This year marks the 65th Annual Appeal for Columbia Community Service. CCS is the only employee-driven campaign on the Morningside campus that provides support to not for profit organizations that serve people who live in the local community. CCS is a collaborative effort among Barnard College, Teachers College and Columbia University.

CCS is a fairly unique fund raising organization. 100% of all donations are used to fund grants that support more than 50 local community organizations. Most organizations that receive grants have operating budgets of less than $1 million annually. Organizations with larger operating budgets are only eligible for a grant if it will make a significant contribution to a single program within the larger organization. Agencies may not use their CCS grant to pay salaries and overhead.

The CCS agencies have been hit very hard by the economic downturn and many of them are struggling to maintain critical services. Your contributions to CCS will play a critical role in helping these local community based groups carry out their missions. Agencies help a wide spectrum of people including many Columbia affiliates.

Grants have provided funds to:

• Support food pantries that feed both working and homeless families
• Provide scholarship money to nursery schools
• Support music and dance programs for children
• Fund assistance programs for senior citizens
• Fund afterschool and other tutorial programs

Your assistance is vital this year. Each donation received by CCS is 100% tax-deductible. The goal for this year is $325,000 and 25% participation. Please visit the website at: http://communityservice.columbia.edu/ and make a donation. 

Thank you for supporting CCS!