The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) has received the 20th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy. The organization was nominated for the award by Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) and honored at Virginia Foundation for Community College Education’s (VFCCE) 20th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy Luncheon.
The event honored more than two dozen individuals, families, and businesses from all 23 of Virginia’s Community Colleges, as well as the VFCCE itself. Award recipients were nominated in recognition of their exceptional commitment to the growth and development of Virginia’s community colleges and their respective foundations.
In his welcoming remarks, Chancellor David Doré saluted and thanked the donors for their unwavering commitment to students whose potential might otherwise go unrealized. “The individuals and organizations we honor in this room represent an extraordinary $27 million in lifetime giving to Virginia’s community colleges,” he said.
The sentiment was echoed by Secretary of Education, Jeffery Smith, who underscored the importance of philanthropy and its ability to remove barriers that could impede or even block the way forward for students short on resources. “Every Virginian deserves a pathway to economic opportunity,” he said.
In addition to Secretary Smith, distinguished guests in attendance included State Board members as well as members of the VFCCE Board of Directors. Author, philanthropist, and educator Brent L. Kendrick, Ph.D., whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to teaching and community college education, delivered the keynote address.
Included among the 2026 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy recipients is Patrick & Henry Community College, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship.
