Stories of Giving
When you give to Cal Poly Pomona, every dollar makes a difference. The stories below highlight different ways you can give and the long-lasting impact you create.
Scholarships
Transtech Engineers Awards $15,000 in Scholarships to Civil Engineering Students
“When students apply for scholarships, it’s because there’s a need. And for our company to be able to assist financially, even if it’s just a little bit, means the world to us. To make sure those students are as successful as possible, Transtech will do what we can do to lessen that burden.” – Melissa Demirci (’10, civil engineering)
Learn More About this GiftPlanned Giving
Alumna Carol Rundback Supports Student Success
“Each one of these CPP students is changing their families. I really believe and see that Cal Poly Pomona is changing the education and economic landscape of California, and our philanthropy is fueling this engine of change.” – Carol Nevin Rundback (’69, social sciences)
Read More About Supporting Student Success
Foundation Giving
W.K. Kellogg Foundation Supports Horse Center During Pandemic
In response to the demands that arose due to COVID-19, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided $75,000 to the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center to help maintain the pastures and support the student assistants who continue to care for the horses on campus. Natalie Moreno, one of the students working at the center, wants to work as a small animal veterinarian, but her experience working at Cal Poly Pomona — in the swine and sheep units, bottle feeding baby lambs, and taking care of the horses — created opportunities for her to explore working with larger animals. “My experience has opened up more avenues for my future, and the professors helped to increase my animal knowledge. The extra support will help students tremendously,” Moreno said.
Learn MoreIndividual Giving
A Couple with a Vision
A whirlwind of good fortune combined with the foresight to envision where the restaurant industry was headed helped Jim Collins thrive. A deeply held belief in the importance of giving back prompted Collins and his wife, Carol, to create a foundation and pledge their support to a variety of causes, including The Collins College of Hospitality Management.
The businessman, humanitarian and philanthropist remains a force in the food industry, and graduates of The Collins College are heirs to his legacy.
Read Collins' Story
Individual Giving
The Coleys Establish Endowment to Support Students
“Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not,” says Cal Poly Pomona President Soraya Coley. “One of our most important meta-objectives is to find and nurture the talent in each of our students. By maximizing their potential and removing institutional and other barriers, our students make creativity, discovery and innovation a reality of their educational experience while also preparing for success in their chosen fields.”
To uncover those interests and abilities, President Coley, and her husband Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ron Coley created the President Soraya & Ron Coley Discovery Fellows Endowment Fund to support students.