News at 4Cs

New England Patriots Foundation Donates $100,000 to Cape Cod Community College for New STEM Building

The New England Patriots Foundation, led by the team’s owner Robert Kraft, have donated $100,000 to Cape Cod Community College’s Educational Foundation in support of the ongoing capital campaign for the College’s new Science and Engineering Center.

Last year, the College’s Educational Foundation applied for a grant from the Patriots Foundation to help close the cost gap for the Frank and Maureen Wilkens Science and Engineering Center, currently under construction on the West Barnstable campus. Trish Kennedy, co-chair of the “The Future is Now” Capital Campaign and COO and co-founder of longtime Patriots’ sponsor ZUDY, made the connection with Mr. Kraft to put the project on their radar.

“Trish Kennedy made us aware of the many great STEM programs that Cape Cod Community College is currently supporting and their commitment to expanding those programs through a new Science and Engineering Center,” said Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group. “We have a long history of supporting educational programs throughout New England and have always stressed the importance of STEM subjects. The programs Cape Cod Community College will offer in their community will provide opportunities that will have exponential impact on families for generations to come.”

In 2018, Governor Charlie Baker signed a bond bill guaranteeing $25 million to the College to support the construction of the new $38 million building. The College put $3 million into the project and the CCCC Educational Foundation has worked to raise the additional $10 million, anchored by a historic $5 million dollar gift from longtime College supporter Mrs. Maureen Wilkens. The $100,000 gift from the Patriots Foundation brings the current amount raised to $7.3 million.

“The Frank and Maureen Wilkens Science and Engineering Center will enable our College to become the hub for STEM education for Southeastern Massachusetts, and we are immensely grateful for the investment in our future students by Mr. Kraft and the New England Patriots Foundation,” said John Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College. “When it is completed, our Science and Engineering Center will be among the largest zero net energy building in the Northeast, serving thousands of students who will come through our doors to learn and train as the next generation of STEM professionals. We can’t wait to cut the ribbon on the building so we can show the world what happens next at 4Cs.”

Construction is currently underway on the West Barnstable campus with the building’s targeted opening in Spring 2023.

For more information about the “Future is Now” campaign, visit the Cape Cod Community College Educational Foundation at ccccfoundation.org.