Skip to main content
Lincoln Trail College is inviting alumni, community members, and supporters to come together on March 31 for the college’s first-ever Day of Giving.
The 24-hour event will bring attention to the ways community support helps students succeed while strengthening the programs and opportunities available on campus. The effort is part of a coordinated Day of Giving across Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, with each campus foundation focusing on supporting its local students and priorities.
For Lincoln Trail College President Tona Ambrose, who also serves as IECC’s Vice Chancellor of Institutional Outreach, the event represents an important step in strengthening connections between the college and the communities it serves.
“IECC has wanted to establish an alumni community for years,” Ambrose said. “A coordinated Day of Giving gives us an opportunity to bring that support together in a fun and visible way while highlighting the many ways philanthropy helps our students and campuses thrive.”
At Lincoln Trail College, the event will be led by the Lincoln Trail College Foundation, which works closely with the college to support students through scholarships, programs, and campus improvements.
Ambrose said the partnership between the college and the foundation plays a critical role in expanding opportunities for students.
“The Lincoln Trail College Foundation is such an important partner for us,” she said. “The donations they raise create scholarships for students, enhance our career and technical education programs, and support improvements to facilities on campus. Every dollar raised ultimately goes toward strengthening the lives of our students.”
Lincoln Trail College Foundation Executive Director Bill Sandiford said that impact can be seen across campus.
“The Lincoln Trail College Foundation is there to support the college,” Sandiford said. “Scholarships are certainly a big part of what we do, but there are many other needs as well. Anything we can do to improve the experience students have while they’re here is a great thing.”
Sandiford said the goal is to make the time students spend at Lincoln Trail College as meaningful as possible.
“We’ve had students come back years later and talk about the family experience they had at Lincoln Trail,” he said. “We want to continue building that. If we can make those two years even better for students, that’s something worth investing in.”
Community support also helps the college continue growing and improving opportunities for students. In recent years, the foundation has played a role in supporting projects such as the new Technology Center and other campus initiatives designed to enhance learning environments.
Even small gifts, Ambrose said, can make a meaningful difference.
“Sometimes a scholarship helps a student purchase textbooks, pay for a certification exam, or cover part of their tuition,” she said. “When many people come together and contribute, even small amounts, the collective impact can be powerful.”
For Sandiford, supporting the college is also about strengthening the community itself.
“We’re fortunate to have a college like Lincoln Trail here,” he said. “Giving isn’t just about writing a check and walking away. It’s about building relationships and investing in the future of our students and our community.”
Ambrose said Day of Giving is also an opportunity to reconnect with alumni and strengthen those relationships moving forward.
“We want our alumni to stay connected and engaged with the college,” she said. “Day of Giving is a moment for everyone — alumni, community partners, faculty, staff, and supporters — to come together and show their support for the students we serve.”
Sandiford hopes supporters see their contributions as an investment in the college’s future.
“We want people to give with the expectation that their gift will make an impact on our students,” he said. “It’s about continuing to build that family feeling that Lincoln Trail has always been known for.”
Community members who would like to support Lincoln Trail College during Day of Giving on March 31 can make a gift online at https://iecc.edu/ltc-day-giving. Supporters can also help amplify the effort by visiting the Day of Giving Toolkit at https://iecc.edu/ltc-day-giving-toolkit, where they’ll find shareable graphics and sample social media captions designed to help spread the word and encourage others to participate.
