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OTC kicks off iGot campaign
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Volunteers will visit local businesses today asking for donations for Ogeechee Technical College as part of the school's inaugural iGot campaign.
    The new campaign replaces the "Five Days in May" fundraiser the school had been doing for years. Unlike the previous campaigns, iGot (which stands for "I Gave to Ogeechee Tech") will be a one day blitz in each of the counties served by OTC. Today volunteers will be in Bulloch County, tomorrow they'll be in Screven County and Thursday they'll be in Evans County.
    The cash goal for this year's campaign is $175,000, which OTC president Dawn Cartee said the school desperately needs to upgrade its equipment in the various programs.
    "If we're going to train the work force for jobs, we need to be working with cutting-edge equipment and right now, we're not doing that," she said.
    Cartee admitted fundraising for equipment isn't as glamorous as more high-visible projects like new buildings, but new equipment is what the school really needs to continue training the work force.
    "The basic needs have gone untouched in the last three, four or five years," Cartee said.
    While the majority of funds raised will go towards the purchase of new equipment, a portion of it goes towards scholarships and staff and student development.
    Eventually OTC officials would like to move the annual fundraiser from May to another part of the year so it doesn't conflict with so many other events taking place during the month. No decision has been made yet as to the new month for the event.
    "We felt like with the new administration and a lot of things changing, it was a good idea to revamp the campaign," said Beth Mathews, executive director of institutional advancement.
    A recent study conducted by the Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development for Georgia Southern concluded Ogeechee Technical College generates $25.9 million in the regional economy and creates 384 jobs.
    A victory celebration with the total amount raised will be Thursday evening.
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