Greater Wilmington Chamber Foundation receives a $60,000 grant from Truist Foundation to fund inaugural year of Career & Leadership Development Academy
Wilmington, NC, Dec. 19, 2022 – The Greater Wilmington Chamber Foundation announced it received a $60,000 grant from Truist Foundation to fully fund the inaugural year of the Career and Leadership Development Academy (CLDA), which will span the 2022-2023 school year.
Wilmington Chamber president and CEO Natalie English said, "Our goal is to develop and retain a highly skilled and viable 21st-century workforce for New Hanover County's employers. Employers in New Hanover County have struggled with finding and retaining highly skilled employees even before the challenges brought on by COVID-19. We're honored to receive Truist Foundation's support for the Wilmington Chamber Foundation's Career and Leadership Development Academy in its first year."
In the CLDA, participating students are provided with unique, hands-on experiences and information about local occupations that will be in demand when students transition to the workforce.
"We are grateful for the generous support of Truist Foundation in funding the Career and Leadership Development Academy for the 2022-2023 school year. This program is a valuable opportunity for our students to gain hands-on experience and explore in-demand careers in our community. It will not only prepare them for the workforce but also equip them with the skills and knowledge to become productive citizens and successful in their future endeavors," said New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust.
The Wilmington Chamber's goal is to cultivate cradle-through-career education and training to ensure we are developing and retaining the area's future workforce. Teachers and administrators selected participating students at the area's eight middle schools. The program is free for students and includes meals, transportation, and all program materials. Success will be measured by the number of students who graduate from the program, the number of students who remain engaged with future cohorts post-graduation, and qualitative feedback from educators and business leaders on students' final presentations, among other data points.
“Truist is proud to support programs like this that provide thriving-wage career pathways for students and a pipeline of highly skilled workers for area businesses,” said Chris Isley, regional president for Truist’s Eastern North Carolina region. “Creating opportunities for economic mobility aligns with Truist’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities.”
About Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The Greater Wilmington Chamber Foundation positively affects our local culture and quality of life by investing in programs that improve the health, safety, education, and welfare of all citizens in Wilmington. The Greater Wilmington Chamber Foundation's mission is to cultivate a community that attracts business, encourages business retention and expansion, improves transportation, redevelopment, workforce development, and recruitment and retention of talent.
About Truist Foundation
Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.
Greater Wilmington Chamber Foundation receives a $60,000 grant from Truist Foundation to fund inaugural year of Career & Leadership Development Academy