TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (June 16, 2011) –

Despite the current state of the local economy, Tallahassee Community College is embarking on an ambitious fundraising campaign but one that will serve thousands of individuals across the Big Bend. TCC’s Healthcare Provision and Excellence Campaign will enable the College to continue serving Tallahassee and surrounding communities by educating and equipping future outstanding healthcare professionals.

The campaign goal is $5 million, but as Robin Johnston, the College’s vice president for institutional advancement, explains, that number pales in comparison to the value of the services that will be provided by students who will be educated inside TCC’s new 88,000 square foot Ghazvini Center for Healthcare Education, scheduled for a September opening.

“Each day, 10,000 individuals nationwide are becoming eligible for Medicare,” explained Johnston, “In Tallahassee, chances are those individuals will be cared for by a healthcare worker who trained at a community college, most likely Tallahassee Community College.”

Additionally, as the economy improves and an aging workforce begins to retire, a shortage in the number of healthcare workers is expected to again be on the rise. It is this gap that TCC aims to fill.

To ensure the College reaches its campaign goal, the TCC Foundation has assembled a Lead Gift Committee, comprised of notable healthcare professionals and business leaders throughout Tallahassee.

The 11-member committee includes TCC President Jim Murdaugh and John Hogan, President and CEO of Capital Health Plan, who was previously named the campaign’s honorary chair.

Other Lead Gift Committee members include (in alphabetical order):

· David Bellamy, MD - orthopedic surgeon, Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic

· Ken Boutwell, PhD – Co-Founder and President, MGT of America, Inc.

· Walter E. Colón, II, DMD, MS - President and Owner, Periodontal Associates of North Florida

· Steve Evans – senior advisor and past chairman, Florida TaxWatch

· Paula Fortunas – President and CEO, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Foundation

· Almena Pettit, MBA – community volunteer, TCC Foundation Board of Directors

· Winnie Schmeling, PhD, RN, FAAN – consultant, TCC Foundation Board of Directors

· John B. Thomas – President, Brandt Information Services, TCC Foundation Board of Directors

· Bud Wethington – President and CEO, Capital Regional Medical Center

Doug Bell, a lawyer with Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, and a member of the TCC Foundation’s Board of Directors is the campaign’s general chair.

The Lead Gift Committee is charged with identifying and evaluating prospective donors capable of providing lead gifts for the campaign. Committee members will also assist in soliciting lead gifts and enlisting additional campaign leaders, as requested by the committee chair.

“We’re very grateful to everyone on this all-star team of healthcare professionals, local business icons and community leaders for their help in spreading the word about TCC’s efforts,” Johnston added. “Their involvement reflects the fact that maintaining a quality health care workforce is a critical issue and underscores the importance of TCC’s initiative to the entire community.”

The Healthcare Provision and Excellence Campaign supports TCC’s expanding healthcare programs by seeking investments for facilities, state-of-the-art technology, student support services, scholarships and more. The College plans to increase healthcare programs enrollment by close to 100 percent over the next five years.

In March of 2009, TCC broke ground on the healthcare Center. The Center will be located in the heart of the Tallahassee medical corridor, thanks to a 14.5-acre land grant from Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

For more information on the TCC’s Foundation healthcare campaign, please contact Robin Johnston at (850) 201-8580 or johnstor@tcc.fl.edu.