Ernest Posey Honored as 2024 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year

The Network of California Community College Foundations has selected Ernest Posey and the Posey Family Foundation as the 2024 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year. This award recognizes distinguished philanthropic contributions to the California Community Colleges and is selected by the Network, an association of local community college foundation professionals dedicated to philanthropy. 

The award, established in 2009, is named after Bernard Osher, a businessman and philanthropist who has distinguished himself by his commitment to community college students.

This year’s celebration will honor Ernest Posey and the Posey Family Foundation for their outstanding support to Pasadena City College and its students. A proud alumnus of PCC, Mr. Posey credits the college for setting him on a path to success, leading him to graduate from Harvard University and build a distinguished career in the medical device industry. His forward-thinking generosity has made him the second-largest donor in PCC’s history.

The Osher Award highlights the transformative impact of Mr. Posey’s generosity, which has helped future nurses and teachers achieve their educational goals. Recognizing the financial challenges nursing students face, Mr. Posey established the Posey Low-Interest Nursing Loan Program, administered by the PCC Foundation, which offers student loans at significantly reduced interest rates. Since its inception in 2019, this program has provided more than $800,000 in microloans to 74 students, with five already repaying their loans and zero defaults. Due to its success, the program has been expanded to support students in PCC’s dental hygiene program. Beyond healthcare, Mr. Posey's philanthropy at PCC extends to supporting future educators in teacher-preparation and career education programs.

“The PCC community is grateful to Mr. Posey and his family for helping our students recognize their potential,” said Dr. José A. Gómez, president of Pasadena City College. “Nurses and teachers help our friends and neighborhoods grow, and the need for these members of our community is only going to get stronger. Supporters like Mr. Posey help us meet the needs of our region’s residents.”

One of the beneficiaries of Mr. Posey’s loan program is PCC graduate Hailey Peters, who earned her nursing credential from the college. “I got into nursing because I wanted to help people,” Hailey said. “I work on a bone marrow transplant floor with oncology patients, giving bone marrow transplants to patients with leukemia. Without the Posey loan, I wouldn’t be doing the work I’m doing now.”

“Mr. Posey and his family have advanced philanthropy and its critical role in strengthening California’s community colleges, improving student success, and preparing an educated workforce,” said Anne Paul King, President of the Network of California Community College Foundation. “Philanthropy is among the best strategies we have for increasing social and economic mobility, addressing long-standing inequalities in our communities, and ensuring that all members of our community have access to a life-changing higher education.”

The Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year award is presented annually by the Network of California Community College Foundations, an association of local college foundation professionals dedicated to philanthropy. It is named after Mr. Bernard Osher for his history-making commitment to community college students in 2008. The Bernard Osher Foundation pledged an unprecedented lead gift of $25 million and committed additional match dollars, which ultimately resulted in the establishment of the $76 million California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment for student scholarships.