TowneBank receives 2023 VCCS Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy

TowneBank in Hampton Roads received the annual Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. In its 17^th year, the award recognizes individuals and organizations dedicated to the mission of Virginia’s Community Colleges.

TowneBank was nominated by Tidewater Community College President Marcia Conston for its continuing support of the college.

Tidewater Community College’s Educational Foundation received a $500,000 grant from TowneBank. The funds are supporting the development of the TCC Visual Arts and Design Center in downtown Norfolk. Set to open in 2024, the Center boasts 37,000 square feet for arts programming and will include a gallery space. The donation is also supporting TCC’s Regional Automotive Center in Chesapeake.

An additional $250,000 gift from TowneBank helped with the launch and operations of the Community Feed at TCC’s campuses in 2020. By working together, the college, TowneBank and Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore are providing needed meals, staples and fresh produce for students and community members through on-site pantries on TCC’s campuses and MacArthur Center in downtown Norfolk.

“We are grateful to TowneBank for their unwavering commitment to TCC,” said President Conston. “They are a shining example of an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for families and individuals in our region. In addition, their financial contribution ensures that students in need have ongoing access to meals and fresh foods. We express our sincere thanks.”

TowneBank’s generosity will be marked by a named space in the new Visual Arts and Design Center in the coaching and critiquing room.

More than two dozen individuals, families, and organizations earned the 2023 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. The awards were presented at a luncheon ceremony in Richmond on April 18, 2023. The new VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré was the keynote speaker.

“It is a privilege and an honor to be in the company of such an esteemed group of philanthropists,” Doré observed. “Were it not for your generosity, some of our students would have to put their hopes and dreams on hold, while others might have to abandon them altogether. Thanks to you, however, our students will be able to work in an environment that is relatively free of the kind of financial pressures that can paralyze or even derail their forward progress, and for that, we are extremely grateful.”

The annual event, hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE), honors leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation. Recipients are nominated for their outstanding commitment to the growth and development of Virginia’s community colleges and their respective foundations.

This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has collectively contributed $14 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.

Thanksgiving comes early to the Portsmouth Campus

Thanksgiving came a week early at Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth Campus with a pop-up market full of everyone’s favorites for the holidays.

Students took home overflowing bags of staples, including – collard greens and apples, sweet and white potatoes, onions, stuffing, apple sauce, mac cheese and even fresh poultry. Food was supplied by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a new partner in an initiative with TCC to eliminate food insecurity among college students. TowneBank donated $250,000 toward what is a five-year plan.

Student Miciah Owens took part in the pop-up market on the Portsmouth Campus.

The pop-up market is one of several scheduled for the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses. A campus-based Pantry and Food Scholarship Program will open in both student centers in 2020. Qualifying students will be able to access a consistent source of food as long as they continue to pursue their TCC degree or certificate.

But Wednesday’s pop-up market only required students to show their TCC ID; all were welcome.

“Having all this fresh fruit and vegetables is amazing,” said Jordan Robinson, one of an army of students lugging several bags to the parking lot.

Fresh foods were part of the fare at the Portsmouth Campus pop-up market

Some students talked about using the food for tonight’s supper. Others said they will save the food to prepare a healthy Thanksgiving meal for their families.

Michelle Woodhouse, provost of the Portsmouth Campus, said when life happens – bills and tuition payments are due and unexpected expenses arise – students have to sacrifice something and often it’s their next meal. Pride often forces them to remain hungry rather than seek assistance. Grades plummet and some students are forced to drop out.

Tackling the stigma that interferes with asking for help is one of the reasons she wanted this pop-up market to be inclusive.

“We wanted to create this themed event around Thanksgiving,” she said. “We want to bring happiness to students and give them something positive around the holidays.”

Volunteers from the Foodbank teamed with TCC students and staff to assist with distribution.

As students passed through the line on the crisp fall afternoon, they juggled their knapsacks with multiple bags of food. They couldn’t say thank you enough in response to:

“Fresh greens?”

“How about another bag of carrots?

“Would you like a chicken?”

“For a lot of people, this is their only food,” said student Yvette Funney, mother to four children. “I’ve got chicken, potatoes, collard greens, vegetables. This is all such a blessing.”

The Portsmouth Campus will host additional pop-up markets from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Dec 3 and Jan. 29, 2020.

The Norfolk Campus will host pop-up markets from 11:30 p.m. until 1 p.m. on Dec. 2 and Jan. 23, 2020.

TCC receives grant from TowneBank that will benefit visual, culinary, hospitality and automotive program expansion

The Tidewater Community College Educational Foundation is a recipient of a $500,000 grant from TowneBank. The funds will support the development of the TCC Perry Center for Visual & Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management and the expansion of the Regional Automotive Center (RAC).

The 47,000-square-foot TCC Perry Center will be located in the NEON District at the former site of the Greyhound bus station at Brambleton and Monticello avenues. It will expand TCC’s visual arts education program and train the next generation of chefs by expanding the college’s culinary arts program, including housing a program in restaurant management in Norfolk.

“For 20 years TowneBank has been a gold standard for what a true community leader should strive to be, investing in a wide range of organizations that have helped grow our region’s economy and enhance cultural opportunities,” said TCC President Gregory DeCinque. “We are honored by TowneBank’s incredibly generous gift to TCC and are humbled by their confidence as we work together to build the next generation in the workforce and educational training opportunities for our local community.”

TCC also recently received a grant of $500,000 over the next five years from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation in support of the new building slated to open in the fall of 2021.

The TowneBank grant will be used to provide challenge grant funds to encourage area automobile dealers to help build the expansion of the RAC, Hampton Roads’ lone high-tech education facility for the automotive, marine and diesel industries.

“Since 1968, Tidewater Community College has been a vital part of the Hampton Roads community. TowneBank is honored to support TCC in its ongoing efforts to provide quality education. We are excited to be a part of TCC’s bright future,” said Morgan Davis, TowneBank president and CEO.

The expansion of the TCC Perry Center and the RAC will largely be funded through private donations raised through Go Further! TCC’s Campaign for a Competitive Workforce. For information about donating, contact Steven Jones, executive director of the TCC Educational Foundation, at smjones@tcc.edu.