The Lakeland Foundation

Futures Rising

In 2015, The Lakeland Foundation launched a $10 million campaign called Futures Rising for scholarships and programs to support Lakeland student success and future economic growth.

By the conclusion of the campaign in December 2020, 1,342 individual, corporate and foundation donors contributed $10.7 million to Futures Rising, surpassing its goal. Gifts given to the campaign allowed us to form partnerships which helped us enhance and increase student achievement, developing new ways to approach students in the classroom and across campus with a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by many of our students.

• More than $2.5 million in scholarship support was raised for students who need help paying tuition, books and related educational expenses.
• Approximately $4 million was raised for innovative programs to support student success and enhance the campus experience. Programs include diversity initiatives, arts and cultural experiences, leadership opportunities and other co-curricular activities.
• In 2020 when many students suddenly faced unemployment, funds were raised for our Student Emergency Grant and the Lakeland Cares Cupboard food pantry, both of which provide support for our students' most basic needs, including food, transportation, and child care. Funds also supported the purchase of Chromebooks for students to borrow at no cost, enabling them to participate in online learning and continue their coursework.

While our campaign has reached its conclusion, your ongoing support is essential to keep Futures Rising for our Lakeland students. Please consider making a gift now by clicking here, or visit our Ways You Can Give page to learn more about a variety of ways in which can continue to support student success at Lakeland.

Sometimes the cost of textbooks and other class-related supplies can be a financial obstacle that makes or breaks a student's ability to stay enrolled. The Lakeland Foundation holds more than 130 donor-supported scholarship and grant funds from which assistance is available to eligible Lakeland students for help with tuition, books, and related educational expenses.

Lakeland's Honors Program is designed to foster leadership development and offers opportunities to our students for service, travel, and social activities while providing an excellent and challenging academic experience.

Lakeland's rapidly expanding welding and fabrication technology program is designed to prepare students with skills that best fit the needs of local and national manufacturing industries. Using state-of-the-art technology, students can learn a "start to finish" process that includes design, fabrication, installation, soft skills and related economics. The program also provides service-based opportunities in the community.

More than just a makerspace, HIVE is built around the concept of design thinking, a mindset for creative problem-solving with the goal of driving student success, responding to our students' unique needs, and meeting our community's workforce priorities.

Lakeland fosters success by creating spaces where our students can find support, acceptance, help, and a sense of belonging on our campus, such as the Men's Center and the Women's Center.

Through Lakeland's partnership with global design and innovation company IDEO, the concept of design thinking, a creative way to approach problem-solving, has influenced every area of our campus as innovative solutions to increase student success are revitalizing our programs, systems, and services.

On behalf of our entire Lakeland community, we extend our sincerest gratitude to our donors, partners, and friends for all you do to transform the lives of our students.