Hampton Roads Community Foundation is honored by TCC/VCCS for leadership in philanthropy

Above, from left: Donna Henderson, TCC interim chief development officer; Joe Bouchard, vice chair of TCC Educational Foundation Board; Terri Thompson, chair of the TCC College Board; TCC President Edna Baehre-Kolovani; Linda Ridenour, TCC College Board; John Padgett, TCC College Board; Chancellor Glenn DuBois, Virginia’s Community Colleges; Deborah M. DiCroce, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation; James Toscano, TCC vice president for Institutional Advancement

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is a recipient of the 12th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.

The foundation was nominated by Tidewater Community College. Dr. Deborah M. DiCroce, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, accepted the award during a ceremony at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond on April 18.

Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the annual event honors leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation. This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has contributed more than $10 million to Virginia’s Community Colleges.

“We are indeed very fortunate that Dr. DiCroce, who preceded me as president of Tidewater Community College, is now the president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation,” said Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani, TCC’s president. “Dr. DiCroce’s years of experience in higher education, particularly in community colleges, provide her with deep knowledge and unique understanding of our mission, our programs, our students and our challenges.”

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation has been a generous benefactor to TCC over the years. Under Dr. DiCroce, it has adopted a focus on regionalism and economic resilience, which aligns with TCC’s mission of preparing the 21st century workforce.

“I am delighted that we can call upon not only the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, but also Dr. DiCroce herself, for inspiration and support,” Kolovani said.

Chancellor Glenn DuBois expressed his gratitude to all the donors in his address to the crowd.

“You are difference-makers. You are opportunity-creators,” he said. “We thank you, not just for the dollars donated, but for the standard of leadership you represent. Your example motivates and challenges us all to do more to ensure that opportunity is there for those who come next.”

The keynote speaker was John O. “Dubby” Wynne, chairman of GO Virginia and Reinvent Hampton Roads and former CEO and chairman of Landmark Communications in Hampton Roads.

“In many instances, your gifts are the difference between average or good and excellent in student performance,” he said.

Wynne also issued an appeal to members of the audience to increase their level of support to help train and educate Virginia’s workforce for economic growth.