The Bristol Community College Foundation recently received a series of gifts totaling approximately $2 million from the Harold and Virginia Lash Trusts. This is the largest gift in the college’s history and elevates the health sciences program to new levels of excellence in learning resources and technology.

The late Harold and Virginia Lash took a passionate interest in the mission of BCC and have long been generous donors. The college’s Lash Enrollment Services Center, the Lash Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Lash Scholarships are the results of their extensive generosity. Harold and Virginia Lash had a vision for the college’s considerable accomplishments throughout the region and have graciously come forward many times to give us the resources that have made many dreams come true.

The gift of approximately $2 million is the largest gift received by the college and will:

· Assist in the construction of new, modern anatomy and physiology labs in the E building, on the BCC Fall River campus. To honor the generosity of Harold and Virginia Lash, the college will name the labs the Harold and Virginia Lash Anatomy and Physiology Labs.

· Support two existing scholarships; the Virginia and Harold Lash Endowed Scholarship and the Virginia Lash Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

· Establish the Harold and Virginia Z. Lash Health and Science Fund, which will be used to purchase new equipment and equipment maintenance for health and science programs at BCC’s Fall River campus and support the advancement of health and science programs excellence at the Fall River campus including the education of nursing staff.

The gift comes in the midst of BCC’s Imagine. Invest. Transform Capital Campaign. The campaign, which has exceeded its $10 million goal, seeks to shape the future of education with a focus on college aspirations, including advancing new approaches to teaching and learning, attracting and supporting the best students and faculty, and creating an innovative campus for the 21st century. The initiative’s success has been largely aided by the direction and dedication of the capital campaign’s co-chairs Nicholas M. Christ, President and CEO, BayCoast Bank and Patrick J. Murray, Jr., President and CEO, Bristol County Savings Bank.

“The college and what it provides our community is absolutely essential to improve the overall quality of life in Bristol County,” said Nicholas M. Christ, President and CEO of BayCoast Bank and co-chair of the Campaign Cabinet. “BCC’s commitment to excellence and affordability represents a great value proposition for the entire region.”

“BCC has made a tremendous difference in the lives of its students,” added Patrick J. Murray, President and CEO, Bristol County Savings Bank and co-chair of the Campaign Cabinet. “The continued generosity has made many students’ dreams come true.”

BCC plans to launch Phase II of the Capital Campaign this fall in support of the Attleboro, New Bedford and Taunton locations.

For more information about the BCC Foundation, please contact Elizabeth McCarthy, Vice President for Resource Development, at 774.357.2235, or email Elizabeth.McCarthy@bristolcc.edu.

--Bristol Community College release

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