OCCC’s Rosewood Gala raised $2.2 million this year, a large increase compared to years past that was fueled by major gifts and a sold-out crowd that filled more than 400 seats, according to OCCC leaders.
The total included $1.5 million from the Herman Meinders family and $300,000 from Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores for student scholarships, as well as gifts from the Inasmuch Foundation, the Witton family and significant contributions from OCCC regents and trustees.
Nancy Alexander, associate vice president for advancement, said the event’s success reflects a simple equation: meaningful outcomes plus strong relationships.
“They believe in the mission. They support Dr. Jones,” she said, referring to OCCC President Mautra Jones. “A lot of it is relationships.”
Case in point: This year’s Rosewood Gala, the third hosted by OCCC since Jones took over as president in 2022, sold out early yet again.
“It has been sold out all three years,” Alexander said of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 events. “We had sold out all the available seats. So, we weren’t even able to do individuals. Everything was a corporate table.”
On top of the generous headline gifts, the gala’s live and silent auctions, as well as a popular wine and whiskey pull, provided additional support. Overall, the auction components brought in $36,121, according to the OCCC Foundation.
How the money translates to student success is central to donor conversations, said Melissa Brevetti, director of grants. As a 501(c)(3), the foundation must dedicate a portion of funds to scholarships, and many donors choose to designate their gifts for specific needs across campus.
“Ninety-nine percent of our scholarships are $500 to $1,000 each,” Alexander said. “The Love’s family said that they wanted to make their scholarship meaningful, so it’s $2,500 – and I want to say it’s the largest individual one we have.”
She added that many donors opt to designate funds to specific campus initiatives, such as for the food pantry, clothes closet, single-parent resources or a specific academic area, while others give unrestricted gifts that the foundation can direct to the college’s greatest needs.
Feedback from sponsors and guests has been glowing.
“We had someone come in and say it was her favorite gala ever,” Brevetti said. “She said she noticed all the little touches and enjoyed it so much.”
The foundation now plans to deepen engagement, especially with alumni who want to pay it forward.
“We really are trying to build our alumni engagement,” Alexander said, noting that many alumni self-identify in the community, which creates an opening for the college to reconnect.
For Alexander, the takeaway from a record year isn’t just the amount that was raised – it’s what that figure makes possible for students who rely on scholarships and essential services to stay on track.
“They are able to become gainfully employed, contributing members of society as a result of the short time they spend here,” she said. “People love what we do. We put people to work.”
