The MCC Foundation Invites the Community to “Take a Seat!”

“The work that the Middlesex Community College Foundation does makes such a difference in the lives of Middlesex students, and that is all thanks to our wonderful and generous donors,” said Judy Burke, MCC’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.

The MCC Foundation is inviting the community to “take a seat!” and donate to the college’s Aspire fundraising campaign in support of students, arts programming at Middlesex, and MCC’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center, which opened in 2018.

Raising funds, connecting to the community, and supporting students is at the heart of both the missions of the MCC Foundation and Middlesex Community College, according to Burke.

“The Foundation raises money for student scholarships, provides opportunities for engagement inside and outside of the classroom, and creates and maintains spaces for our students to learn and thrive,” Burke said. “Often, this means the difference in a student’s ability to complete their education, transfer to their next school, or enter the workforce equipped with the skills they need to be successful.”

Gifts donated as part of the “Take a Seat!” campaign can be made in honor of a family member, business or friend whose name will be engraved on a specially crafted metal plate and placed on a seat in the Academic Arts Center Theatre or Recital Hall.

“The Take-a-Seat effort offers our faculty, staff, students, alumni, College for Kids alumni and their parents an opportunity to share in the history of the Academic Arts Center, as well as the vision of the future,” said Sherri McCormack, MCC’s Dean of Advancement. “By purchasing a named seat, remembering a loved one, or honoring someone special, donors ensure that the state-of-the-art facility will remain so for many years to come.”

MCC’s Academic Arts Center holds classroom and performance spaces for the college’s theatre, music and dance programs, as well as space for multi-purpose activities. The center provides space for educational activities serving Middlesex students, including College for Kids summer programming, the Lowell community and public-school system, the National Park Service, and other public and private agencies and organizations who partner with the college.

The Academic Arts Center Theatre holds 190 seats, while the Recital Hall has 103 seats. Donors can choose which space they would like their seat, based on availability. Each seat is a $750 donation. For more information, contact Judy Burke at burkej@middlesex.mass.edu.

While the tax-deductible contribution does not reserve a seat at any performance, the donation highlights the donor’s generosity in supporting local arts and cultural programming. For more information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/aspire or call 978-656-3417.

MCC is registering now for the Spring 2022 semester, starting on Monday, January 24. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ for more information or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!