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We want to make a difference to improve the lives of students here at Hartnell College and throughout Monterey County. Transforming lives is at the heart of our work, and we believe that goal is also important to you.

You can make an enormous difference during your lifetime without impacting your assets or cash flow. If you include the Hartnell College Foundation in your will, trust, or as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, your legacy will live on and ensure quality education for current and future Hartnell students. It’s easy to do, and we can help.

Please note that while your retirement plan benefits you, it can create tax problems for your heirs. The IRS will tax, as ordinary income tax, your heirs who inherit your IRA upwards of 40% to 60%. They must exhaust your IRA within ten years of inheriting it, which could be a significant income tax burden. Consider gifting your IRA to the Hartnell College Foundation and support your loved ones in more tax-friendly ways.

To learn more about your giving options and how to create your legacy masterpiece, please visit our site or connect with us.


Our very best!

Jacqueline Cruz
Vice President of Advancement and Development
Executive Director, Hartnell College Foundation
(831) 444-2446 mobile
jcruz@hartnell.edu

Kristine Edmunds
Director of Philanthropy
Hartnell College Foundation
(831) 755-6903 Office
(831) 601-0016 Mobile
kedmunds@hartnell.edu 

Dear donors and supporters,

Throughout the year, we invite students and alumni to share their Hartnell story. Those moments are always special to me because I too have a Hartnell story as an alumna and now as a doctorate student about to defend my dissertation at USC. Just like you, I strive to motivate and inspire men and women to follow their dreams. It is also okay to ask for help in the process and to take advantage of the support system built for student success. 

We start a series of testimonials with Andrea Cervantes who gave a compelling “I AM” speech to faculty and staff. You will be amazed by her story. Support like yours allows students, even those under difficult circumstances, to have a voice and hope for the future.

With appreciation,


Jacqueline Cruz
Vice President of Advancement and Development
Executive Director, Hartnell College Foundation
(831) 444-2446 mobile

SERIES – ACHIEVING THE DREAM RALLY
Andrea is making lemonade out of lemons

On August 25, 2023, Hartnell College Foundation hosted the Achieving the Dream Rally. Students and alumni spoke of the significant difference the support of donors makes in their lives.  

Alumna Andrea Cervantes delivered the “I AM” speech to the audience of staff and faculty. She shared how Hartnell gave her everything she needed to succeed in life and in her career. 

Cervantes, 28, graduated from Hartnell College with an associate’s degree in Communication Studies in 2015. She transferred to CSU Monterey Bay and completed her bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Communication and a minor in Law Studies in 2018.

“Law school has always been on my mind,” she said. “But at the time of graduation, I found that I could not afford it.”

She decided to complete her certification to become a paralegal at the CSUMB Advanced Education Program. She finished just this April and now works for an attorney as their paralegal.

“I am getting hands-on experience now but my goal of becoming an immigration attorney is still alive,” she said.

For Andrea, the journey has been bumpy. Her parents brought her to the United States when she was 13. When she got ready to attend college, she found out that financial aid was not for those without legal immigration status – like her.

At Hartnell, she found the support she needed. Thanks to California legislation and scholarship programs in place, she was able to get an education and work on the campus. But she found much more than that.

“Hartnell changed my life – I don’t think I would be where I am if not for Dr. Jason Hough and the care he bestowed upon me, first as my communication instructor and then as my speech team coach,” she said.

She found that being part of the speech team was a blessing – a place where she belonged. 

Not having the immigration status nor having an outlet other than by marriage to get there weighs heavily on her. “It’s hard to compare my experience with someone who does not have that mental weight,” she said. “Every day I have to think about what if someone turns me in tomorrow – I have to constantly adjust my goals and dreams because of all the limitations I have.”

Nonetheless, Andrea continues to fight for herself and is appreciative of the law firm that is giving her a chance to work in this country as a contractor. She is paying it forward by mentoring her cousins and others, encouraging them to pursue an education at Hartnell College. Her wish is to continue to fight for what is right.

“I went into this field to be able to help people like me,” she said. “I will get there.”

What will your legacy be?

