"Clearly Clinton" Campaign Receives Largest Donation Ever Made by a Clinton Alumnus

Monday, July 02, 2012

Fundraising Efforts on Track to Surpass the $1 Million Dollar Mark in First Year

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 2, 2012) Wayne and Sylvia Manor of Richardson, Texas have pledged $200,000 to the Clearly Clinton Campaign. Both are Alumni of Clinton Community College, making this the single largest donation by a Clinton alumnus in college history.

Clinton Community College President, John E. Jablonski said, “We are grateful to Wayne and Sylvia for their very generous contribution to the Clearly Clinton campaign. They are setting the pace for a growing list of supporters who are helping to make our 21^st century Learning Commons a reality.”

The Manors will serve as honorary chairs of the Clearly Clinton Alumni Campaign. They have also extended a challenge to other Clinton alumni asking them to consider a gift to the campaign.

Wayne Manor said, “We are excited about this project and see the immense benefit the 21^st Century Learning Commons will bring to the campus. Sylvia and I wanted to give back to the place that allowed us to get our start. We are big supporters of the college and see the good it has done in the community.”

The campaign, which officially launched in January, is a five-year, $7.5 million dollar fundraising effort to help build a 21^st Century Learning Commons on campus. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $15 million dollars. The State University of New York will match the $7.5 million the Clearly Clinton campaign raises.

The recommendation to build a new state- of- the art student learning center stems from the College’s 2007 Facilities Master Plan. In that plan it was noted the existing library is significantly undersized and poorly configured for a college of its size.

In 2011, JMZ Architects and Planners confirmed the college and its students need a modern facility that includes traditional library functions, electronic research tools, areas for group study and for quiet study, tutoring services and accommodative services for students with disabilities.

“The plan is to incorporate all of these academic functions into a single 21^st Century Learning Commons.” President Jablonski said. “By raising funds through private donors, we plan to avoid asking the county for capital construction funds for this project.”

Larry and Judy Jeffords of Jeffords Steel and Engineering Company are the official co-chairs of the Clearly Clinton Campaign. The Jeffords both have deep ties to the North Country. Not only do they own a successful multi- million dollar engineering and manufacturing business that has been in operation since 1985, but Judy is also a proud alumna of Clinton’s first graduating class in 1971.

Steven G. Frederick, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement said, “I cannot think of a better gift or a bigger impact for every student on this campus then building a state-of-the art learning commons. This is a gift that will continue to give for years to come.”

The Clearly Clinton Campaign will wrap up on June 30, 2016 or when the campaign goal has been successfully achieved.

###