The Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation has pledged $250,000 toward the $2.5 million campaign to fund essential improvements in the Cape Cod Community College’s dental hygiene clinic and classrooms.

The contribution came after college supporter Maureen Wilkens donated $1.25 million (the largest single gift in its 50 year history) and presented it as a challenge match.

In a press conference held at the college, Dorothy A. Savarese, chairman of the foundation and president and CEO of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, provided the first matching donation.

"The bank and its charitable foundation have long recognized that the Cape Cod Community College is one of the major resources on the Cape and Islands, positively impacting the lives of thousands of residents by providing excellent education and workforce skills," she said. "With this gift, the combined giving of the bank and its foundation to the college for the last 10 years now exceeds $640,000. It has truly been our privilege to support this great resource to our community."

The Dental Hygiene program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association. It prepares students for well-compensated jobs and is the only such program offered within a 50 mile radius, according to a statement. In addition, the College’s dental hygiene clinic provides an average of 1,800 appointments per year, helping to meet the dental care needs of our uninsured and underinsured, many of whom are children. The campaign will allow for the replacement of dated facilities, more hours of dental clinic availability and a higher level of dental care in the clinics.