The Austin Community College District, or ACC, has received a $250,000 donation from Jimmy and Cindi Ferguson to support student scholarships and food security initiatives.

A closer look

The donation will be distributed across three areas:

• $150,000 to establish the Ferguson Family McDonald’s Endowed Scholarship
• $80,000 to fund the Elgin Campus Student Life Food Pantry Endowment
• $20,000 to provide direct support to the pantry over the next two years

Food access resources at the Elgin campus are open to all ACC students, and students can also sign up for free grocery pickups organized through various local initiatives, including the Central Texas Food Bank.

A recently conducted survey showed 60% of students at ACC are low-income, and 48% of students face food insecurity, according to the news release.

ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart said in the news release that the support from the Ferguson’s will help address the growing challenges students face as the cost of living continues to rise.

“For many of our students, life is not affordable,” Lowery-Hart said in the news release. “This gift is not just an investment in ACC but in the future of our community. It will support our students and give them the resources they need to thrive.”

What’s next?

ACC will dedicate two spaces at its Elgin Campus to the Fergusons, including the Ferguson Student Services Suite and the Ferguson Family Student Life Food Pantry.