<- Back to News & Articles See How Your Help has Affected DVC! Campus Corners: The Student Veteran's Resource Center (SVRC) Let's take a visit to one of the most resourceful places on campus... Fall Giving: A Season of Momentum and Meaning See how your help has created hope and inspired dreams in the fall season! Alumni Pulse: Networking, Networking, Networking! Learn about the Alumni Association's recent networking event! Campus Corners: The Brand-New Engineering and Technology Building Let's take a visit to the brand-new ET Building! Legacy Giving: The Charitable Gift Annuity Learn how you can influence DVC for generations to come! The Viking Ensemble: Making Music and Careers with Experiential Learning Learn about our efforts to create experiential learning for DVC students! President’s Circle: Where Generosity Becomes Momentum for Student Success This Month in History Black History, Community Colleges, and the Work of Access at DVC Building What Comes Next: Engineering & Technology at DVC Campus Corners: From Foundations to Futures The New Engineering and Technology Building Read More

<- Back to News & Articles Each Person Has Their Own Story! From Syllabi to Service: How One Semester Can Launch a Legacy A chance info session and a districtwide pitch win launched Anya Gupta from classroom networking to a community-minded startup and multiple civic leadership seats Read More Honoring the Legacy of Michael "Mickey" Ganitch Learn about the incredible impact of the great Mickey Ganitch! Read More DVC Alumni Spotlight: Brandon Brookshire Journey From veteran, to DVC, to banking and board member: Brandon Brookshire. Read More Finding His Way Back: Jim Blair, Executive Director at the Foundation A Message from Jim Blair, Executive Director at the DVC Foundation. Read More DVC Alumni Spotlight: Karrington’s Journey from DVC to Oxford From DVC to Oxford! Learn about Karrington's journey! Read More Celebrating the Ongoing Impact of the DVC Retirees' Association Learn about the DVC Retirees' Association! Read More Student Leadership at DVC: Growing What Lasts Learn about some of our recent student leaders! Read More

<- Back to News & Articles See How Your Help has Affected DVC! News DVC Alumni After-Hours Mixer Read More March 19, 2026 at 11:00:00 PM Alere: Food and Wine Symposium Alere is the food and wine symposium for Diablo Valley College. It raises funds for culinary arts students while providing them with networking opportunities with professionals from a variety of sectors in the culinary industry Read More April 25, 2026 at 7:00:00 PM Slice of Success: Scholarship event Read More April 27, 2026 at 7:00:00 PM Scholarship Awards Ceremony & Reception An inspiring morning celebrating student success and donor impact Read More May 8, 2026 at 4:30:00 PM Presidents Circle Breakfast Recognition Breakfast : Norseman at DVC Read More May 8, 2026 at 2:45:00 PM A Legacy That Lives in Creativity: The Eva Cohen Endowed Memorial Internship in Digital Arts Read More

DVCF Donor Survey 1. What motivates you to donate to charitable causes in general? Personal values Connection to the cause Supporting education/community development Tax benefits Other 2. Why do you choose to donate to the Diablo Valley College Foundation specifically? 3. How did you first get involved with our foundation? 4. Do you donate to other organizations? If so, which ones and why? 5. What are your top priorities or values when selecting organizations to support? 6. How do you prefer to engage with the nonprofits you support? 7. In what ways do you feel our organization can improve to better serve your charitable giving goals? 8. Would you be open to volunteering or getting more involved beyond financial support? 9. Is there anything else you would like to share about your giving experience with us? Thank you for your time and insights! Your feedback is invaluable in helping us better understand and serve our donor community as we work to make a greater impact on the students and programs you support. Submit

< Back Fall Giving: A Season of Momentum and Meaning See how your help has created hope and inspired dreams in the fall season! Fall at DVC always feels a bit electric. The air is crisp, the leaves turn, and the walkways fill with purpose. Students bounce between classes, clubs, and campus events. The hum of activity says it all—this is a season of momentum. You hear it in the rhythm of our Viking Ensemble students, who are turning passion into purpose by performing across campus and in the community while gaining hands-on skills that set them up for professional success. You see it in the buzz of our Student Union, where students gather not just for food pantry access and basic needs support, but for the sense of belonging that sustains them. You feel it at our groundbreaking ceremonies and alumni mixers, where new construction and renewed connections promise something lasting. Even the postseason echoes with that energy. While we won’t detail every stat, just know that Viking football, water polo, and cross country have all had a fall to remember. And that matters—not just for the athletes, but for the spirit it stirs in everyone else. But with all this energy comes the reminder that not all student needs are visible ... On November 10, the DVC Foundation hosted the first-ever Industry Invitational at Oakhurst Country Club—a day of community, generosity, and purpose. Proceeds from the tournament support Fueling Futures: One Meal at a Time, an initiative providing 1,000 meals to students and their families this holiday season. It’s part of our broader commitment through the Student Safety Net Fund, which helps students stay enrolled and succeed by providing emergency grants, food, housing support, and more. “It was just a great day,” said event co-founder JB Balingit. “Everyone came together to support students and their families—and to give DVC culinary students a chance to gain real experience while making a real impact.” And quietly, consistently, the Diablo Valley College Retirees Association (DVCRA) has been part of that impact for decades. Behind the scenes, the retirees and the DVCRA have made sure that students have a pathway to success—funding more scholarships than any other single group at DVC. These aren’t just financial gifts. They’re acts of belief. Each scholarship awarded tells a student: you belong here, and we believe in where you're going. < Previous Next >

