Legacy Giving/Planned Giving                                Dec. 23, 2020

Dear donors and supporters,

At the close of a turbulent year, looking back may feel overwhelming and painful. We grieve the difficulties and we also have deep gratitude that we can celebrate that students have been able to continue learning through online instruction and services, in large part because of your generosity.

Your donations are making a huge difference in our students’ lives. A mother of four who is also an emergency scholarship recipient wrote this note to her counselor, “I have no words to explain how this makes me feel. This really takes some weight off my shoulders.”

It warms my heart to know that together we are assisting the most vulnerable, but there is more work yet to be done. I am so happy to have the privilege of partnering with you to ensure all students have what they need for uninterrupted learning.

This month we lost one of our most loyal donors, our dear Andy Matsui. He was a man unlike any other; a man of honor who loved to help Hartnell students. His heart was dedicated to making others’ lives better. He leaves a legacy that will continue to impact generations to come. He will be missed. Our hearts are with the Matsui family. Read more about Andy in his memoriam below.

Wishing you health and hope,
Jackie

Even with the advent of a vaccine, Hartnell College will continue with primarily online instruction at least through this spring. We remain focused on enabling Salinas Valley students to efficiently complete their degrees and either transfer to a four-year university or move directly into a rewarding career.

At this moment, when we are so keenly aware of what matters most in our lives, we appeal to your belief in our incredible students and all they can achieve for themselves and their families.

Our students’ obstacles are greater than those facing most college students because of job loss, crowded housing, and limited access to computers and wireless internet across the Salinas Valley.

With your help, Hartnell has provided them with 800 laptop computers and 500 wireless hotspots since the pandemic hit last spring. We have distributed $500 in basic assistance to 126 needy students, likewise funded with gifts to the Hartnell College Foundation.

To make a donation or to include Hartnell College or the Hartnell College Foundation in your Estate Plans, call Jackie Cruz at (831)755-6810                                                                                                   or

Your Planned Gift Changing Lives: Alumna Ana Ibarra Shares her Story

Ana Ibarra came to Hartnell College as a re-entry student. She found the support and the community she needed to thrive and be prepared for UC Berkeley. She tells how her work now in the Bay Area is getting her ready to return to Salinas to give back by improving accessibility to programs for the underserved.
She is the proud mom to Isabella, 12; for her, it is important for her daughter to see how hard work and dedication mixed with a heart for the community can make an impact in your personal and professional lives.

A Tribute to Andy Matsui Toshikiyo “Andy” Matsui (1935-2020)

Floral entrepreneur and philanthropist Toshikiyo “Andy” Matsui, who passed away Dec. 11, will be long remembered for higher education support that transformed the lives of scores of hundreds of Hartnell College students and will benefit countless more for decades to come.

Matsui was a multimillion-dollar founding scholarship donor to the Computer Science in 3 (CSin3) program, a degree partnership between Hartnell and Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB). That groundbreaking initiative, begun in 2013, is acclaimed for its success in graduating women and minority students, who have long been underrepresented in computer science and other STEM-related fields.

In 2017, Teresa Matsui, on behalf of her parents, Andy and Yasuko Matsui, announced the philanthropic gift of 215 acres of land north east of Salinas. This is the largest gift the Hartnell College Foundation has received in its history. Their philanthropy provided $400,000 in scholarships through 2019 for the Bachelor of Science Degree in computer science and information technology through a visionary accelerated 3-year program (CSin3). For 2020 and beyond, Hartnell established a special Foundation Matsui Leadership Gift Committee to develop specific programs and strategies to most effectively maximize the Matsui’s philanthropic impact.

The Matsui family shared the news that he died peacefully at The Cottages of Carmel. He was 85. They said they plan to hold a celebration of life “when it is again safe to gather.”

“Our hearts go out to the Matsui family for their loss,” said Dr. Raúl Rodríguez, interim superintendent/president of the Hartnell Community College District (HCCD). “Andy Matsui has made an enduring impact, not only at Hartnell, but in so many ways across the Salinas Valley and beyond. Our college will be forever grateful for his incredible support.”

What will your legacy be?

If you are thinking about naming the Hartnell College Foundation in your estate plans, contact Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call at (831) 444-2446.