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About the McClure Foundation
Giving with Warm Hands: Our History


When Warren and Lois McClure established the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation in 1995, the longtime philanthropists already had a deep understanding of how community foundations respond to needs over time.

Giving with "warm hands" is a guiding principal for the family's philanthropic work. According to Warren, when we give while we are alive—while our hands are warm—we can see good works being accomplished, contribute ideas for community betterment, and provide our children with an opportunity to see our actions.

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Funding in Support of Postsecondary and Career Education


A summary of grants made in the 2007-8 to 2012-13 school years

Jump to:
I. COLLABORATIONS/ONGOING PROGRAMS 
II. PATHWAYS TO PROMISING CAREERS INITIATIVE
III. COLLABORATIONS IN SUPPORT OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE
IV. FUNDING IN EARLIER YEARS


I. COLLABORATIONS/ONGOING PROGRAMS

Community College of Vermont (CCV)
Introduction to College Studies Program Expansion
Funding for School Years 2008-9 through 2012-13

Introduction to College Studies (ICS) is designed to motivate students to pursue a college education and to clarify the processes involved. This annual program expansion promotes ICS in high schools with high proportions of potential first-generation college students and is designed to introduce students to college campuses and culture and to help students hone their time management and study skills. Participants who successfully complete the course earn a voucher for a free college course at any Vermont state college (CCV, Vermont Tech, Castleton State, Lyndon State, Johnson State, or UVM). Funding Partners: Bari and Peter Dreissigacker, State of Vermont, Local Donors.

The new Fair Haven High School ICS Program, funded for 2012-13 and the coming two school years, consists of an intensified effort to include high school juniors and seniors in CCV’s Introduction to College Studies courses in order to follow through with students who participated in the College for Every Student (see Section IV) program at Castleton Elementary and Middle Schools co-funded by the McClure Foundation in 2008 and 2009. This three-year program will include enhanced student, faculty, and counselor development training and will feature classes located closer to the student population. 

American Red Cross Vermont and New Hampshire Valley Region
Babysitting Training Scholarships
Funding for 2010-11 through 2012-13

This funding provides scholarships for enrollment in an American Red Cross babysitter training course. Youth are recruited through a partnership with the 14 Parent Child Centers (PCC) across Vermont to ensure that a geographically-diverse population has the opportunity to learn basic childcare skills and gain first-time job experience. Recruitment focuses on those youth in charge of younger siblings or neighborhood children while parents work. Funding Partners: Numerous individual gifts.

The Tutorial Center Bridge to College Program
Funding for 2010-11, and Fall Semester 2011, and 2012-13

The Bridge to College program at the Tutorial Center in Bennington supports adults who want to go to college but whose skills are not yet “college-ready.” These nontraditional students are mostly adults and include veterans, low- to moderate-income Vermonters, adults re-entering the workforce, and some formerly incarcerated students. They predominantly have their GEDs and high school diplomas and their ages average 25-30 years. This is a two-semester course that includes career counseling and is taught by instructors from both the Community College and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. The program usually enrolls 12-15 students each semester.

Single Parents' Program at Champlain College
Funding for 2012-13 

The Single Parents Program helps low-income single parent students gain needed skills to become more financially independent. The program provides advocacy, workshops, resources, and case managers to remove barriers to academic success. Program elements include the save the day emergency fund, peer advising, financial literacy courses, career counseling, etc. Since 1987, the program has graduated over 560 students. Funding Partners: The Board of Champlain College, The Stiller Foundation, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation.


II. PATHWAYS TO PROMISING CAREERS INITIATIVE

Pathways to Promising Careers — Part 1
Creation of the Pathways to Promising Careers Website
Funding for 2010-11 through 2012-13

The Pathways to Promising Careers Website is part of a statewide outreach and information campaign to publicize information about careers in demand in Vermont. Careers that offer median and higher salaries are highlighted, and linked to Vermont Department of Labor information detailing the academic and training requirements needed for those careers, and the institutions in Vermont that offer relevant training and education. This site was beta tested with Vermont National Guard members prior to their return from Afghanistan in late 2010. Funding Partners: Bari and Peter Dreissigacker, The Philanthropic Leadership Fund, et al.

Pathways to Promising Careers — Part 2
Counseling and Support to Returning Vets and their families through CCV
Funding for 2010-11 through 2012-13

This initiative enhances individual education and career counseling services and support for veterans and their families at all 12 Community College of Vermont locations. Through the strong leadership of Chara Vincelette, Director of Veterans Services at CCV, the Community College of Vermont has seen a 38% increase in military-connected students (veterans and dependents of veterans receiving benefits) enrolled at CCV between Spring '11 and Spring '12 (269-370). Serving the highest number of military connected students out of any college in Vermont, CCV expects an increased number of enrolled students this summer semester, and notes that the average application-to-enrollment rate for veterans at CCV is about 70% (compared to a college average of 54%). Funding Partners: Bari and Peter Dreissigacker, The Philanthropic Leadership Fund, et al.

Pathways to Promising Careers — Part 3
Aligning Jobs to Schooling: Vermont Community Awareness
Funding for 2011-12 and 2012-13

This integrated marketing campaign will share community college and technical school information with underserved Vermont households and aims to raise awareness among community leaders and citizens. Americans are presented with a panorama of educational opportunities and with opportunities on how “easy” it is to get loans to pay for these opportunities. This picture has been further complicated in recent years by the aggressive marketing efforts of for-profit universities offering continuing education opportunities online. The McClure Foundation has held that community colleges provide an accessible and affordable solution for many students.

