Lucy Keller, Circle of Ivy Founding Member and Hamilton County Circle of Ivy member. (Photo provided by Ivy Tech)
Philanthropists supporting Ivy Tech Hamilton County have opened new doors for students
For 10 years, Circle of Ivy – Ivy Tech Foundation’s philanthropic membership group – has focused on raising funds that drive student success across the College’s 19 Indiana campuses.
On Oct. 10, Circle of Ivy members and leaders from the College came together at Newfields in Indianapolis to celebrate a decade of progress while looking ahead at ways to help propel students’ futures.
Since 2015, more than 2,000 supporters have raised $1.4 million – funding more than 600 projects that build opportunities and diminish barriers to higher education. Funds contribute to emergency needs, educational opportunities abroad, instructional support with classroom technology and textbooks, and other critical programs.
This year, Circle of Ivy will award more than $240,000 that will fund more than 80 projects.
“Philanthropists who make up Circle of Ivy leave a footprint on Hoosier communities that will last for decades to come,” Ivy Tech President Dr. Marty Pollio said. “From equipping students with resources for workforce readiness to eliminating obstacles for student success, Circle of Ivy removes barriers and opens doors for our students. Their support makes all the difference for our students.”
Founded 10 years ago by 13 passionate individuals, Circle of Ivy has statewide reach with a focus on the needs at 19 campuses. Programs funded have a positive impact on students who attend Ivy Tech, Indiana’s largest open-access postsecondary institution and workforce engine. In the inaugural year, Circle of Ivy raised $37,980 and welcomed 132 members. By 2022, $1.1 million had been raised. Since that time, more than $1.4 million has been raised to support Ivy Tech students.
“When passionate people come together with purpose, the impact echoes far beyond the moment. It shapes futures,” said Lucy Keller, Circle of Ivy Founding Member and Hamilton County Circle of Ivy member. “That’s what those 13 leaders did. They dreamed big and left a lasting legacy that has changed countless lives.”
This year’s in-person celebration – the first since before the pandemic in 2020 – was called “Honoring the Past and Propelling the Future.” Members from across the state had the chance to connect with one another, and together, shape Ivy Tech students’ futures.
“Circle of Ivy exemplifies the power of community and purpose,” said Dr. Rachel Kartz, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Hamilton County and Circle of Ivy member. “Since 2021, when we became a full-service campus, our members have removed barriers to education and created opportunities for success by awarding more than $56,000 to 22 projects. Their commitment ensures that Ivy Tech continues to be a place where students can thrive, dream big, and shape the future of Indiana.”
More than four out of five Ivy Tech graduates stay in the Hoosier State to pursue their careers, and Ivy Tech contributes nearly $4 billion annually to Indiana’s economy. Today, 87 percent of people who graduate from Ivy Tech do so without the burden of student debt. To learn more about Circle of Ivy and join as a member, please visit ivytech.edu/circleofivy.
