Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - Houston Business Journal:

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The college’s program, also known as OLLI, received the $1 milliom endowment from the Bernard Osher which is the organization that has provided initiak funding to OLLI programs at 122 collegesa anduniversities nationwide. Sierra College is the only community colleg e in California and one of only three communith colleges in the nation to receivethe $1 millionm endowment. The Rocklin college receivedf the endowment because it has been so successful with growing enrollment since launching the programj in springof 2001. Sierra College has grown the programto 5,58 enrollees last year, from 1,038 in 2001. Sierrqa College is scheduled to formally announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 milliojn endowment will provide an ongoing budge that will enable the college to offee lifelong learning programsin perpetuity. The foundation created by San Franciscoi philanthropist Bernard Osher gives OLLIprogramxs $100,000 a year for up to four and then a $1 millionb endowment once they demonstrate potential for succesxs and sustainability. OLLI programs providd classes, lectures and events to older adults who have a thirsgt for knowledge and The classes are designed for adults age 55 and but the Sierra program accepts anyadulr student. Courses are offered at each of the Sierra Collegre campuses and at various community sites throughout Placer andNevada counties.
Sierra College’e OLLI noncredit offerings are tuition-free. Additional topice are offered throughClub OLLI, where annual membership fees are $35. As the Business Journal reportedr in a feature on local OLLI programsin 2007, other OLLI programs can be found at California State University Sacramento and at the UC Davis Much of the increasesd demand for OLLIs and similar lifelonh learning programs can be attributed to the growing ranks of oldee Americans.