Union County College “Close the Gap” Reception on Wednesday, July 19

Union County College is an open door to a better life for thousands of students each year. Once enrolled, students are guided to complete their degree in two years through the College’s Operation Graduation campaign. Since the Operation Graduation initiative has begun, the College has more than tripled its graduation rates and in 2016, the largest class crossed the stage at Commencement.

The success of the Operation Graduation initiative also identified that African American young men were not meeting the two year completion goal. In 2015, the Union County College Foundation, along with a small group of dedicated community volunteers, established the Close the Gap Campaign to support the College’s strategic initiative to help shrink the ever growing achievement gap that exists for African American young men and to provide financial assistance to help these students complete their degree on time. As a result of the funds raised during a cocktail reception in 2016, the necessary resources were able to be provided to the identified students and the graduation rates for African American males has now nearly doubled.

The funds raised during last year’s reception were used to provide financial support for tuition, academic boot camps, books and supplies, emergency funding, employment or public transportation. To continue the momentum of success established last year, the Union County College Foundation will host its 2nd Annual Close the Gap Cocktail Reception on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, in the Victor M. Richel Student Commons at the College’s Cranford campus.

This year’s special honorary guest will be New York Giants Linebacker Carl Banks. Since leaving football in 1995, Banks has become a successful businessman and is now president of his own clothing line, G-III Sports by Carl Banks.

For more information on how you can support this campaign, please contact the Foundation office at (908) 709-7505 or email [email protected].