the Foundation in partnership with the college, administrators and outside scholarship programs, provides $800,000 in direct aid and tuition waivers to Southwestern students. For more information about how you can help improve people’s lives through education, contact the Foundation at 541.888.7211 or go to www.socc.edu/foundation.
