Monday, January 30, 2012

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Awards $50,000 to Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation

Virginia Western Community College and Foundation for Roanoke Valley announce the award of a $50,000 grant from the Foundation’s Community Catalyst Funds to continue the Community College Access Program (CCAP) for the Roanoke Valley. Through CCAP, local high school graduates have the opportunity to go to college and earn an associate’s degree or career certificate at no cost.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley and Virginia Western share the same aspirations for the Roanoke area—to meet current and future community needs for an educated and prepared workforce, to create opportunities for students throughout the Roanoke Valley region, and to shape a healthy, caring community.

“Supporting educational programs is one of our priority focus areas, and this major grant to CCAP further demonstrates our commitment to providing leadership, resources and inspiration for philanthropy throughout the communities we serve in western Virginia,” said FRV Executive Director Alan Ronk.

Administered by the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation, and currently available in Salem City, Roanoke City and Franklin County, CCAP is serving more than 160 students in the current academic year. The Educational Foundation is seeking additional partners and funds to launch the program in the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, and Craig. A $7 million College Access Campaign is currently under way to fund CCAP across the region. Foundation for Roanoke Valley is one of the first partners to commit funding to the region-wide CCAP.

“Dedicated partners in our community like Foundation for Roanoke Valley are joining local governments, businesses and individuals with the goal to give students across the region access to higher education,” said President Robert H. Sandel of Virginia Western Community College.

CCAP supports as many students as possible based on student need and available funds. The program was launched in 2008 with the pilot phase in Salem and expanded to Roanoke City in 2009. In fall 2011, graduates of Franklin County High School began participating in CCAP.

Roanoke City and Roanoke City Public Schools, as well as Salem City, are program sponsors for CCAP in the respective localities. Other sponsors include the Roanoke Women’s Foundation, Advance Auto Parts, Appalachian Power, Carilion Clinic, MFA, Ingersoll-Rand and Trane in Roanoke City; LewisGale Regional Health System, Richfield Retirement, Quantum Medical, Waldrop Development in Salem City; and the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission for Franklin County.

“Through CCAP, Virginia Western seeks to provide every local high school graduate with the opportunity to attend college and graduate with a degree or certificate,” Sandel said. “Support from every locality of our service region will help Virginia Western continue its mission of providing a quality and affordable education, and training tomorrow’s workforce.”

About Virginia Western Community College

With more than 12,800 students on the college’s main campus in Southwest Roanoke City, to our satellite locations at the Roanoke Higher Education Center in Downtown Roanoke, Greenfield Education & Training Center in Daleville, and the Franklin Center in Rocky Mount, Virginia Western Community College is committed to providing affordable, accessible, and quality educational opportunities and workforce training to meet individual, community, and global needs. To learn more, visit http://www.virginiawestern.edu/.

About Virginia Western Community College educational foundation, Inc.

The Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation, Inc. is an independent not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to enhancing awareness of Virginia Western and securing private and public funds. Through the Community College Access Program, student scholarships, faculty development and capital projects, the Educational Foundation awards more than $400,000 annually. Separate from the college, but committed to expand upon Virginia Western’s accomplishments and to help it realize its fullest potential in the years to come, the Educational Foundation is governed by a board of directors that supports the college's educational initiatives through annual and major gifts campaigns. Our mission is to foster life-long relationships that build advocacy and support for Virginia Western. To learn more, visit www.virginiawestern.edu/foundation.

Submitted by: Josh Meyer, Virginia Western Community College