If you are thinking about naming the Hartnell College Foundation in your estate plans, contact either our Vice President of Advancement and Development/Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call (831) 444-2446, or our Director of Philanthropy, Kristine Edmunds at kedmunds@hartnell.edu or by phone at (831) 755-6903. To make a gift in support of Hartnell students, go to: https://hartnellfoundation.org/donate-now/ 

Dear donors and supporters,

Fall is officially upon us and with the changes that are notable in our surroundings, we also witness how our students are embracing their evolution as college undergraduates in search of a better future.

Hartnell College is here for students. The Hartnell College Foundation is also here to support the dreams of countless youth and adults of all ages who aspire to become experts or professionals in their chosen fields. This is why I do what I do! They inspire me to be better and to do more because the end result is beautiful.

This is why the Achieving the Dream Rally on August 25, 2023, was so important to me and to the entire campus community. We got to hear from students and one alumna directly about how Hartnell has or is opening doors of opportunities. They also talked about the challenges they face daily and how adjustments in their dreams are part of growing up. Just know that what you do is making a big difference in the lives of so many of our students.

Wishing you a great start to Fall!

Be well,


Jacqueline Cruz
Vice President of Advancement and Development
Executive Director, Hartnell College Foundation
(831) 444-2446 mobile

RMDs IN ACTION
Pat knows a thing or two about giving back

Pat Donohue is best known at Hartnell College as a dedicated Board Trustee from 2007 to 2020. But she is also a supporter of the arts and women’s education.

“When I became a trustee, I became a donor to the Hartnell College Foundation,” she said. “Then I joined the Council for the Arts and met all these incredible students with talents that were displayed in different productions like the Music Extravaganza.”

Donohue retired from a 37-year career as Director of Parks and Community Service for the City of Watsonville. She found herself being bored at home and that’s when she decided to be a part of the Hartnell community.

She set up an IRA early on in her career and the time came for her to put into effect the required minimum distributions (RMDs). 

“When I found out I had to do this, it felt natural to support the arts and the Women’s Education and Leadership Institute (WELI) through the Hartnell College Foundation,” she said. “This allows me to give in amounts I am comfortable with while making an impact.”

Donohue is enjoying life. She has three stepchildren, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She is an avid reader and loves to garden, craft, and decorate. She is co-president of Soroptimist and is active at her church.

To learn more about how to make your IRA work and ideas on how you can support our mission, contact Vice President of Advancement and Development/Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu, or our Director of Philanthropy, Kristine Edmunds at kedmunds@hartnell.edu

What will your legacy be?

If you are thinking about naming the Hartnell College Foundation in your estate plans, contact either our Vice President of Advancement and Development/Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call (831) 444-2446, or our Director of Philanthropy, Kristine Edmunds at kedmunds@hartnell.edu or by phone at (831) 755-6903. To make a gift in support of Hartnell students, go to: https://hartnellfoundation.org/donate-now/ 

Dear donors and supporters,

It’s go time for us here at Hartnell College as the new academic year has begun!  This is always my favorite part of working here – seeing the flood of students through the hallways and throughout the campus is exhilarating. 

Thanks to your support, the Hartnell College Foundation is dispersing thousands and thousands of dollars in scholarships to students who need this extra supplemental aid to cover expenses. Our goal is to support the students so they can better focus on their academic life and not worry about financial challenges.

Another way to see your dollars in action is through programs like WELI and MILE.  For the Hartnell staff in the Office of Equity Programs, witnessing the leadership institute for both groups was a true honor and privilege. It was great to see the scholars connect and bond with each other and connect with their facilitators and guest speakers. Each one came to the institute with their own life experiences and challenges, and all walked away with a toolbox of new strategies to use for success. 

I am happy to provide a recap of their first three-day institute below and to introduce two of our amazing scholars.

Be well,


Jacqueline Cruz
Vice President of Advancement and Development
Executive Director, Hartnell College Foundation
(831) 444-2446 mobile

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES COMMENCE
WELI and MILE are off to a great start

The leadership institutes are off to a great start at Hartnell College. The Women’s Education & Leadership Institute and the Men’s Institute for Leadership & Education met for a three-day institute in mid-August on the main campus.

“Both sessions were phenomenal,” said Dr. Gabriela Lopez, Director, Office of Equity programs. “The scholars arrived ready to learn and to connect.” 

The women’s group was expertly led by facilitator Nena Anguiano, who helped them identify their ‘Circle of Success’ and created opportunities for students to connect with each other. The men’s group was led by Dr. Fred Moore, who guided them through his ‘I am Self-Actualized’ curriculum, which included topics such as compassionate listening, self-awareness, and communication skills.

