New York, N.Y. (November 25, 2025) –Southpole Foundation donated $20,000 to Guttman Community College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY), during a check presentation event held November 19 on Guttman’s campus. The donation was provided to fund student scholarships.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Southpole Foundation for their generous support of Guttman students. This is not just a donation; it is a gift of opportunity for students who want to pursue the dream of higher education but do not have the financial means to do so. Through this partnership, we’re able to continue preparing students with the skills they need to land future jobs and better our community,” said Interim President Elizabeth de León Bhargava.
Kevin Kim attended the event on behalf of Southpole Foundation. Kim served as a CUNY trustee from 2017 to 2024 and connected the foundation to CUNY during his tenure with the university. He presented the giant check to members of Guttman’s leadership team, including Interim President de León Bhargava, Vice President of Strategy and Chief of Staff Rosslyn Knight and Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Alumni Engagement and Development Robert Pagan, as well as Guttman Community College Board Vice Chair Nicole Engel. Also in attendance were Jerry Gordillo and Ariba Sikder, Guttman students who serve as president and vice president of the Student Government Association, respectively.
“The Southpole Foundation has been committed to supporting community colleges and their students who have financially benefited from the support for over 20 years. The Foundation is very pleased to add Guttman Community College Foundation to its list of recipients,” said Southpole Foundation Trustee Charles Yoon.
Focused on community organizations, Southpole Foundation is dedicated to funding college scholarships and supporting nonprofit, health care and social service institutions that provide critical services to populations in need. It was established in 2003 as a family foundation with the mission of giving back to underserved members of the New York and New Jersey community. Since its inception, the foundation has donated to over 20 community-based organizations.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College is CUNY’s first new community college in more than forty years. Reimagining what community college could be, Guttman opened its doors in Manhattan in August 2012 to create a research-based, innovative model focused on moving students efficiently toward graduation. Offering associate degree programs in a nurturing environment, the College provides holistic support and advising to ensure timely degree completion, and most graduates transfer to senior colleges. Guttman is federally designated as a Hispanic-serving institution and minority-serving institution with more than 90% of the student population identifying as Latine, Black/African American or Asian. Guttman was named the best community college in America in 2020 and the top community college in New York State in 2020 and 2021 by Niche.com, and WalletHub ranked Guttman the #1 community college in New York State for 2025.
