The college community came out to the Old Administration Building East Courtyard for an ice cream social, raising money for the Tony Cantu memorial scholarship.

The campus’ fundraising goal for the scholarship was $20,000 in order to have the scholarship be a permanent piece of the campus. At the end of the event nearly $14,000 were able to be raised.

“If we can get to $20,000 then we can get it endowed and be able to offer it annually without having to come out and ask for more,” said Cheryl Sullivan vice president of Administrative Services.

The State Center Community College Foundation has offered to double any funds that were able to raised by the campus, giving the flexibility to be able to potentially offer a scholarship for this fall semester if enough was able to be raised.

Along with taking payroll deductions from employees the campus community were also asked to place money in jars labeled, “Tips for Tony”

“I didn’t know him personally, but I knew the campus would do something after everyone heard that he died,” said Candace Young, FCC student who attended the social. “You hear the stories about what a nice and generous man he was and you really want to help do something. So I put a dollar in the jar.”

Donations to the scholarship fund may be done by check, credit card or online. Check donations may be made out to SCCCF with a notation in the memo: “Tony Cantú Scholarship.” Payroll deduction donations are tax deductible and can be accepted at any time.

Donations may be mailed to State Center Community Foundation at: 390 W. Fir Avenue, Suite 300 Clovis, CA 93611.

Wrist bands will also be available for purchase in the FCC bookstore for $2 and will also benefit the scholarship fund in former president Cantu’s name

Eligibility details for the scholarship have not been released by the family but will be made.