The Foundation @ COM

President Stanley speaks at the Foundation Gala

While College of the Mainland Foundation was formally established on May 23, 1968, it was first established in 1967 as a tax exempt corporation as defined by section 501 (c) (3) of the IRS code. The foundation was organized by a group of civic and business leaders to help College of the Mainland achieve its missions and goal.  Since its inception, the Foundation has committed itself to raising funds for student scholarships, which by law cannot be supported by tax dollars.  (Source: College of the Mainland Foundation 1989-90 Annual Report). See our complete collection of photos, Foundation @ COM.

Establishment of the Gala
With a vision to make higher education more accessible through endowed scholarships for deserving students, President Stanley hosted the first Foundation Gala honoring a civic leader who shared this goal. Gathered on the patio for wine and cheese, the $100-per-couple Tom Ryan Gala benefitted theatre majors and provided the catalyst to ignite community-wide interest and affirmation.

More COM History
See all currently available COM History photos or go to our COM History LibGuide for more COM History.

Let Us Know!
We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to help us identify events or individuals in our photos. Just make sure to include the URL (web address) of the photo when sending information. Please contact Tillie Henson at (409) 933-8205 or email Thenson@com.edu.