Triton Foundation

Established in 1980, the Triton College Foundation is a nonprofit corporation established to extend the campus and programs of Triton College to better serve its students, communities within District 504, and alumni by raising and stewarding investments for the institution. Donations to the Foundation are used to develop new programs and services, fund financial aid and faculty, purchase new equipment and library books, and maintain and operate its facilities.

Over the past several years, public funding to community colleges like Triton, has dwindled significantly. Now, the College must rely on support from donors like you to fulfill its mission. By making a donation to the Triton College Foundation, you are investing in the future of the people and communities served by the College every day. Join with us to ensure this important work continues. With your help, the Triton College Foundation will continue to help the College achieve its mission - Triton College is committed to student success through institutional and academic excellence, and providing a student-centered, lifelong learning environment for our diverse community.

Triton College Foundation

2000 Fifth Avenue
Room A-317
River Grove, IL 60171
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3758

Foundation Board

The Foundation Board of Directors establishes policies to guide the activities of the Foundation. Each member brings to the board a unique combination of skills and perspectives that help the Foundation meet its mission of enhancing the educational environment of the college.

Officers

Tom Olson, Foundation President, Triton College
Richard F. Pellegrino, Foundation Vice President, West Central Municipal Conference
Bart Smith, Foundation Secretary, Smith & Smith
Sean Sullivan, Foundation Treasurer, Triton College

Board of Directors

Randy J. Barnette, R.J. Barnette & Associates
Thomas Ned Benigno, Illinois Secretary of State
Al Biancalana, Leyden Township Assessor
John F. Cadero Jr., City of Cape Coral
Michael Castellan, Melrose Park
Archawee Dhamavasi, Triton College
Cory L. Foster, ComEd - An Exelon Company
Rev. John F. Harrell, Proviso Missionary Baptist Church
John Harris, a5 Branding & Digital
Andrew Hock, Triton College Alumni Association Council
Tiffany C. Ingram, Cannabis Business Association of Illinois
David J. King, David King & Associates
Jennifer Koehler, Illinois Health and Hospital Association
Denisse Leon, Sinai Chicago
Dan Leonard, Margaritaville Hospitality
Michael Mazza, Chicago White Sox
Mary-Rita Moore, Triton College
Louis H. Rago, Rago Brothers Funeral Homes
Colleen Rockafellow, Triton College
John F. Ruzic, Retired Hotel & Restaurant Executive
Denise Smith-Gaborit, Triton College
Mark R. Stephens, Triton College Board of Trustees, Rosemont
The Honorable Katrina R. Thompson, Village of Broadview
Jonathan L. Zivojnovic, River Elm Properties

Charter Director

The Honorable Ronald M. Serpico, Village of Melrose Park

In Memoriam

The Honorable Donald E. Stephens

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Donate to the Foundation

In addition to the Annual President's Reception and Golf Outing, there are many ways you can invest in Triton College through the Triton College Foundation.

Pledge or Make a Donation

General Donations
You may make donations using Checks, Cash, Money Orders or Credit Cards at any time.

Donate by Check or Money Order
Checks or Money Orders should be made out to "Triton College Foundation".

Donate by Credit/Debit Card
The Triton Foundation accepts all major credit/debit cards.

If your employer has a matching gift program, your donation to the Triton College Foundation could be doubled. Please check with your Human Resources department to see if this program is an option for you.

Donating Property or In-Kind Gifts
Many of our programs at Triton College have had the benefit of donated equipment, materials and books. If you have an item you would like to donate for College use, please contact the Foundation office at (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3758. We will work with the appropriate College Dean or Administrator to find the right "home" for your gift.

If you have a more collectible item, such as artwork or other collections that you would like to donate, we will work with you to help establish the fair market value of the gift for your income tax purposes, if you don't already have an appraisal.

The Triton College Foundation will also accept gifts of donated securities (stock) - you are able to receive an income tax deduction based on the fair market value of the security once it is transferred to the Foundation. Please call the Foundation office for more information.

Other Naming Opportunities
The Triton College Foundation's Pathway to Success program provides a wide range of "naming" opportunities as a thoughtful way of remembering someone special.

For as little as $125 you can purchase a brick with a customized message featuring your name, your favorite saying, or to memorialize a loved one. Larger paver stones are $275.
Sponsored seating in either the Auditorium or Cernan Space Center is $150 per seat.
Other items available for sponsorship include beautifully-landscaped trees, bushes and garden benches located throughout our campus that range from $1,000 to $2,500; offices and classrooms from $5,000 to $25,000; and, larger labs, lecture halls, streets and buildings from $50,000 and up.

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Foundation Scholarships

The Triton College Foundation offers a number of scholarships to entering students and those currently attending Triton College. Scholarship awards range from $150 to $1,500 per semester for tuition, books and fees, and are available for several areas of study, including automotive, hospitality, music, and nursing/allied health, as well as for students who live in specific geographic areas, are of a certain age, graduate from the ESL Program, or are returning to college for a new career.

Find Scholarship Opportunities

Triton College Foundation HERO Scholarship

The Triton Foundation has launched its new HERO Scholarship available to all the brave nurses, doctors, first responders, and members of their family, as well as grocery store clerks and other frontliners in essential positions who have continued to work selflessly to provide services for the well-being of so many within our communities.

The scholarship is also open to individuals (in district) whose income has been compromised due to job loss during these challenging times.

Enrollment in one of Triton’s health care/public service programs would be preferred, but not limited to, for receipt of the award.

Additionally, the Foundation has been blessed and we’re grateful for the strong support we received from our generous donors/scholarship administrators, who wholeheartedly were in favor of our efforts and pulled together to pitch in from their personal scholarship accounts enabling us to start accepting applications for this new initiative with more than $100,000 in the fund – and more to come.

Eligibility details for the Triton College Foundation HERO Scholarship are as follows:

The Triton College Foundation HERO Scholarship

The HERO Scholarship is for current and prospective students who reside in or out of district and is available on a first-come, first-served basis with preference given to in-district students.

Award ranges from $250-$1000 per student and will be based on need and other financial aid received.

Requirements

• Eligible students must be:

– An essential worker residing in or out of district and employed full- or part-time in one of the following industries: health care/public health/human services; law enforcement/fire protection and public safety/first responder; grocery store/restaurant/food; chemical; commercial facilities; communications/information technology; construction-related activities; critical manufacturing; energy; financial services; agriculture; government operations and other community-based essential functions; hazardous materials; hygiene products and services; public works and infrastructure support services; residential/shelter facilities and services; transportation and logistics; and water/wastewater.

– A spouse or child of an essential worker.

– An individual residing in district whose income has been compromised due to job loss during these challenging times (March 16, 2020-present).

• Enrollment in one of Triton’s health care/public service programs is preferred, but not limited to, for receipt of the award.

• Scholarship must be used to cover tuition costs, technology needs for remote learning, access to reliable Wi-Fi and books, etc.

• Verification of employment as an essential worker or current unemployment is required as applicable.

To apply, download the Triton College HERO Scholarship application

and follow the instructions as indicated.

So many of you have asked how you can help. If you're interested in making an immediate gift for the cause, please visit our donation page at http://2f9.liashapiro.com/about/triton-foundation/foundation-pledge/. Your much needed support would put a big smile on someone's face knowing that a grateful, helping hand was there for them.

If you have any questions, please call the Triton College Foundation Office at

(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3758, or send an email to tcfoundation@liashapiro.com.

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