MEDIA, PA — Delaware County Community College (DCCC) has been awarded a transformative $1 million estate gift from the late Louise A. Strauss, setting the stage for a new scholarship fund dedicated to students from Coatesville. This generous endowment reflects the enduring philanthropic spirit of the Strauss family, whose legacy in education and community support has left an indelible mark on both local and academic institutions.
The newly established scholarship fund aims to provide significant financial assistance to Coatesville students aspiring to attend DCCC. Currently, the college enrolls over 320 students annually from the Coatesville School District, many of whom participate in dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to earn college credits at reduced tuition rates.
Louise A. Strauss, a member of a family deeply committed to education, continued the philanthropic legacy begun by her parents, Ione Apfelbaum Strauss and Hilary Strauss. Ione, a distinguished alumna of Coatesville’s Scott Senior High School and the University of Pennsylvania, passed in 2020 and was a trailblazer, becoming the first female president of the University of Pennsylvania’s General Alumni Society. The Strauss family’s contributions to academia include endowing the University of Pennsylvania’s Herbert C. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, reflecting their dedication to educational advancement.
In a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Louise Strauss underscored her mother’s lifelong connection to Coatesville: “My mother remained intensely loyal to Coatesville all of her life. Her memories of a childhood spent in what she described as an idyllic small town were the stuff of our favorite bedtime stories.”. This connection has now been immortalized through the scholarship fund designed to empower Coatesville’s future leaders.
Dr. Marta Yera Cronin, President of DCCC, expressed the profound impact of this bequest, stating, “Higher education represents opportunity, and we are tremendously moved by this generous bequest. It will have a transformational effect on our students from Coatesville.” The scholarship fund will be managed by the DCCC Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential resources for the college’s diverse array of programs and student needs.
The DCCC Educational Foundation plays a crucial role in supporting the college through various initiatives, including the Essential Student Resource Center, the campus Veteran’s Center, and annual student scholarship funding. The Foundation recently celebrated these efforts at its annual Scholarship Luncheon, where the community gathered to honor the dedication of its students, donors, and staff.
This landmark gift from Louise A. Strauss not only continues her family’s legacy of philanthropy but also promises to open doors for countless students in Coatesville, fostering educational growth and opportunity for generations to come.
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