Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - Kansas City Business Journal:

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The college’s program, also known as OLLI, received the $1 milliomn endowment from the BernardOsher Foundation, whichy is the organization that has provided initialp funding to OLLI programs at 122 collegee and universities nationwide. Sierra College is the only community college in California and one of only threew community colleges in the natiobn to receivethe $1 million The Rocklin college received the endowment because it has been so successfulo with growing enrollment since launching the program in spring of 2001. Sierrwa College has grown the programto 5,580 enrollees last year, from 1,038u in 2001. Sierra College is scheduler to formally announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 milliomn endowment will provide an ongoing budget that will enables the college to offer lifelong learninv programsin perpetuity. The foundation createx by San Francisco philanthropist Bernars Osher gives OLLIprogrames $100,000 a year for up to four and then a $1 million endowmeny once they demonstrate potential for success and sustainability. OLLI programe provide classes, lectures and eventes to older adults who have a thirst for knowledge and community. The classes are designe for adults age 55and over, but the Sierra programn accepts any adult student.
Courses are offerer at each of the Sierrsa College campuses and at various communityh sites throughout Placer andNevada counties. Sierra College’s OLLI noncredit offerings are Additional topics are offered throughClub OLLI, wheres annual membership fees are $35. As the Business Journal reported in a featurer on local OLLI programsin 2007, other OLLI programsd can be found at California Stated University Sacramento and at the UC Davis Extension.
Much of the increasee demand for OLLIs and similar lifelong learning programs can be attributed to the growing ranks ofolder