< Back A Legacy That Lives in Creativity: There are many ways to remember someone. Some are quiet. Some are personal. And sometimes, a legacy becomes something that keeps moving—something that creates opportunity for others. This year, the Diablo Valley College Foundation is proud to announce the Eva Cohen Endowed Memorial Internship in Digital Arts —a tribute that does exactly that. Made possible through a $130,000 gift from Eva’s family , this endowment will fund a paid internship every semester for a DVC student pursuing digital arts. Each student selected will have the chance to create, design, and tell stories through their work—building real-world experience while carrying forward the creative energy that defined Eva. What makes this especially meaningful is that this is the first time the Foundation has endowed a student position , not just a scholarship. It’s a simple but powerful shift—from supporting access to education, to supporting the experience of it. And in that shift, something special happens. A student isn’t just helped—they’re given a role. A chance to contribute. A chance to create something that didn’t exist before. That vision was brought to life in partnership with Joann Denning, Area Chair of DVC Art & Photography , whose leadership helped shape an internship that is rooted in both artistic exploration and career readiness. Together with Eva’s family, this effort reflects a shared belief: that creativity matters, that opportunity matters, and that both can live on long after we’re gone. Because this is an endowed fund, the impact doesn’t fade. Each semester, a new student will step into this internship. Each semester, new ideas will take shape. Each semester, Eva’s legacy will continue—quietly, powerfully—through the work of students discovering their own voice. It’s a reminder that the most meaningful legacies aren’t just remembered. They’re lived. Previous Next

Dr. Stephen Harper Board Member | Board-Certified Orthodontist Dr. Harper serves on the Board of Directors for the Diablo Valley College Foundation, bringing a deep commitment to community health and educational excellence. A board-certified orthodontist and founder of Harper Orthodontics, he has provided exceptional care to families in Walnut Creek and Martinez for over 14 years. Dr. Harper combines his professional expertise with a passion for supporting local students, believing that access to quality education is vital for a thriving community. His leadership helps guide the Foundation in its mission to create opportunities and foster student success for the next generation. <- Back to Roster

< Back Finding His Way Back: Jim Blair, Executive Director at the Foundation November, 2025 A Message from Jim Blair, Executive Director at the DVC Foundation. Dear Veterans, Thirty-six years ago, I was discharged from the United States Army and landed at Diablo Valley College. Those who've never served won't know the adjustment needed between military and civilian life. From a very regimented life of near constant work with little time off, I had landed in a world where self-determination and leisure time were the new reality. This was the late 1980s, and while I didn't face the poor reception our Vietnam veterans received, there weren't any celebrations around my return to the civilian world. I didn't expect or need any. However, there was also very little support for my transition back to the world. On the campus, I was expected to find my own way. After years of being told what to do, this was difficult. Now, the life on campus for returning veterans is much different, and it should be. After two decades of nearly constant conflict, our newer veteran students land at the college and have a considerable amount of support services. With those services, I can report that they are some of the highest performing students on campus and often transfer to elite colleges when they leave here. I want to take this Veterans Day to thank all of our donors because without you, we would not be able to support our student veterans as they make their return to the civilian world. It's because of people like you that we've been able to create the services that our veterans deserve after they complete their service to our country. We're now building out a new space for veterans on campus, and your continued support of these programs will ensure that we can create a space on campus that allows them to study and receive the support services they deserve. If you have a desire to assist with this buildout, please contact Thom Martin in the Foundation office, and he will work with you to maximize your impact. To our donors that have served, I wish you the best this Veterans Day. Jim Blair Executive Director Diablo Valley College Foundation Previous Next

Reconnect with the vibrant DVC alumni network! Join us for events, mentorship, and more. Discover the power of DVC alumni connections. DVC ALUMNI: What We Are About Join us for vibrant reunions, career-boosting networking events, and a variety of both on-campus and virtual gatherings. Whether through mentorship programs or regional meetups, DVC connections are always within reach. Best of all, joining takes just a click, offering a world of opportunity and connection with no fees attached. Since 1949, DVC has been a starting point for over 1.5 million stories, including yours. Now, the revitalized Alumni Association aims not only to preserve those stories but to enrich them, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and dreams fulfilled. Don't hesitate; rekindle your DVC connection and become part of something bigger today. Join the all-new DVC Alumni Association and connect with fellow alumni now. Step back into the heart of Pleasant Hill, CA, where your academic journey at Diablo Valley College (DVC) first began. The DVC Alumni Association beckons you to reconnect not only with the campus that witnessed your growth but also with a community of former peers who shared your journey. It's a bridge between past and present, students and alumni, aspirations and achievements. Join Now!

Dr. Monica Chahal Board Member | President at Diablo Valley College Dr. Chahal serves on the Board of Directors for the Diablo Valley College Foundation in her capacity as the President of Diablo Valley College. A dedicated educational leader with over 25 years of experience, she previously served as the Vice President of Instruction at Clovis Community College and Dean of Instruction at Woodland Community College. Monica holds a Doctorate in Education from UC Davis and specializes in curriculum design, instructional strategy, and institutional growth. deeply rooted in the classroom as a former professor, she is passionate about academic excellence and creating equitable pathways for student success. <- Back to Roster

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Beth Unland Board Member, Finance Committee | Sr. Principal Customer Manager at Workday Beth serves on the Board of Directors within the finance committee for the Diablo Valley College Foundation and works as a Senior Principal Customer Success Manager at Workday. With a unique professional background bridging education and technology, she spent seven years as a teacher and technology coach before transitioning to the corporate sector. Beth specializes in empowering clients to achieve their goals by synthesizing complex information into actionable strategies. A dedicated community leader, she is an active member of Leadership Contra Costa and volunteers with Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, bringing a deep passion for service to her role on the board. <- Back to Roster