ANSWERING THE CALL

MHCC GALA RAISES $250,000 TO FUEL STUDENT SUPERPOWERS

I almost wasn’t here this term. That made standing inside the Yoshida Event Center on April 11—surrounded by donors, staff, and student volunteers wearing superhero capes—feel a little surreal.

The MHCC Foundation Gala and Auction, the college’s largest fundraising event of the year, transformed the space into a 1950s Superhero Metropolis. It was fun, a little absurd, and somehow exactly right.

Students dressed in black moved through the room in capes, guiding guests through registration, games, and auction tables. Nearly 300 attendees filled the space alongside more than 70 student volunteers, most of whom are scholarship recipients.

For many of those students, it was their first time attending the gala. By the end of the night, almost everyone I spoke to said the same thing: They had fun and were glad they came. Something shifts when you see the impact up close.

According to Jennifer Boehmer, vice president for advancement and community engagement and executive director of the MHCC Foundation, the event raised $250,000 for scholarships. But what stood out wasn’t just the number—it was what the night represented.

“At the heart of our gala were the students, and it became so much more than a fundraiser—it was a true celebration of possibility,” Boehmer said. “The most meaningful moments came from seeing donors and students connect, each recognizing the powerful role they play in transforming lives and building a stronger future.”

Throughout the evening, the program leaned into the whimsical theme of “heroes among us.” Boehmer introduced characters like “Captain Catalyst,” a reminder of what happens when someone says, “I see you. I believe in you. I’m going to invest in your future.”

And people did.

Early in the night, before the auctioning of items began, multiple donors raised their paddles for $10,000 contributions—no strings attached. Others followed, making donations ranging from $50 to $5,000. Among those contributing to student success were MHCC President Lisa Skari and her husband.

Boehmer said the foundation exists to connect donors to students and programs, supporting success through philanthropy. At a college that serves about 18,000 students each year—16% of whom are first-generation—that support is vital. As shared during the program, two out of three MHCC students struggle to meet their basic needs, even as they continue doing the work and investing in their futures.

Last year, the foundation awarded more than $1 million in scholarships. Yet, for every student who receives support, at least four more apply and do not. That reality was present in the room, but so was something else: connection.

This year, more scholarship recipients attended the gala than in recent years, a shift many guests noted. It changed the energy. It wasn’t just about donors giving to students in theory; they were face-to-face, sharing stories and shaking hands.

The evening featured graduates who found their “superpowers” through education. Students like Brian spoke about how scholarships allowed him to “see a future where there wasn’t one before.”

And students like me.

When I enrolled in fall term, I was prepared for it to be my only term. Financially, continuing didn’t feel possible. I was ready to walk away and hope I’d learned enough to carry me forward.

Receiving a foundation scholarship changed everything. It gave me the ability to stay and to pursue a dream that, at 45 years old, I thought might never be possible.

Standing in that room, I realized these aren’t just scholarships. They are investments—moments where someone chooses to believe in a student’s future, sometimes before that student believes in it themselves.

The gala is built around fundraising, but that isn’t just about logistics. It’s about the moment you recognize the supportive community we have in our corner. For many of us, that’s the reason we’re still here.