"We are pleased to be able to add Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus to the group of community colleges, technical schools, colleges and universities that we support on an annual basis with scholarship and Random Acts of Kindness monies," says Lee Kopp, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Kopp Investment Advisors.

To support higher education, the Foundations on each campus award scholarships to students based on criteria such as, academic success, leadership skills, major field of study or potential for success; financial need may not be a consideration. Through the Cambridge Campus Foundation, a total of $50,722 was awarded to 64 Cambridge Campus students during the 2005-2006 academic year.

“The Cambridge Campus Foundation extends its appreciation to the Kopp Family Foundation for its kindness and compassion,” says Dennis Troff, Foundation Chairperson. “In addition to scholarship funding, the Random Acts of Kindness donation allows the Cambridge Campus to establish the program and support education in yet another way.”

The Coon Rapids Campus was not omitted from the Kopp’s philanthropy either. As in the last three years, the Coon Rapids Campus Random Acts of Kindness program received a $5,000 donation. Further, the Kopp funding for scholarships increased from $15,000 to $20,000. During the 2005-2006 academic year, 113 Coon Rapids Campus students received scholarships.

“The establishment of Random Acts of Kindness and a scholarship fund on the Cambridge Campus demonstrate again the Kopp family’s desire to have far-reaching impact on students’ lives and the community,” says Anoka-Ramsey Community College President, Dr. Patrick M. Johns. “And those new donations were above and beyond the increase in the Kopp’s gift to the Coon Rapids Campus.”

The concept for the program emerged from Lee Kopp who, as a high school senior, received several small scholarships that encouraged him to attend the University of Minnesota. He graduated with distinction and since has returned those gifts many times over though donations.

"I am where I am today because of the educational opportunity I had,” Kopp says. "If you can educate people, you are going to have a much stronger community and a more viable community than ever before. It's critical."

More on Random Acts of Kindness
The Random Acts of Kindness program was established at ARCC Coon Rapids Campus by the Kopp Family Foundation in August 2003. Since the program was founded, 21 Coon Rapids Campus students have received assistance. The first recipient was nursing student who confided to an instructor the need to drop out of school to work more hours to take care of an unforeseen bill in January 2004. The nursing faculty member contacted the foundation office and within two days, the program administrators were able to provide financial assistance to the student and keep him/her in school.

While ARCC actively seeks for ways to preclude the need for such assistance, students on the verge of leaving school due to unforeseen financial emergencies, should speak to a faculty or staff member who may submit a written recommendation to a Dean of Educational Services outlining the situation.

More on Kopp Investment Advisors
Kopp Investment Advisors, founded in 1990 by Chairman and Chief Investment Officer Lee Kopp, is an independent money management firm, serving high-worth individuals through investments in emerging sectors, such as technology and healthcare. The Kopp family, through the business and the Kopp Family Foundation, gives generously to all two-year higher education institutions in the metro region and several four-year institutions.

For more information on Kopp Investment Advisors, visit www.koppinvestments.com.

For more information about the Random Acts of Kindness program or to discuss other giving opportunities, please contact Anoka-Ramsey Community College Institutional Advancement Director, Evelyn Gedde at 763.433.1189 or by email.