FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Pikes Peak State College Kicks Off First-Ever Giving Day to Fuel Student Success and Community Growth 

Colorado Springs, CO – Wednesday, April 9, 2025 – Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) announces its first-ever Giving Day at givingdaypikespeak.com. It is dedicated to raising funds that directly benefit student success, academic excellence, and community well-being. The event invites alumni, faculty, staff, students, and supporters everywhere to participate and give back. 

Taking place on April 15, Giving Day encourages donations of all sizes to support targeted funds that meet students where they are—whether that’s overcoming financial barriers, accessing food and housing, or achieving their academic goals. 

“This is about more than dollars—it’s about dignity and opportunity,” said Donna Nelson, Chief Development Officer of the PPSC Foundation. “Our students are hardworking and resilient. Giving Day is a way for our entire community to show up and say, we see you, we support you, and we believe in your future.” 

Donors can choose to support several high-impact areas: 

• Foundation General Fund: This is an unrestricted fund that enables the Foundation to quickly respond to emerging student needs, such as housing insecurity or childcare support. Addressing these barriers is often the difference between a student having the ability to complete their education and earn a degree or certificate or being forced to unenroll to address basic family needs.  

• Student Scholarship Fund: This fund is used for various matching scholarships and smaller named awards like the Frank Macon Trades or Chef Henry Trujillo Memorial Culinary Scholarship. These scholarships help fund students’ participation in specific trade programs, creating a funnel of skilled workers entering industries that desperately need them.  

• Canvas Community Food Pantry: The food pantry provides anyone in the PPSC community with free food, personal hygiene items, clothing, and pet food when available. In 2021, the pantry assisted 6,000 people. By the 2023–2024 academic year, the pantry had over 38,000 users. The need for this kind of support is clearly growing and you can help fulfill the need.  

• Military and Veterans Programs (MVP): Approximately one-third of the student population at PPSC are military, veterans, or family members of military members. Donations empower military personnel, veterans, and their families to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals by enhancing wraparound services and education-focused programming for our hometown heroes.   

“Giving to the PPSC Foundation is an investment into our entire community,” says Paul Jimenez, PPSC Foundation Coordinator. “Every dollar helps strengthen our community and creates better opportunities for families to build stable, successful futures right here in Colorado Springs. When our students thrive, our region thrives.” 

To highlight stories of impact, donor spotlights, and program successes, the PPSC Foundation encourages participants to share their giving stories on social media using #GivingDayPikesPeak2025, #PPSCgiveDay, and #PPSCfoundation to help build momentum and inspire others to give.  

To learn more or make a gift, visit givingdaypikespeak.com. While Giving Day is April 15, the portal is open from April 7 through April 30th for donations.   

About Pikes Peak State College Foundation: 

The Pikes Peak State College Foundation, established in 1980 and gaining 501(c)(3) status in 1981, is driven by dedicated supporters committed to transforming lives through education. The Foundation plays a vital role in raising awareness of PPSC’s profound impact on individuals, families, and communities across the region. The Foundation generates resources that enhance academic programs, launch innovative initiatives, and provides over one million dollars in scholarships for deserving students each year. 

About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC): 

Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Pikes Peak offers associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields and a growing number of bachelors’ degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education to more than 17,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes.