Stanley Black & Decker receives Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy

Stanley Black & Decker has been honored for its support of Tidewater Community College’s new Skilled Trades Academy.

The Standard and Poor’s 500 company, a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, received the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy during the 14th annual awards ceremony last month in Richmond.

Stanley Black & Decker donated $275,000 in new industry tools and equipment to the TCC Educational Foundation for the Skilled Trades Academy, which provides short-term training for in-demand construction and maritime trades, including marine coating, pipefitting, welding, sheet metal, pipelaying, roofing, framing and electrical.

The company is also giving students access to a library of instructional videos. The donation is the company’s biggest in-kind investment in Virginia and among the largest nationwide.

“Stanley Black & Decker is honored to have had the opportunity to donate to the new Skilled Trades Academy,” said Pam Martin, sales leader for the company. “We recognize the skills taught and developed in these programs not only enhance the community but contribute to our national defense. We are humbled by the work done by those that use our products and are proud to be a small part of the building of tomorrow’s workforce.”

In recognition of the contributions, Chancellor Glenn DuBois announced at the awards ceremony that the Virginia Community College System will provide a one-year scholarship in honor of Stanley Black and Decker to a TCC student this fall.

Corey McCray, TCC vice president for Workforce Solutions, said the college is appreciative of the investment for the 20,000-square-foot learning center that opened at 3303 Airline Blvd., in Portsmouth in December.

“These generous gifts strengthen our commitment to helping our students gain the skills and expertise needed to fill many of the in-demand jobs in the construction and maritime trades,” he said.

More than two dozen individuals, families, businesses and foundations from around Virginia were honored at the 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. TCC President Gregory DeCinque and Steven Jones, executive director of the TCC Educational Foundation, were in attendance.

Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the annual event recognizes leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation.

Donald Graham, keynote speaker and chairman of the board at Graham Holdings Company and co-founder of TheDream.US, spoke about the importance of Virginia’s Community Colleges and the ways that the philanthropists have contributed to the commonwealth.

“We are in this room today to tell you, whether you work for one of the colleges or have given to one of the colleges, that what you are doing is absolutely right,” Graham said during his remarks. “I am so proud of this crowd for what you’re doing, and I hope you are proud of yourselves and your fellow donors and of the leaders and teachers at the community colleges you serve.”

To learn how you can support TCC programs, visit the TCC Educational Foundation website or call 757-822-1080.