Cecil College Magazine 2026 - Magazine - Page 24
GENEROSITY
CHANGES LIVES
From Vision to Impact: The Gala that Funds Futures
Across the United States, community
colleges are increasingly stepping into
the philanthropic spotlight. With more
than 40 percent of undergraduates
enrolled in these institutions, and
only 1.5 percent of higher education
donations reaching them, the need for
robust fundraising initiatives has never
been more pressing, according to the
Council for Advancement and Support of
Education (CASE).
While many community colleges are
adopting innovative approaches to raise
scholarship funds and expand student
opportunities, Cecil College was ahead
of the curve by establishing its signature
wine-themed gala event in 2008, which
serves as a prime example of how local
creativity can drive lasting educational
impact.
The Collegium de Vinum Gala: Loosely
translated in Latin for “Gather Together
Around Wine,” has become the flagship
event of the Cecil College Foundation’s
fundraising efforts. The initiative began
18 years ago, when then-Foundation
President Sharon Walla and a dedicated
committee of community members,
including Gary Munneke, Ingo Zeise,
Bill DeFreitas, Kent Methven, Peggy
Scibinico, and others, recognized the
urgent need to grow the Foundation’s
endowment, which at the time was
under $100,000. Munneke, credited with
naming the event, helped shape the
gala into something truly unique: a wine
pairing dinner, a novelty for the region at
the time.
Left to right: Kent Methven, Chris Ann Szep, Peggy Scibinico and
Bill DeFreitas in 2025.
22 | CECIL COLLEGE MAGAZINE
The inaugural gala, hosted at the
Chesapeake Inn, was a sold-out event
with 175 attendees. It followed two
smaller trial dinners at local restaurants
that helped introduce Cecil County
residents to both the wine-pairing
concept and the Foundation’s mission.
These smaller events not only served
as proof of concept but also generated
excitement and anticipation for the
