Contributions to Tri-C Foundation Transform Eastern Campus Food Pantry

Alan and Barbara Rosskamm and the Meisel and Pesses Family Foundation come together to address student hunger

Thanks to generous gifts from Alan and Barbara Rosskamm and the Meisel and Pesses Family Foundation, students at the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) needing food and other necessities have a dynamic, new on-site resource.

The commitment helped fund capital costs to design and equip an accessible new pantry space in the student lounge area on the Eastern Campus.

Additionally, the commitment from the Meisel and Pesses Family Foundation will provide immediate-use dollars to stock the Eastern Campus Pantry. The commitment also establishes an endowed fund that generates income to stock and operate The Pantry location in the future.

The Eastern Campus Food Pantry — which was dedicated on Oct. 30 — completes the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation's goal to modernize and expand the pantries on all campuses. Tri-C with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to stock the campus pantries, which carry fresh and nonperishable food items.

"This collaboration with Tri-C is an important step in making Cleveland a place where everyone can access quality education," Alan Rosskamm said. "Hunger is still a significant barrier for our students. By supporting The Pantry at the Eastern Campus, we're helping to ensure all Tri-C students have the resources to continue their journey toward success."

For years, food insecurity has been an unfortunate fact of life for many Tri-C students. During the 2023-2024 academic year, 2,655 students made 12,559 campus pantry visits — a 47% increase in visits from the previous year.

"We greatly appreciate how both of these investments address how multiple factors potentially affect a student's ability to pursue and complete their education," said Tri-C President Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D. "These gifts do more than feed hungry students — they provide a solution to ensure those students stay on a path toward a stable career and a better life for themselves and their families."

Alan Rosskamm has served on the College's Board of Trustees for nearly three years. Before retiring in 2021, he was the CEO of Breakthrough Public Schools, a network of Cleveland nonprofit charter schools, for 12 years. He was also the president and CEO of Jo-Ann Stores from 1985-2006 and served on its board of directors until 2011. As a social worker, Barbara Rosskamm worked in foster care programming and supervised a residential treatment program for boys at Bellefaire JCB. She also managed patients for the Alzheimer's Association for more than 20 years as a volunteer.

The Meisel and Pesses Family Foundation has supported Tri-C students, primarily through scholarships, since 2005. It is a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Its contributions have reduced the financial burden for more than 1,100 students as they work toward their education and career goals. Its grant scholarship support has contributed to Tri-C's Access, First Generation and Workforce Training Scholarship Funds, as well as the Meisel Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, established in 2017.

"Our family foundation is pleased to provide a sustaining solution that complements the Rosskamms' capital investment," said Peter Meisel. "By working together, we are making a greater impact on Tri-C students and their success."

"We are so grateful for the investments of the Rosskamms and the Meisel and Pesses Family Foundation in the Eastern Campus," said Megan O'Bryan, the president of the Foundation. "Their support completes a critical campaign that has transformed how students can receive the food assistance they need, no matter which campus they attend."

Visit The Pantry website for more information.
 
 
 
 
 
 

November 01, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu