FORT WORTH, Texas (Aug. 30, 2013) When Bill Cosby takes the stage next month to share his wisdom-infused humor inspired by five decades in the entertainment industry, his audience won’t be the only ones to benefit. His performance will raise funds for the Tarrant County College Foundation, which helps students fill financial shortfalls that could have derailed their dreams of attending college.
The event, An Evening with Bill Cosby, will be held at the Bass Performance Hall Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Fort Worth-based BNSF Railway Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor. BNSF Railway is one of the top transporters of the products and materials that help feed, clothe, supply and power communities throughout America and the world.
TCC Foundation Executive Director Joe McIntosh anticipates a sell-out crowd and believes this event will raise significant support for the Foundation’s scholarship funds for Tarrant County College students. “Without the scholarships that this event will help to fund, many of our students would have to prolong or even delay their studies at TCC because they cannot afford the total costs associated with taking classes.”
Take Christine Moreno, for example. Moreno, who is studying fine arts at TCC’s Northwest Campus, was disappointed because she could only afford to take six hours last semester. “Taking so few hours during a semester makes completing an associate degree a very long process,” Moreno said. “But receiving a scholarship for this academic year allowed me to enroll full-time…this puts moving on to a four-year institution to earn my bachelor’s degree so much more within reach!”
And then there is Karen Vera, a biology and natural science student at TCC’s Trinity River Campus. “My parents and I had actually talked about me taking a semester off from school to allow for some college expense funds to build back up. I thought, ‘Oh, great, I’ll never finish!’ Vera said. “With the scholarship I was awarded for this school year, I’m enrolled in classes and back on track to graduate from TCC next spring.”
Moreno and Vera are just two examples of the thousands of students who received scholarship awards for the 2013-2014 academic year. McIntosh encourages students who will be attending TCC in fall 2014 to be ready to complete the online scholarship in the spring. The application period is Jan. 16 through April 25, 2014.
“Hosting this wonderful entertainer, who is truly a beloved American icon, represents a wonderful opportunity to present an enjoyable event while allowing the Foundation to continue helping TCC students meet their educational goals, despite tremendous financial challenges.”
In addition to an annual community fundraising event, scholarships also are funded through charitable contributions from businesses, civic groups, TCC alumni, faculty, staff, retirees and fundraising efforts of the TCC Foundation board members and community volunteers. Philanthropic support to establish a new scholarship or support current ones is welcomed year-round.
Tickets levels for the Cosby event are $45, $65, $85 and $125 and may be purchased through the Bass Hall ticket office online at www.basshall.com or in person at the 330 E. Fourth Street. The phone number is 817-212-4200.
Tarrant County College Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization classified under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Governed by a volunteer board of directors since 1988, the TCC Foundation supports the comprehensive mission of TCC, providing affordable and open access to quality teaching and learning. More information about TCC Foundation is available at www.tccd.edu/foundation or at 817-515-5277.
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CONTACT:
Rita L.B. Parson
Tarrant County College
817-515-1543
rita.parson@tccd.edu
pr.marketing@tccd.edu
www.tccd.edu