PITTSBORO - As Central Carolina Community College celebrates its 50th year of service to Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties, it continues to rank among the best in the state and nation.

A solid part of CCCC's success is due to the tremendous support that the college receives during the Central Carolina Community College Foundation's Annual Fund Drive from the communities it services. The 2012 Drive kicked off on Feb. 8 and will continue through the rest of the year.

"Our mission as the CCCC Foundation is to support the students, faculty and staff of the college through financial grants in areas of need not covered by state and local funds," said Foundation President Bill Milholen, of Siler City. "This support has never been more meaningful than it is now. Last year, the Foundation awarded scholarship monies to 180 students and helped in various other financial ways at the college. The more support we receive from the community, the more of a difference we can make in the lives of our students."

Contributions to the Annual Fund Drive enable the college to better serve the educational needs of the citizens in the area. The community's support helps make the difference between providing adequate programs and providing the best, most comprehensive educational programs.

CCCC provides vocational, technical, liberal arts and basic skills education to more than 20,000 residents of Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties. It takes education to the people with full-service campuses in Pittsboro, Lillington and Sanford, plus 14 satellite centers and sites.

Contributions to the Foundation's Annual Fund Drive are used to provide financial and emergency assistance to students, help fund the needs of faculty and staff, and fill other needs that are not covered by the state and local budgets. The impact of the donations to the Annual Fund is felt in every aspect of the college.

"The CCCC Foundation's Student Emergency Fund has been a tremendous asset to our student body this year," said Carl Bryan, Dean of Academic Affairs. "When tragedies befall us, like the tornado our community endured, our Foundation was able to extend a helping hand to quite a few students. By virtue of our having this fund that students can apply for, they have been able to breathe a sigh of relief that they can at least continue in their studies, replace their books, or purchase gas that will allow them to come to campus. This is just another reason that we can stand behind our old mantra that 'No College Cares More!'"

Each year, the Annual Fund Drive continues to increase the total amount of funds raised, illustrating the importance the college has in the local area. This commitment is a true measure of the level of support felt by the community for its college and the community it serves.

"As our Annual Fund continues to grow yearly, this shows the importance that our community places on educating its citizens," said Diane Glover, Foundation executive director. "It also shows how much our citizens care about the betterment of each other and the communities where we reside, especially when times are tough for everyone."

As enrollment at the college grows, so does the impact that CCCC has on the region. As many as 85 percent of its graduates remain in the region after they leave the college and contribute to the local economy. CCCC activities foster new business, assist existing business and create long-term economic growth.

The Foundation's Annual Fund drive continues through Dec. 31. For more information on contributing to the Foundation or for a copy of its annual report, contact Emily Hare, Foundation associate director, at (919) 718-7230 or by email at ehare@cccc.edu.