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Iowa Central gets a big boost

Greehey Family Foundation makes a $3 million gift

Iowa Central Community College is an enormous asset to all of north central Iowa.

Not only does it provide affordable educational opportunities, the college also helps make certain that workers with the right technical skills are available to present and future employers.

A desire to benefit Iowa Central students and make sure that the college continues to thrive motivated Bill Greehey — through the Greehey Family Foundation — to make a $3 million gift to the college. This huge donation will help pay for a new $9 million student service center on the Fort Dodge campus. The gift is the second major donation this foundation has made to ICCC. In 2015, it donated $1 million to be used for scholarships for students who are the first members of their family to attend college.

Greehey, who grew up here and is a 1954 graduate of Fort Dodge Senior High, is the former chief executive officer of Valero Energy Corp. He retired in 2007 as the chairman of the company’s board of directors. He now lives in Texas but has family members who still call Fort Dodge home.

“It’s nice to be able to do something in Fort Dodge where I grew up,” Greehey said in a recent telephone interview with The Messenger. He said he views community colleges as “absolutely critical’ to ensuring that all people can get an affordable education.

Iowa Central is an excellent educational institution. More and more people have found the college’s resources pertinent to their diverse educational needs.

Additionally, many of Iowa Central’s educational programs are of vital importance to area employers. The college has established strong partnerships with business and industry leaders throughout the region.

It’s no exaggeration to claim that the continued growth and success of this college are vital components of the economic development strategy for our region.

Greehey’s support will help an already excellent Iowa Central become even stronger.

“It’s amazing how this will impact not only Iowa Central, but our region,” Iowa Central President Dan Kinney said.

The Messenger agrees strongly. We applaud Greehey for his generosity. His enthusiasm for Iowa Central should inspire others to follow his lead and find ways they too can help the college build a magnificent future.

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