 |
| Gianna C. Clark, JSRCC Educational Foundation Board and Margaret “Lyn” McDermid, former Foundation Board President |
Dominion Resources has earned the 2011 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. Dominion was nominated for the award by J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. The award was given at a luncheon ceremony at the Country Club of Virginia on Tuesday, April 19.
Dominion has made a deep impact on the College’s instructional capacity, providing close to a quarter of a million dollars to JSRCC to fund a range of projects from scholarships to teacher education programs. Dominion’s recent grant for science laboratory renovations on the College’s Downtown Campus will transform the science facilities into one of the best-equipped in the region. Margaret E. “Lyn” McDermid, senior vice president-Information Technology & chief information officer and Gianna Clark, vice president of Customer Operations, provide their guidance and enthusiasm to the JSRCC Educational Foundation Board.
Reynolds President Gary L. Rhodes said of Dominion, “Time and time again we have called upon Dominion to provide insight and practical advice for us on developing the skilled workforce needed for Richmond. I am immensely pleased that Dominion has been recognized for their generosity and commitment.”
The Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy is hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to honor the leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation. This marks the sixth year the awards have been given.
This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has contributed a combined total of $11 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.
“Each of these supporters personifies the theme of this event, Living Philanthropy. For those of us here today, living philanthropy is the promise that our impact will live on; it will blend with those who came before creating a larger and larger living tapestry of good will, benefitting and elevating those who come next,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges.
Award recipients will have a scholarship named after them which will be awarded next fall to a student attending their community college. The scholarships are funded largely by the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation.
The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Caroline Altman Smith, the Kresge Foundation’s program officer for Education. Ms. Smith also accepted the philanthropy leadership award on behalf of the Kresge Foundation, which was nominated for the award by the VFCCE for Kresge’s partnership in the Great Expectations program to help more Virginia foster youth pursue and graduate college.
“I believe that increasing educational opportunity is the key to helping people achieve their full potential,” Smith said. “A first generation student who earns a college degree changes the trajectory of his or her family forever. Education is one of the most powerful anti-poverty tools we have, and it’s a privilege to help implement Kresge’s new strategy, so that more students can realize the enormous benefits of higher education.”
