PCC employees fund-raise for ESOL students during holidays
Photos and story by James Hill
A customer analyzes the golden goods at the Dec. 3 ESOL jewelry sale.
It’s that time of year again for baubles, bangles and bling!
Portland Community College employees are once again turning holiday spirit into support for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students through an annual jewelry sale that benefits the ESOL Fund.
The sale took place in early December in the CC Building Upper Mall at the Sylvania Campus. All jewelry has been donated by PCC staff, along with their friends and family members, with 100% of proceeds going to help ESOL students cover fees, tuition and textbooks. Other PCC campuses also host jewelry sales throughout the year to benefit ESOL students, too.
“We’ve had this fund for about 15 years, and we help students with tuition, fees and textbooks,” said Luciana Diniz, ESOL instructor who organized Sylvania’s sale. “Last year, we raised about $1,000 and we are hoping for more this year. We do many other events at different campuses and the jewelry sale is just one of them.”
Organizers raise about $1,000 per sale for ESOL scholarships.
ESOL instructors and retired instructors lead the fundraising efforts. The jewelry sale typically raises around $1,000 each year and is one of many events held annually to support ESOL students across the district.
While the fund has traditionally focused on academic non-credit students, this winter it will award $10,000 to ESOL Level 7 (credit) students districtwide. Some ESOL students volunteered at the sale, giving donors and shoppers a chance to meet the students they are supporting.
Jewelry donations are accepted year-round, with about 10-15 employees contributing pieces in the past three months alone. Organizers hope this year’s sale will surpass previous fundraising totals.
To donate to the fund, contact the PCC Foundation, or to give jewelry, get in touch with Diniz at luciana.diniz@pcc.edu.
The ESOL Jewelry Sale is an affordable way to pick up interesting items.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »