NYCCT Honors Avangrid Foundation, RG&E for Visionary Leadership, Support of Student Success
November 9, 2021
NYCCT’s Benefactor Vision for Tomorrow Award recognizes contributions to innovative programs that help MCC students achieve academic goals, earn certificates and degrees
MCC trustees and administrator also recognized as role models of excellence and service
New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) recognized Avangrid Foundation and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) for their visionary leadership and philanthropy in support of Monroe Community College at NYCCT’s 67th annual conference in Saratoga, N.Y.
NYSEG & RG&E President & CEO Carl A. Taylor accepts the Benefactor Vision for Tomorrow Award at NYCCT’s annual conference.
On Nov. 5, New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and RG&E President and CEO Carl A. Taylor accepted NYCCT’s Benefactor Vision for Tomorrow Award. The award is bestowed on an individual or organization that fosters innovation in partnership with a community college in such a way that distinguishes the college from peer institutions.
NYCCT also recognized MCC Trustees John Bartolotta (Brighton) and Carla Palumbo (Rochester), and MCC Acting Vice President of Student Services Kimberly McKinsey-Mabry (Rochester) for their exceptional leadership and distinguished service to the college.
Avangrid Foundation is the charitable giving arm of the AVANGRID family of companies. RG&E, a Rochester city-based subsidiary of AVANGRID, serves approximately 383,592 electricity customers and 317,661 natural gas customers in a nine-county region.
Longstanding contributors to Monroe Community College Foundation scholarships and leading event sponsors, Avangrid Foundation, in partnership with RG&E, helped MCC launch its Single Stop program and Dreamkeepers emergency fund, both of which help students break the cycle of poverty through higher education. The programs have given hundreds of students a place to turn for community support and centralized resources to overcome basic needs and financial insecurities in order to complete their studies.
“Our relationship with Monroe Community College and the MCC Foundation is very special because many of our team members are MCC graduates,” said Taylor. “MCC has been helping to educate the future leaders of the Greater Rochester community for 60 years. They are a vital member of our region, and we’re proud to be longtime supporters of the college in partnership with the Avangrid Foundation.”
“Avangrid Foundation and RG&E’s philanthropy has helped more than 800 MCC students keep their dreams of rising out of poverty and achieving a college education alive at critical, do-or-die moments in their academic careers,” said Gretchen Wood, CFRE, MCC vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the MCC Foundation who nominated the organizations for the award. “Their longstanding support has helped keep MCC innovative and responsive to the basic and urgent financial challenges faced by our students through scholarships and programs. Our gratitude for Avangrid Foundation and RG&E’s positive impact on MCC and our community is immeasurable.”
Bartolotta, a banking consultant and administrative vice president for M&T Bank (retired), received the Donald M. Mawhinney Trustee Leadership Award for his outstanding fundraising and professional contributions to MCC. Bartolotta joined the MCC Board of Trustees in 2008 and is a past chair of the board. His leadership and service extend to the MCC Foundation Board of Directors and its Foundation Council. As a steadfast advocate for MCC on national, state and local levels, he has focused his efforts on improving the quality of life for residents in Rochester, Monroe County and the Finger Lakes region.
Palumbo, chief executive officer of the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, received the Marvin A. Rapp Award for Distinguished Trustee Service in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and service. A former Monroe County legislator, Palumbo has served as an MCC trustee since 2016 and is a recognized champion and role model for MCC’s diverse student body. She was actively involved in developing MCC’s most recent strategic plan and contributed to the college’s successful presidential search. In her role as community advocate and volunteer, she assists and provides a source of hope to the elderly, domestic violence victims, and refugees who are eager to start new lives in Rochester.
McKinsey-Mabry received NYCCT’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Contribution for her leadership and commitment to higher education and MCC’s mission. A member of the MCC class of 1995, McKinsey-Mabry has held numerous leadership roles at the college, including serving as dean of MCC’s School of Business and Entrepreneurial Studies, interim dean of academic services, assistant to the provost and currently as acting vice president of student services. She is a leading supporter of the MCC Foundation’s STAR Power giving initiative that benefits primarily student-parents and single moms.
About NYCCT
NYCCT is a voluntary nonprofit consortium of community college trustees established to strengthen the effectiveness of trustees as an active force in the development and implementation of public policy impacting community colleges. NYCCT represents the appointed board members who govern the 30 community colleges in the State University of New York (SUNY) system.