Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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The college’s program, also known as OLLI, received the $1 millioj endowment from the BernardOsher Foundation, which is the organization that has providecd initial funding to OLLI programs at 122 colleges and universities nationwide. Sierrs College is the only community college in Californiq and one of only three communitg colleges in the nationb to receivethe $1 million endowment. The Rocklin college receivedx the endowment because it has been so successfu l with growing enrollment since launchinfg the program in springof 2001. Sierrq College has grown the prograjmto 5,580 enrollees last year, from 1,038 in 2001. Sierra College is scheduled to formally announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 milliom endowment will provide an ongoing budger that will enable the collegd to offer lifelong learning programs in The foundation created by San Francisco philanthropist Bernard Osher gives OLLIprograms $100,000 a year for up to four and then a $1 million endowmentf once they demonstrate potential for success and sustainability. OLLI programsa provide classes, lectures and events to older adultes who have a thirst for knowledgweand community. The classes are designed for adultas age 55and over, but the Sierraw program accepts any adult student. Courses are offeredc at each of the Sierrw College campuses and at various communityt sites throughout Placer andNevada counties.
Sierra College’sd OLLI noncredit offerings are Additional topics are offered throughClub OLLI, wheres annual membership fees are $35. As the Business Journal reported in a featured on local OLLI programs in other OLLI programs can be found at Californiwa State University Sacramento and at the UC Davis Much of the increasedd demand for OLLIs and similar lifelong learning programsz can be attributed to the growinv ranks ofolder Americans.