SMC Foundation’s “Launch the Future” Event Raises Over $166,000 Towards $175,000 Fundraising Goal for SMC’s STEM Program

SMC Foundation’s “Launch the Future” Event Raises Over $166,000 Towards $175,000 Fundraising Goal for SMC’s STEM Program

Event on Sept. 26 Brought Together Supporters, Students, and Educators in Santa Monica College’s New Math + Science Building, to Help Expand Opportunities for Students Pursuing STEM Pathways

SANTA MONICA, CA —The Santa Monica College Foundation (SMCF) brought together more than 150 community leaders, philanthropists, educators, students and supporters for “Launch the Future”, an immersive celebration of STEM at Santa Monica College (SMC). The event, held Saturday, Sept. 26, raised $166,500 toward the Foundation’s $175,000 fundraising goal, to help expand opportunities for SMC students pursuing STEM pathways.

Held throughout SMC’s new 110,000 sq.ft. Math + Science building, “Launch the Future” gave guests an in-depth look at the innovative learning, exploration and hands-on educational experiences taking place across the College’s STEM programs. From the outdoor atrium to the rooftop, guests encountered a variety of interactive STEM experiences and experiments led by SMC students, explored specialized laboratories and learning spaces, and connected with the students and faculty who bring the building to life. Guests also experienced the SMC Planetarium & Observatory, including a dozen research-grade telescopes, before gathering on the rooftop for panoramic views, curated food and beverage experiences, and opportunities to connect with fellow supporters.

“‘Launch the Future’ provided our community with a firsthand look at the incredible work happening at Santa Monica College and the students at the center of it,” said SMC Foundation President Lizzy Moore. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came together to celebrate and support our students. This evening was a wonderful reminder of what is possible when our community invests in the next generation of STEM leaders.”

“People assume a community college is all lecture halls and intro courses, but SMC put real instruments in my hands and rewired my sense of the possible,” said SMC Materials Science and Engineering major Jaxon Smith.

For many SMC students, success in STEM requires more than completing rigorous coursework. Hands-on learning, research opportunities, mentorship and opportunities to develop professional skills can help students prepare for competitive transfer programs and future STEM careers. The “Launch the Future” campaign will help support the success of SMC STEM students—many of whom are first in their families to attend college and often juggle multiple life responsibilities—and expand opportunities including hands-on research; equipping and maintaining labs with industry-standard technology; unlocking access to scholarship, conferences, professional networks, and more.

“Philanthropic support helps us create opportunities beyond the classroom that can make a meaningful difference in a student’s academic journey,” said SMC Foundation Development Director Katie Moe. “We’re grateful to everyone who has supported ‘Launch the Future’ and helped shine a light on the tremendous STEM opportunities available to SMC students.”

The SMC Math + Science Building, which opened in November 2025, provides expanded, modern learning environments for students across SMC’s STEM disciplines. The LEED Gold-certified facility features specialized laboratories, collaborative learning spaces, a planetarium and an observatory equipped with research-grade telescopes.

The SMC Foundation extends its gratitude to the event’s sponsors and supporters, including Visionary-level sponsors SMC Foundation Board President Margaret Sohagi and her husband, SMC alum Dr. Lauren Reager, Recharge, and the SMC Emeritus Program. and Catalyst-level sponsor Ava MD, in addition to many other generous donors.

The “Launch the Future” campaign remains open, with $8,500 remaining to reach the Foundation’s $175,000 goal. The SMC Foundation invites members of the community to help close the gap. To make a gift, visit foundation.smc.edu/STEM.

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About the Santa Monica College Foundation:
The Santa Monica College Foundation is the philanthropic partner of Santa Monica College. For more than 70 years, the Foundation has connected donors with opportunities to support students, faculty and programs at SMC. Its mission is to eliminate barriers to ensure academic success for Santa Monica College students.

About Santa Monica College:
Santa Monica College is a California Community College accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). A longstanding Hispanic-Serving Institution, SMC is now also a designated California Black-Serving Institution. For 35 consecutive years, SMC has been California’s leading transfer college to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and other University of California campuses. The college also tops in transfers to the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University and is the top feeder outside of New York to the Ivy League Columbia University. As the leading job trainer in Los Angeles’s Westside, the college offers robust career education opportunities, with over 110 degrees and certificates in traditional and emerging fields. SMC provides news and cultural enrichment through its NPR radio station KCRW (89.9 FM), the Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center, and lifelong learning through distinctive programs such as its Emeritus Program for older adults.