Community College Philanthropists Honored with Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy
Charlottesville, Va. – April 28, 2025 – Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) is proud to announce The Smith Vicars Family Foundation of Charlottesville, Virginia, as a recipient of the 19TH Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.
Hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) more than two dozen individuals, families, and organizations were honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. The awards were presented at a luncheon ceremony in Richmond, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. VCCS Chancellor Dr. David Doré served as the emcee, and Mr. Mark Hourigan, founder and CEO of Hourigan, delivered the keynote address.
“Every time our donors support a scholarship, fund a new program, or an emergency grant, they are not just giving back, they are lifting up,” said Hourigan. “They are invaluable partners whose generosity can and does make the difference between a student dropping out or staying the course and realizing their true potential.”
Doré echoed those sentiments, adding that a culture of care can have a profound impact on student performance. “When our students realize that someone cares enough to help remove the formidable obstacles standing in their way, it’s life-changing,” he said. “The things they thought impossible suddenly become doable, and their confidence soars as a result.”
This year’s class of distinguished philanthropy leaders has collectively contributed $24 million dollars to Virginia’s Community Colleges.
The Smith Vicars Family Foundation has been an invaluable supporter of PVCC, significantly investing in college initiatives including supplemental instruction and healthcare programs. PVCC President Jean Runyon shared, “We are honored to celebrate the Smith family for their exceptional generosity and dedicated service to our college and community. The Smith Vicars Family Foundation has a strong history of encouraging collaboration within the nonprofit sector and empowering organizations like PVCC and its community partners to effectively utilize their resources and talents to foster positive changes that benefit our community. We are immensely grateful for their commitment to PVCC’s mission and for the countless ways their generosity continues to benefit our students and community.”
Recipients of the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy:
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About Virginia’s Community Colleges
Since 1966, Virginia’s Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. Together, Virginia’s Community Colleges serve approximately 230,000 students each year. For more information, please visit vccs.edu.
About the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education
As the supporting arm of Virginia’s 23 community colleges, the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) broadens access to educational opportunities for all Virginians, while ensuring the long-term success of the Commonwealth and the needs of its workforce. To ensure access to high quality, affordable degrees and certifications, the Foundation’s statewide leadership raises funds and resources to supplement and support the activities of both individual students and community colleges. For more information on VFCCE and its mission, and to provide your support, visit vfcce.org.
About Piedmont Virginia Community College
Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally, residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach her/his potential, and excellence in all programs and services. The main campus is in Albemarle County, Virginia. Classes are also offered at the PVCC Eugene Giuseppe Center in Stanardsville, Va. (Greene County) and the PVCC Jefferson School Center in downtown Charlottesville. Visit pvcc.edu.