Message from the Bristol Community College Foundation

Dear Friends and Supporters,

This year, our alumni and supporters helped Bristol students find support, guidance, and pride as they achieved their educational goals. We reached big milestones together. This report’s design evokes a quilt, each story forming a square stitched with shared purpose, opportunity, and care.

In 2025, Bristol celebrated its 60th anniversary and welcomed President Sedgwick L. Harris, Ed.D., who led the development of a five-year plan to invest in students, strengthen connections, and drive regional economic vitality.

Thanks to your generosity, our impact was transformative, with over $1 million raised through the Bristol Community College Foundation. This supported academic programs, student success initiatives, and faculty innovation. We are especially proud of the scholarships made possible this year – 269 scholarships totaling $394,000. You’ll read about one of the student scholarship recipients, Sabrina Russell, in this annual report. We also supported a variety of college programs, including the Career Ready Clothing Closet, professional development for student veterans, and funding for a future public art installation commemorating the 1.5 million children lost in the Holocaust.

Recognizing that academic success depends on stability beyond the classroom, our CARE Fund provided over $125,000 in emergency aid to students in crisis, helping them stay on track when unexpected hardships threatened their ability to remain in school.

We welcomed alumni and supporters raising funds and spirits through our Gala, Bristol Awards, and the Birdies for Bayhawks Benefit Golf Tournament. New Bedford native and former White House photographer Pete Souza, and wildlife conservationist and TV personality Jeff Corwin made the first two years of our Wolfson Speaker Series a standout addition to our calendar. All of these gatherings were moments of connection, learning, and celebration, supporting Bristol students together.

Deepening alumni and student connections remained a cornerstone. Students engaged with alumni leaders through mentorship and our first Lunch with Leaders events. They gained insight, encouragement, and real-world perspective from those who have walked similar paths. These relationships, built on shared experience and generosity, embody the very best of Bristol.

To every donor, volunteer, leader, partner, and friend: Thank you! Serving this multigenerational community, from our first graduates to recent alumni, including those who are now faculty and staff, is an honor. Each generation adds to the quilt, strengthening and paying forward knowledge, mentorship, and opportunity.

We invite you to stay engaged in 2026. Participate in events and lifelong learning. Connect with students as mentors or advocates. By joining together, we honor the past and ensure today’s students have the support they need to thrive.

With appreciation,

Judi Urquhart
Chief Advancement Officer

Frank B. Sousa III
President, Foundation Board of Directors