PDCCC gala raises $30,000
Published 2:52 pm Saturday, May 14, 2016
Local legislators who were committed to education were honored during the gala. From left, President of the PDCCC Foundation Board Herbert DeGroft, former state Sen. Frederick Quayle, Chancellor of the VCCS Dr. Glenn DuBois and former state Delegate Samuel Glasscock.
Approximately 200 participants attended a fundraiser at Paul D. Camp Community College’s Regional Workforce Development Center that netted about $30,000 to help students succeed.
During the gala, Dr. Dietra Trent, deputy secretary of education, left, speaks with Dr. Renee Felts, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the PDCCC Foundation.
The Paul D. Camp Community College Platform for Change Gala was held April 23 to raise money for the Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative, a state-level campaign that includes PDCCC and is aimed at helping more people in rural communities transition into postsecondary education. This was the first gala for the initiative held in the state.
“I am so pleased with the outcome of this event,” said Dr. Renee Felts, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the PDCCC Foundation. “We want to help as many students as we can by hiring more full-time career coaches and providing more incentives for our GED recipients. This gives us a great start.”
The event featured remarks from the Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges Dr. Glenn DuBois. “As you might guess, this area is significantly lacking in funding for education,” he said. “The RVHI is a progressive program designed to bring students into a new generation who can work their way into the middle class and beyond.”
The gala also served as a platform to launch the Glasscock-Quayle Annual Fund, honoring two respected leaders in the community for their contributions to education. Former Virginia Delegate J. Samuel Glasscock, a director of the PDCCC Local College Board, and former Virginia Sen. Frederick M. Quayle, who serves as treasurer of the PDCCC Foundation Board, were recognized by College Board Chairman Lynn Jones and President of the PDCCC Foundation Board Herbert DeGroft, respectively.
Another highlight was a video message from Sen. Tim Kaine, who could not attend. “Your genuine interest in advancing education has been personified by your continued commitment to community colleges,” he said about the legislators. “In my judgment, community colleges are truly the platform for change in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
Introduced by Interim President Dr. Bill Aiken, keynote speaker Virginia Deputy Secretary of Education Dr. Dietra Trent noted that since she is from a small town, she knows firsthand how important the role community colleges like PDCCC play in rural communities and how career coaches impact the lives of their students.
The gala showcased the talents of the Smithfield High School Evening Ensemble, who performed during the VIP and opening receptions.
“We’d like to thank all who participated, donated and provided services,” said Felts. “We are fortunate to have so many people come together to contribute to the future of our communities. And it is not too late to give to the RVHI.”
For more information on how to make a donation, call 569-6790.