The institutes were a powerful experience for the scholars. Both men and women shared parts of their personal journey and connected in a personal way. 

“Despite diversity in age, lived experiences, and languages spoken, scholars created connections with each other and found common ground,” said Dr. Lopez. “WELI scholars also received presentations from Dr. Annette Oswald on the topic of Resilience, and Counselor Gemma Uribe-Cruz on Emotional Intelligence and self-care.” 

One of the MILE scholars is Andy Garcia Ortiz, 21, from Seaside, CA. He is majoring in Welding & Construction Management, and is adding new majors in Diesel Technology and Mechatronics. He has always been CTE (Career Technical Education) driven.

“My parents have always shown me that hard work is required to be successful in life,” he said. “I enjoy working with my hands and hope to one day be an engineer.”

He is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of MILE and the cohort of 25 scholars. He said that Dr. Moore used positivity to inspire them to hold themselves accountable, and talked about the real meaning of ‘being a man,’ emotional intelligence, anger management, perseverance, and more.

For Andy, his faith is key in navigating life, and he feels that it is his duty to advocate and lead others to opportunities like MILE and other programs offered at Hartnell.

“I want to thank donors and those involved with MILE because they are investing time and money in the next generation, which will be in charge of taking care of them in retirement,” he said.

A similar experience was happening on the other side of campus for 50 WELI scholars. Amaris Santiago, 19, thought it was the greatest thing to be a part of a women’s institute.  She is entering her sophomore year at Hartnell and plans to transfer to a university next year to become an elementary teacher.

“It was great to meet women in different disciplines and interests,” she said. “On our first day, we were sharing our lives with each other and exchanging contact information.”

She is used to hard work through the example of her parents, who are pastors at a local church in Salinas. She is involved in leadership and is part of the worship team. For her, this was an experience that made her feel empowered.

“I am overwhelmed with a lot of joy after this first institute,” she said. “I feel like I am not alone, I feel supported, and that I am here for a reason.”

Dr. Lopez said that the timing of the institute was perfect as it prepared students to begin the new academic year with a sense of energy and confidence, knowing they have a network of peers and mentors supporting them. 

“In a time where personal connections can be a challenge due to our reliance on technology, being able to take three days to connect with a group of peers was a valuable experience,” said Dr. Lopez. “I am excited that they will be connecting with their professional mentors soon so they can keep the momentum going.” 

RMDs
Guide to Required Minimum Distributions

After years of saving, you’ve built a solid nest egg in your tax-advantaged retirement accounts. But you can’t leave that money untouched indefinitely.

Required Minimum Distributions, frequently referred to as RMDs, are how the federal government collects taxes from savings held in tax-deferred retirement plans. RMD rules require you to start withdrawing a set amount of money each year, whether you need the income or not.

Recent changes to the RMD rules expand the year at which you must start taking distributions, between 72 and 75, depending on the year of your birth.
An RMD is the amount of money that you must withdraw from nearly all types of tax-deferred retirement accounts each year once you hit a certain age.

Many retirement accounts let your savings grow tax-free over the decades, deferring the payment of income taxes until you begin making withdrawals in retirement.
By requiring you to start taking money out, the government receives the tax revenue it’s been waiting for and also ensures taxpayers aren’t accumulating tax-free wealth indefinitely.

As the name suggests, this amount is a minimum—you can always withdraw more. You can also withdraw funds from accounts and invest the money elsewhere before your RMD age hits so as to reduce the amount you must take out later.

Before 2019, RMDs began in the year you turned 70 ½. In 2019, the SECURE Act raised the RMD age to 72. The Secure Act 2.0 raised the RMD age again, based on your birthday as shown in the table above.

What will your legacy be?

If you are thinking about naming the Hartnell College Foundation in your estate plans, contact either our Vice President of Advancement and Development/Executive Director for the Foundation, Jackie Cruz at jcruz@hartnell.edu or call (831) 444-2446, or our Director of Philanthropy, Kristine Edmunds at kedmunds@hartnell.edu or by phone at (831) 755-6903. To make a gift in support of Hartnell students, go to: https://hartnellfoundation.org/donate-now/ 

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