McCall’s Honored with
2012 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy


Pictured left to right: Mary Lawson, executive director of the SWCC Educational Foundation; Dave Darden, member, SWCC Local Board; Phyllis Roberts, Vice President of Institutional Advancement; Sam and Priscilla McCall, honored philanthropists; Dr. Barbara Fuller, vice president of instruction; Susan Hagy, director, major gifts campaign; and Dr. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System.
 

(Richmond) –   Sam and Priscilla McCall of Greensboro, NC have earned the 2012 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.  The McCall’s were nominated for the award by Southwest Virginia Community College.  The award was given at a luncheon ceremony at the Country Club of Virginia on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
Financial support of Southwest Virginia Community College has been a priority of the McCall’s for several years. Through their generosity, twenty-one thousand dollar scholarships are awarded annually to students from Tazewell and/or Buchanan Counties. The McCall’s are also members of the CORNERSTONE SOCIETY at SWCC, the organization that recognizes those who have included SWCC, through the Foundation, in their estate plans.  SWCC President Dr. Mark Estepp states that “we are pleased that the SWCC Foundation ranks number one in the Virginia Community College System with the greatest number of members in this prestigious organization. Bequests by will, charitable trusts, life insurance policies, major lifetime gifts of real estate, income and other assets qualify those for this Society. Over seventy-five members are acknowledged in this manner. We are pleased that the McCall’s realize the importance of securing the future for SWCC and our students by providing this important support.” In acknowledging this recognition, the McCall’s state “as states are forced to reduce their funding to colleges, more individuals need to step up with donations that will be needed to provide young people with an education.”
The Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy luncheon is hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to honor the leading philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges as well as the statewide foundation.  This marks the seventh year the awards have been given.
This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has contributed a combined total of more than $48 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.
“These philanthropic leaders are tremendous partners,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “These individuals, organizations and employers are difference-makers who play an essential role in helping our colleges fulfill their mission of addressing Virginia’s unmet needs in higher education and workforce development.”
The honored philanthropists will have a scholarship named after them which will be awarded next fall to a student attending their community college.  The one-year scholarships are funded by Wells Fargo and Dominion.
The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Mr. Steve Gannon, executive vice president, deputy general counsel – legal for Capital One Financial Corporation. Mr. Gannon is a member of the Virginia State Board for Community Colleges and a director of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.
“We owe our success to our 30,000 hard-working associates, and plenty of them, in turn, owe a good deal of their success to community colleges,” said Gannon in applauding the opportunities created by philanthropic donations made to community colleges. “We can’t spare any lost potential. In a global economy that rewards innovation and technical prowess, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.”
For information on how to support the scholarship and other programs of Southwest Virginia Community College, contact Mary W. Lawson, Executive Director of the SWCC Educational Foundation, 276-964-7348 or mary.lawson@sw.edu.