Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis Honored with Prestigious Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy

Southwest Tennessee Community College nominated the Women’s Foundation for the award that is given to one of only four recipients annually across the state by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

For more information, contact Diana Fedinec, Southwest Tennessee Community College Director of Public Relations and Media, at 901-333-4247 or dfedinec@southwest.tn.edu.

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.)  – The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) today presented the Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy to the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) during a ceremony at Southwest Tennessee Community College’s (Southwest) Macon Cove Campus.

Southwest leadership nominated the WFGM for the competitive honor because of its impactful role in advancing student success at the college. The award is one of just four presented annually across the state to honor outstanding philanthropic leadership, civic engagement, and a transformative influence on higher education.

“It is our honor to have the Women’s Foundation for Greater Memphis as the recipient of this prestigious award,” said Tracy D. Hall, president of Southwest. “Our missions are closely aligned. They understand that education is not the only barrier to prosperity. They understand that success is not just about tuition. It is about providing the wrap around supports and emergency assistance for students to overcome the barriers they are having.”

In the past two years alone, the WFGM has contributed more than $500,000 to Southwest through annual grants that have strengthened Workforce Programs and established the Vocational Scholarship. This scholarship is particularly impactful, as it covers tuition, books, emergencies, and transportation—key barriers that often prevent students from enrolling or completing their education.

TBR Regent Nisha Powers presented the award to Shante Avant, president & CEO of the WFGM.
“This award is one of the highest recognitions given by TBR each year,” Powers said. “Only four colleges are selected across the state – from community colleges and TCATs – representing thousands of Tennesseans. The Women’s Foundation for Greater Memphis exemplifies why this award was created: visionary philanthropy, civic responsibility, and a deep commitment to building strong communities through education.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the WFGM board, staff and trustees, Avant said the award validates the work the organization does to transform lives through education and economic mobility. “Southwest has been an incredible partner in helping us break down barriers to education. The success stories of their students reaffirm that we’ve chosen the right ally in this work.”

Since Aug. 1, 2024, a total of 189 students have been impacted by the generous donations from WFGM, including 23 students who have graduated from WFGM-supported programs, and 166 still enrolled and progressing—including 16 preparing to graduate soon. Participants are earning credentials in high-demand fields such as nursing, medical laboratory technology, emergency medical services, computer engineering technology and business.

Scholarship recipient Angelica Sharif shared her story during the ceremony. After starting college in 2004 and facing numerous setbacks, she is now on track to earn her degree in Medical Laboratory Technology at age 41.

“Thanks to the WFGM scholarship, I didn’t have to worry about paying for classes,” Sharif said. “I could focus on studying—and on proving to my children and myself that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. I have a wall of my children’s graduation photos at home. Now I’m looking to add mine as a college graduate.”

Students who requested help also received emergency funds for essentials like car repairs, child care, and academic materials, plus support services such as advising, tutoring, transportation, and job training—crucial to helping them succeed. 

For information about Southwest Tennessee Community College scholarships, contact Suzanne Gibson, director of grants at sgibson12@southwest.tn.edu. 

To find out more about the Regent’s award for philanthropy, contact Cris Perkins, associate vice chancellor for strategic advancement at cris.perkins@tbr.edu. 

About Southwest Tennessee Community College

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open-access college with two main campuses in Memphis, Tenn. and five sites in Shelby and Fayette counites. Southwest awards associate degrees and certifications in more than 140 programs of study to raise educational levels, enhance economic development and enrich quality of life for students and the community at large. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit www.southwest.tn.edu. Follow Southwest at Facebook.com/southwesttn, Twitter.com/southwesttn and Instagram.com/southwesttn.