Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - Business First of Louisville:

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The college’s program, also known as OLLI, received the $1 million endowmentf from the BernardOsher Foundation, which is the organization that has provideds initial funding to OLLI programs at 122 colleges and universitieds nationwide. Sierra College is the only communitgy college in California and one of only threr community colleges in the nation to receivethe $1 millionb endowment. The Rocklin college received the endowment becausr it has been so successful with growing enrollmeng since launching the program in springof 2001. Sierrq College has grown the programto 5,580 enrollees last year, from 1,038 in 2001. Sierra Collegwe is scheduled to formally announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 millioh endowment will provide an ongoing budget that will enablw the college to offer lifelong learninyg programsin perpetuity. The foundation created by San Francisck philanthropist Bernard Osher gives OLLIprograms $100,0000 a year for up to four years, and then a $1 millionh endowment once they demonstrate potential for success and sustainability. OLLI programes provide classes, lectures and events to oldet adults who have a thirst for knowledgweand community. The classes are designed for adult age 55and over, but the Sierra program accepts any adult student.
Coursew are offered at each of the Sierraw College campuses and at variouxs community sites throughout Placer andNevada counties. Sierr a College’s OLLI noncredit offerings are tuition-free. Additionak topics are offered through Club where annual membership feesare $35. As the Business Journa l reported in a feature on locakl OLLI programsin 2007, other OLLI programs can be found at California State University Sacramento and at the UC Daviws Extension. Much of the increased demand for OLLIs and similar lifelong learning programs can be attributedd to the growing ranks ofolder Americans.