The goal for this phase of the campaign is community ownership of our superb community college system. CCV has developed a print and online version of a comprehensive publication designed to acquaint Vermonters with CCV’s six certificate and 20 associate degree programs, and show the degree requirements, career tracks, transfer opportunities, employment outlook and earning potential for each. In Spring 2012 this brochure was mailed to nearly 23% of Vermont households and is mailed to all prospective students requesting the publication through CCV. CCV's new College and Career Guide is now available online. Funding Partner: Community College of Vermont.

The second aspect of this initiative is a small grant to the Vermont Journalism Trust to report on college readiness, workforce development, and education issues.

 

III. COLLABORATIONS IN SUPPORT OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE

PreK - 16 Council
Funding Support for Council Work
Funding for 2010-11 through 2012-13

The goal of the PreK-16 Council is to revamp current policies and systems that may be barriers. This statewide council is the brainchild of Tim Donovan, the Chancellor of Vermont State Colleges and Armando Vilaseca, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Education. Vermont House representatives Peter Peltz has recently been elected to serve as council Chair. 

By revamping current policies and systems that may be barriers to transitions for Vermonters, the education system can become more student centered and dramatically increase access for all Vermonters. Specifically, stronger alignment will: 

  • Ease the student transition between institutions as teacher expectations and student readiness will be clear and consistent
  • Address gaps and weaknesses early on in a student’s career
  • Reduce the need for remediation as students pass from one institution to the next
  • Better align employer needs with academic offerings
  • Reduce overlap in academic course offerings
  • Clarify both academic and career readiness standards

These benefits can reduce education costs by eliminating inefficiencies and clarifying expectations.   Funding Partners: Tarrant Foundation, Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, and Vermont State Colleges.

Academy 21
Franklin Central Supervisory District
Funding for 2011-12 and 2012-13

Franklin Central Supervisory Union (Franklin County) includes five schools providing PreK-12 and adult education. This learning innovation initiative, Academy 21, will reengineer education in the district by taking apart the traditional school model and putting it back together with the goal of personalizing learning in order to allow success for every student. Innovations will impact every part of a learner’s day, from how students learn to how their learning is measured and from the shape of the school day/week/year to how the school is staffed, in an effort to tailor students' experiences based on their needs and interests. The Academy 21 model is expected to promote far greater integration with the local community college branch and local businesses and is expected to achieve overall cost savings. This initiative, led by superintendent Bob Rosane, offers the first district transformation model in Vermont. Its systemic approach builds on existing innovation that has been seeded across the district over the past three years. Funding Partners: Vermont Department of Education, the Gates Foundation--A Next Generation Grant.

Improving Access to Postsecondary Education in Vermont
Forum to Address Strategic Issues
Funded for Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012

The education summit has become an annual fixture for Vermont’s political, education, and philanthropic leaders. Keynote speaker at this year's event will be Chancellor Tim Dononvan of the Vermont State College system. Funding Partner: Vermont Community Foundation.

 

IV. FUNDING IN EARLIER YEARS

College of St. Joseph, Rutland
STEPS Program
Funding for School Years 2008-9 through 2011-12

The CSJ STEPS Program is a partnership with the Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) to increase the percentage of Vermont foster youth who can consider college by providing them year-round with resources and support systems to promote their college success. Funding Partners: John Merck Fund, Carris Reel, Vermont Country Store, Vermont Department of Children and Families, VSAC, Numerous Private Foundations and Individuals, Hilda & Preston Davis Foundation, Jane’s Trust.

Vet-to-Vet Services
Funding for 2011-12

This funding will bring the Vet-to-Vet WRAP course to Vets whose recovery has progressed to the point where they are now considering continuing their education. WRAP is a highly effective peer-to-peer recovery program for Vets suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. In addition, the program serves over 50 unique Vets a month and hosts three weekend WRAP sessions in White River Junction. This funding will assist also in updating the Vermont Vet-to-Vet chapter website.

Community College of Vermont
Expansion of the Lumina Foundation’s Achieving the Dream Initiative into Vermont

The goal of Achieving the Dream is to help more students reach their individual goals--which may include obtaining a better job, earning a community college certificate or degree, or attaining a bachelor’s degree. The Community College of Vermont identifies student populations that currently experience low rates of success, develops interventions to improve student outcomes, and measures changes in student success. This grant was co-funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education and the Vermont Community Foundation.

Barre Technical Center:  Pre-Tech Outreach Program

Funding was provided for the initial two-years Barre Tech Center's pilot program before it could be self-sustaining. The objective of the program is to re-engage 9 graders at high risk of dropping out through an outdoor, physical classroom environment. Academic supports are in place and students receive full credits upon completion. Funding Partner: Vermont Department of Education

Windham Regional Career Center
Early Intervention for Academic and Career Readiness

The Early Intervention program is designed to address weaknesses among entering Windham Regional Career Center students so their academic and workforce readiness gaps can be addressed while they are still in high school—increasing their readiness and likelihood of post secondary success and reducing their costs by eliminating the need for college or post secondary remediation.

College for Every Student:  Partnership with Castleton Elementary and Middle Schools

College for Every Student (CFES), formerly the Foundation for Excellent Schools, helps underserved students prepare for, gain access to, and succeed in college by partnering with elementary, middle and high schools.  

Linking Learning to Life:  College Connections Program

The College Connections Program offers sophomores, juniors, and seniors from high schools and alternative education programs, as well as out-of-school youth, options for exploring post-secondary education prior to graduation. The program targets students meeting one or more of the following criteria: first generation college goers, those from low-income families, English as a Second Language learners, minority students, and students with identified disabilities.

Vermont Technical College:  Summer Bridge Program

Vermont Technical College provides a Summer Bridge Program to applying students who need remedial support in either English or Math. In some cases, acceptance to the college is contingent on the successful completion of the program. The college subsidizes the program and has kept the tuition constant for the past ten years.