State College of Florida

Cassandra Holmes • Laura Cota • Taylor Collins

The State College of Florida Foundation has many individuals dedicated to upholding its mission to connect donors’ passions and regional partners with SCF’s students, faculty, programs and community. 

Cassandra Holmes, Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the foundation since 2014, sees higher education as solution-centered philanthropy. She is dedicated to expansive fundraising and applying for grants to provide as much financial relief as possible for students choosing SCF and working toward a better life for themselves and their families. 

“You really see the bright spots in our country and community from our students that persevere and graduate,” said Cassandra. “When I see those students at graduation ceremonies, and I always recognize the ones benefiting from our scholarships, it’s just the most moving moment and realization of accomplishment.”

The impact of the foundation on the school is astounding. Throughout the foundation’s 2023-24 fundraising events, they have raised over $370,000. They have been awarded a total of 13 grants to support SCF initiatives totaling $975,000. Overall, nearly 2,000 scholarships have been awarded to deserving SCF students, totaling $2.1 million. 

Laura Cota, co-owner of The Cota Group Insurance Company, has lived in the region for almost four decades. Recently named president of the foundation’s board of directors after serving as vice president for two years, she shared a heartwarming story about how she first got involved.

“I was invited to a scholarship luncheon by a friend, and I was fortunate to meet a beautiful young woman with a very sad, but motivating story. The woman’s grandmother took in and raised her and her four siblings while their mother was in prison. She rode the bus three hours a day to get an education and ended up graduating from SCF with a degree in dental hygiene. She was so excited and joyful to step up and get a good job to help provide for her family. I thought about myself and my own kids, and it really moved me to get involved to help make an impact on other students’ lives in our community,” said Laura.

In 2021, Taylor Collins was governor-appointed to the SCF Board of Trustees. A Sarasota native and owner of Professional Benefits Inc., Taylor and her family have a deep history with SCF. Her mother graduated from the school and became a court stenographer, and Taylor herself took business classes in the summer at the school while studying at Florida State University. 

“Education is a great equalizer, if we provide a quality education to our community, there’s no telling what students can do,” explained Taylor. “SCF provides that; we always want to be cheaper, faster, and better. You can afford a solid education here and get it done quickly, which is why I think it’s the best in the state.” 

A study found that SCF provides an economic impact of approximately $500 million annually to the region. Its impact is significant, and the foundation exists to continue to raise that number and provide more ways for community members to get an education and enter the local workforce. 

The SCF Foundation’s current focus is to raise funds for the future campus in Parrish. They are now in phase one of the campaign, aiming to accumulate $4 million toward the $40 million goal needed to get the new campus up and running. 

If you are interested in helping the SCF Foundation achieve its goals, you can visit their website www.scf-foundation.org to learn about its fundraising events and volunteer opportunities; or support their mission by making a donation. 

Text by Tom Reese | Photo by Nancy Guth

5840 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207
941-752-5389
holmesc@scf.edu
scf-foundation.org