Letter from the Executive Director
Friends of Olympic College Foundation,
At the beginning of this year, I came up with twelve themes, one for each month, to help me notice the meaningful moments in my work and life. This month, the theme I drew was joy, and I’ve been paying close attention to what’s bringing me joy in August.
Right at the top of my list is the extraordinary $1,000,000 gift from the Tim Ryan Family to advance healthcare education at Olympic College.
Their generosity will create opportunities for students and strengthen programs that serve our entire community. It is such a privilege to witness this level of commitment to student access, achievement and success, and I am deeply grateful for their vision and investment.
Another source of joy this month was attending the Washington Advancement of Community College Foundations (WAFL) summer conference, hosted by our friends at Grays Harbor College. What an informative gift, to learn alongside and from other Foundation leaders from across the state. Taking advantage of Aberdeen’s twenty-minute drive to the ocean, I also enjoyed feeling the sand in my toes and the ocean breeze on my face.
Finally, I am delighted to share the joy of welcoming a new team member, Leanne DeSilva, who joins us as OC Foundation’s Director of Donor Experience. Leanne brings warmth, energy, and deep experience to our work, and I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her. Read on below to learn more about Leanne, and please help me welcome her to the team!
This month, joy has shown up through generosity, in community, and in new beginnings.
I hope you are finding joy this summer, too.
With joy,
Kimberly Cizek Allen
Executive Director
Olympic College Foundation
P.S. I am reaching out to our donors one-by-one, however, if you haven’t heard from us in a while and want to know the status of your endowed fund or scholarship, email me or call me at (360) 475-7120. I would love to connect!
Student Gratitude
After 14 years of perseverance, Brittany La Fontaine has completed her AA–DTA (Direct Transfer Agreement) at Olympic College and is now pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work through Ohio State University’s online program. A recipient of the Irvin Earl Lamb Scholarship, Brittany shares in her own words how this support has fueled her resilience, lifted financial stress, and inspired her dream of becoming a mental health social worker.
Read her heartfelt letter of gratitude above. Consider making a gift to the foundation to support students like Brittany today!
Tim Ryan Family donates $1 million to advance healthcare education at Olympic College
Interim President Joan Hanten, Tim Ryan, OC Foundation Executive Director Kimberly Cizek Allen (left to right).
Tim and Bev Ryan, Founder of Tim Ryan Construction Inc., continue to transform lives in Kitsap County through their enduring support of Olympic College. The OC Foundation recently received a $1 million gift from the family that will significantly enhance healthcare education in the region for years to come.
The funds will be used to purchase cutting-edge equipment and upgrade existing facilities across all healthcare programs, including the expansion project and remodel at the Poulsbo Campus.
In recognition of their generosity, the college will dedicate the sonography lab in their name as the “Tim Ryan Family Diagnostic Medical Sonography Lab.”
Mr. Ryan, whose mother was a nurse, has long been a champion of healthcare education in the region.
“There is a clear and urgent need for skilled healthcare workers in our community, and I am proud to support these efforts at Olympic College,” he said. “My hope is that this gift inspires the generosity of others, helping to build a healthier, stronger Kitsap.”
In 2024, Olympic College announced an ambitious plan to expand access to healthcare programs at its Bremerton and Poulsbo campuses. Phase 1 called for the creation of five new academic programs and a remodel of the Poulsbo Campus to create space for Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technologist and Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs. Under Phase 1, the college also launched a Phlebotomy program and a pathway for Navy Corpsmen and Air Force Medics to become Practical Nurses – the first program of its kind in Washington state to award college credit for prior military experience.
Olympic College will celebrate completion of Phase 1 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at the Poulsbo Campus in October.
Read more about this incredible gift here.
Check us out in the news here:
- Kitsap Daily News: $1 million donated to OC to enhance healthcare education
- Kitsap Sun: OC health care programs get boost from $1 million donation
- South Sound Magazine: Tim Ryan Family Donates $1M to Advance Health Care Education at Olympic College
30th Annual Olympic College Community Luncheon Presented by Kitsap Bank
Monday, October 13, 2025
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Networking Reception
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch & Program
📍Olympic College Bremerton
Bremer Student Center (Bldg 10)
1600 Chester Ave., Bremerton, WA
Campus Map
Give a Lunch, Get a Lunch!
Your $25 ticket purchase directly supports the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative by donating a meal to a student in need. A big thanks to our community sponsors for covering the cost of attendee lunches!
Purchase Tickets Now! |
For 30 years, the Olympic College Community Luncheon has united individuals who are passionate about student access, achievement and success at OC.
At the luncheon you will have the opportunity to connect with community leaders, hear from our interim president, Joan Hanten, about the Poulsbo Campus healthcare expansion and other OC priorities and hear from our students about the impact of scholarship and program supports.
For 30 years, the Olympic College Community Luncheon has united individuals who are passionate about student access, achievement and success at OC.
At the luncheon you will have the opportunity to connect with community leaders, hear from our interim president, Joan Hanten, about the Poulsbo Campus healthcare expansion and other OC priorities and hear from our students about the impact of scholarship and program supports.
Rooted in Community. Built for Possibility.
This year’s theme highlights the powerful role partnerships play in expanding opportunities for students and meeting the workforce needs of our growing region!
Are you or your business interested in joining us as an event sponsor? Email the OC Foundation team to secure your spot today!
Scholarship Reviewers Needed!
We need YOU to help review scholarship applications. OC Foundation’s Fall Scholarship Cycle is now open for applications, and we will need review volunteers from September through October.
Reviewing is easy and can be done from the comfort of your own home!
Want to volunteer? Sign up here! Questions? Email Samantha!
Welcome to the Foundation!
We are excited to welcome Leanne DeSilva as Director of Donor Experience at Olympic College Foundation. Leanne brings more than a decade of experience in development, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership, with expertise in donor engagement, event management and database systems.
With an MBA in Marketing and a strong foundation in donor relations, Leanne is passionate about building meaningful connections that fuel student success. We’re thrilled to have her on the team!
Join Our Team!
We’re hiring a Foundation Coordinator to support fund development and donor engagement for the Olympic College Foundation. This full-time role is based on our Bremerton campus. Applications are open now through September 15, 2025.
Scholarship Reviewer Spotlight:
Meet Ann Eugene-Wilks, one of our newest scholarship reviewers! After her son became a Running Start student, Ann was inspired to learn more about financial aid and student support programs—while also giving back to the community. Volunteering with the OC Foundation felt like the perfect way to help students, like her son, reach their college and career dreams.
As a first-time reviewer, Ann appreciated how thoughtfully the process was structured and how supportive the Foundation team was along the way. Her own journey as a community college graduate—navigating financial aid and scholarships to finish debt-free—fuels her passion for helping students access the same life-changing opportunities.
When she’s not volunteering, Ann loves exploring Washington through local “staycations” with her husband and three children. As a military family, calling any single place home is tricky. However, from landmarks to botanical gardens, Ann and her family are discovering the beauty of the area and making it feel like home.
Want to volunteer to help impact the lives of OC students? Sign up here to be a scholarship review volunteer! Questions? Email Samantha!
