Ernest Posey and the Posey Family Foundation
The 2024 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year
On May 7, 2025 the Network of California Community College Foundations honored Ernest Posey and the Posey Family Foundation as the 2024 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year. Held at Pasadena City College (PCC), the celebration featured inspiring remarks and powerful stories of student success. If you were unable to attend the event or wish to share it with others, a recording is available via the link below.
The following speakers joined us to celebrate Ernest Posey and the Posey Family Foundation
Sonya Christian
Chancellor of California Community Colleges
José A. Gómez
President of Pasadena City College
Anne Paul King
Executive Director of Ventura College Foundation and President of the Board of Directors of the Network for California Community College Foundations
Keetha Mills
Chief Advancement Officer of the Foundation for California Community Colleges and Board Member of the Network for California Community College Foundations
Ernest Posey
2024 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year
Watch the Event
A proud alumnus of PCC, Mr. Posey credits the college for setting him on a path to success, leading him to graduate from Harvard University and build a distinguished career in the medical device industry. His forward-thinking generosity has made him the second-largest donor in PCC’s history.
A proud alumnus of PCC, Mr. Posey credits the college for setting him on a path to success, leading him to graduate from Harvard University and build a distinguished career in the medical device industry. His forward-thinking generosity has made him the second-largest donor in PCC’s history.
The Osher Award highlights the transformative impact of Mr. Posey’s generosity, which has helped countless future nurses and teachers achieve their educational goals. Recognizing the financial challenges nursing students face, Mr. Posey established the Posey Low-Interest Nursing Loan Program (Opens in a new window), administered by the PCC Foundation, which offers student loans at significantly reduced interest rates. Since its inception in 2019, this program has provided more than $800,000 in microloans to 74 students, with five already repaying their loans and zero defaults. Due to its success, the program has expanded to support students in PCC’s dental hygiene program. Beyond healthcare, Mr. Posey’s philanthropy at PCC extends to supporting future educators in teacher-preparation and career-education programs.
Learn more about the impact of Ernest Posey and the Posey Family Foundation’s generous contributions and hear from students in a short video below.
