LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 20, 2003) -- Seeking to better serve employers and communities and to change the lives of students, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) today officially kicked off a multimillion-dollar private fund-raising campaign.

The campaign, called "Fulfilling the Promise," will expand access to postsecondary education and workforce training across the Commonwealth by funding strategically targeted initiatives that address the community and economic development needs of Kentucky.

KCTCS President Michael B. McCall and KCTCS Foundation Chairman Thomas O. Zawacki announced the campaign during an event hosted at the System Office in Lexington.

The major-gifts campaign, which is expected to last approximately five years, will be conducted along 17 tracks -- one at the System level, and one in each KCTCS district.

When it is finished, the "Fulfilling the Promise Campaign" is expected to rank as the largest private fund-raising effort ever undertaken by a system of two-year colleges in the nation. The largest such campaign to date -- totaling $43 million -- was conducted by the Kentucky community college system in the mid-1990s. The General Assembly merged the community colleges with Kentucky's technical institutions in 1997 to form KCTCS.

"KCTCS plays a pivotal role in addressing many of the challenges facing Kentucky, but only if we stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead," McCall said.

"For the motto 'Education Pays' to be true for every citizen, business and industry must thrive in the globally competitive, information-based economy of the 21^st century. As a state-assisted institution, KCTCS must supplement its public funds with support from the private sector to fully meet the demands of students and our business, industry and community partners," McCall said.

During the Fulfilling the Promise Campaign, KCTCS and its colleges will solicit major gifts from individuals, companies, foundations and other sources to invest in specific projects such as scholarship endowments, program support, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, faculty-staff development, and new facilities. The fund-raising goal will be announced at a later date.

During the campaign kickoff, McCall announced the first two major gifts received by the System-level campaign:

$500,000 from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, to launch the KCTCS Center of Excellence in Automotive Manufacturing.

$320,000 from the Kentucky Colonels to establish a scholarship program that will benefit single, working parents who need assistance to afford a college education.

"Thanks to the generosity of Toyota and the Kentucky Colonels, KCTCS will enhance the earnings potential and quality of life of many more students in the years to come," McCall said.

At the announcement in Lexington, McCall described four initiatives that will serve as the focus of the System-level campaign (college-based initiatives were outlined at colleges):

The Student Success Fund will assist KCTCS to enhance students' progress through Kentucky's educational system; increase the transfer of students to universities in high priority workforce areas; and offer special loans and scholarships to talented and deserving students who otherwise could not afford to attend college. KCTCS will expand career exploration and job-shadowing opportunities, create special programs and services for at-risk students, and support student involvement in national academic and leadership organizations.

The New Economy Fund will expand Kentucky's workforce for emerging technologies and careers in our new economy. Cutting-edge programs and technology in state-of-the-art classrooms will enable KCTCS to enhance employability, match job competencies with employer needs, and promote entrepreneurism. The latest laser, fiber optics and wireless communication systems will increase distance education and computer-based learning opportunities for KCTCS students.

To remain flexible and responsive to the needs of Kentucky, KCTCS will create the New Opportunities Fund, an unrestricted endowment to pursue emerging opportunities with innovation and creativity. Permanently invested funds will generate annual income that will be directed to special projects and initiatives for which budgeted funds are not available.

With campaign contributions, the new System Office will be equipped to serve as a statewide resource for businesses and industries that need centrally located, executive meeting space and interactive communication systems to interface with employees, vendors and customers in Kentucky and around the world. In future renovation phases, students will be able to access KCTCS courses in a special classroom section of the building.

Private support is key to the ability of KCTCS to fulfill its mission as outlined in the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, particularly in light of state budgets cuts exceeding $7 million that the System has sustained in the last two fiscal years.

"Through the 'Fulfilling the Promise Campaign,' KCTCS has identified statewide initiatives that will fulfill the promise of a brighter future for all Kentuckians, enhance economic development and community growth, and enhance Kentucky's emergence as a global economic powerhouse in the 21^st Century," McCall said. "We invite all Kentuckians to participate in the 'Fulfilling the Promise Campaign.' "

The spokesman for the campaign is Walter Cronkite, CBS Evening News anchor for nearly two decades. A video featuring Cronkite was played at the announcement today.