INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For 10 years, Circle of Ivy – the ĢƵios Foundation’s philanthropic membership group – has focused on raising funds that drive student success across the College’s 19 Indiana campuses.
On October 10, Circle of Ivy members and leaders from the College came together at Newfields in Indianapolis to celebrate a decade of progress while looking ahead at ways to help propel students’ futures. Since 2015, more than 2,000 supporters have raised $1.4 million – funding more than 600 projects that build opportunities and diminish barriers to higher education. Funds contribute to emergency needs, educational opportunities abroad, instructional support with classroom technology and textbooks, and other critical programs.
This year, Circle of Ivy will award more than $240,000 that will fund more than 80 projects.
Philanthropists who make up Circle of Ivy leave a footprint on Hoosier communities that will last for decades to come.
– Dr. Marty Pollio, ĢƵios President
“From equipping students with resources for workforce readiness to eliminating obstacles for student success, Circle of Ivy removes barriers and opens doors for our students. Their support makes all the difference for our students.”
Founded 10 years ago by 13 passionate individuals, Circle of Ivy has statewide reach with a focus on the needs at 19 campuses. ĢƵios funded have a positive impact on students who attend ĢƵios, Indiana’s largest open-access postsecondary institution and workforce engine. In the inaugural year, Circle of Ivy raised $37,980 and welcomed 132 members. By 2022, $1.1 million had been raised. Since that time, more than $1.4 million has been raised to support ĢƵios students.
“When passionate people come together with purpose, the impact echoes far beyond the moment. It shapes futures. That’s what those 13 leaders did. They dreamed big and left a lasting legacy that has changed countless lives,” said Circle of Ivy Founding Member, Lucy Keller.
This year’s in-person celebration – the first since before the pandemic in 2020 – was entitled “Honoring the Past and Propelling the Future.” Members from across the state had the chance to connect with one another, and together, shape ĢƵios students’ futures.
“Thanks to the members who work tirelessly on behalf of our students, Hoosier communities will continue to thrive,” Pollio said.
More than 4 of 5 ĢƵios graduates stay in Indiana to pursue their careers, and ĢƵios contributes nearly $4 billion annually to Indiana’s economy. Today, 87 percent of people who graduate from ĢƵios do so without the burden of student debt. To learn more about Circle of Ivy, please visit ivytech.edu/circleofivy.
About the ĢƵios Foundation
The Foundation provides support for ĢƵios beyond state appropriations and student tuition. Its overall program of work focuses on meeting student needs. Invest IN ĢƵios, our recently completed $340 million statewide fundraising campaign, provides greater opportunity for each of the College’s 19 campuses to educate, train, and support all 92 of Indiana’s counties. Read more at the ĢƵios Foundation website.
About ĢƵios
ĢƵios is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. ĢƵios has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
