TCC awarded SunTrust Foundation 2019 Lighting the Way Award & $75,000 grant

Tidewater Community College’s Educational Foundation is the recipient of a $75,000 grant from the SunTrust Foundation.

The 2019 Lighting the Way Award recognizes select nonprofit organizations that work to build self-sufficient families and more financially confident communities through financial education, financial consulting, career readiness/workforce development and small business/entrepreneurship.

 “We are thrilled and honored to be recognized by the SunTrust Foundation for our workforce training programs,” said Steven Jones, executive director of TCC’s Educational Foundation. “The foundation’s gift will have a significant impact helping hundreds of students better afford skilled trades training programs that will fundamentally transform the lives of these students and their families.”

TCC’s Skilled Trades Academy opened last December in Portsmouth, coinciding with a critical workforce shortage in Hampton Roads, which anticipates 68 percent more job openings in skilled trades over the next five years than workers trained to fill them. The academy offers a wide range of high-demand skilled trades training in marine coating, pipefitting, pipe laying, welding, framing, electrical, HVAC, roofing and sheet metal.

“The SunTrust Foundation is proud to recognize and support our local nonprofit partners that empower and strengthen the communities they serve,” said Stan Little, president of the SunTrust Foundation. “TCC is making a meaningful impact with their programs to improve the financial wellbeing of the people who need it most.”

The SunTrust Foundation will present the award to the college on Sept. 5 at a reception at the TCC Perry Glass Wheel Arts Center.

The SunTrust Foundation awarded a total of $2.7 million in grants to 36 nonprofits.