News Release
Date: November 19, 2008
Media Contact: Elizabeth Homan, 240-567-7970 (Montgomery College)
Montgomery College Receives $100,000 Grant from Wal-Mart Foundation to Assist Veterans
Montgomery College is one of 10 Higher Education Institutions Selected
The Wal-Mart Foundation has awarded Montgomery College a $100,000 grant to support veterans and veteran programs at the community college. Montgomery College is one of 10 higher education institutions selected to receive a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation because of its successful veteran educational assistance programs. The grant will support the development of new and existing programs and provide resources to assist veterans with access to education, adjustment to civilian life and success in completing their degrees. Currently, nearly 300 identified veterans are enrolled in credit classes at Montgomery College. “This country owes a debt of gratitude to our veterans for their service,” said Dr. Brian Johnson, president of Montgomery College. “With the grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, Montgomery College will be able to further develop our programs for veterans to ensure they get the support they need to attain their educational goals.” This fall, Montgomery College started Combat2College, a comprehensive program developed by faculty at the College’s Rockville Campus that provides a welcome environment, academic opportunities and support services for veterans collegewide. The program features identified counseling faculty and disability support services faculty who can work with veterans to identify the courses and accommodations that best fit their needs. The program also offers a first year seminar course for veterans, open gym hours, assistance in developing veterans clubs and mentoring and coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Combat2College program was developed by Montgomery College, the National Rehabilitation Hospital, the National Center for PTSD and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. In addition, Montgomery College has collaborated with Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the American Council for Education to support wounded warriors who want a college education. These men and women have the option to attend a Montgomery College campus for classes or enroll in credit or noncredit classes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. These classes are also available to the center’s enlisted personnel, employees and federal employees. This on-site partnership has been in place since the late 1990s. For more information about Montgomery College, visit www.montgomerycollege.edu. To learn more about the Wal-Mart Foundation, visit www.walmartfoundation.org. About Montgomery College About the Wal-Mart Foundation # # #
Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 100 areas of study.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States.
Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 100 areas of study.