Southwest Foundation takes center stage at cityCURRENT Signature Breakfast
![(l-r) Owner of Behind the Scenes Dusky Norsworthy, President Tracy D. Hall, Southwest Director of Community Programs & Engagement Suzanne Gibson, Southwest Foundation Board Chair Ann Langston and Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Daphne Thomas network at the cityCURRENT Signature Breakfast featuring Mick Ebeling and the Foundation as the Spotlight Charity.](/stories/scoop/2020/02/images/city-current1-small.jpg)
(l-r) Owner of Behind the Scenes Dusky Norsworthy, President Tracy D. Hall, Southwest Director of Community Programs & Engagement Suzanne Gibson, Southwest Foundation Board Chair Ann Langston and Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Daphne Thomas network at the cityCURRENT Signature Breakfast featuring Mick Ebeling and the Foundation as the Spotlight Charity.
The Southwest Tennessee Community College Foundation was in the spotlight as the featured charity last month during the cityCURRENT Signature Breakfast where more than 400 leaders from all sectors of the business community gathered to hear how Mick Ebeling, founder of Not Impossible Labs, has built a business powered by compassion and the fearless pursuit of the absurd. Ebeling shared how he and his small group of business partners helped a paralyzed artist paint again, a jazz pianist suffering from Parkinson’s play again and a young boy in Africa who lost his arms during conflict in his war-torn country of Sudan feed himself again with a $100 prosthetic arm they made using a 3-D printer and spare parts. (See Mick’s amazing presentation here. Password is CTY.)
There was barely a dry eye in the house and the room was electric with hope and belief in the power of helping others. The crowd also watched a moving video about the Foundation and how it helps Southwest students overcome financial challenges and emergencies to persist to completion of their degree or certificate and how this fuels their success. The video featured three Southwest students who expressed their gratitude for the Foundation’s assistance. Southwest Student Ambassador and MOST member Amir Coleman and Engineering Technology Student Mary McCord braved the early morning rain, arriving at the breakfast before sunup to show their appreciation and support for the Foundation. Guests also received the Foundation’s newly released case for support brochure that provides an overview of the Foundation’s fundraising goals for the coming year and how the organization helps students with book, tuition and emergency scholarships.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for the business community to learn about the Foundation’s phenomenal work and how it is fueling upward social mobility for Southwest students who arrive with goals in mind, dreams in their heart and the grit to see it through. They just need a little help and the Foundation is there,” President Tracy D. Hall said. “It was a wonderful platform to tell our story and I think great things will come from it.” Foundation Board Chair Anne Langston agrees. “The breakfast was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the impact and the needs of Southwest. I hope our call for support will open many new doors for the Foundation to seek additional support,” Langston said.
cityCURRENT is a privately-funded community engagement organization that touts its ability to #PowertheGOOD through digital media outreach using powerfully positive content and hosting hundreds of free networking events each year. Southwest is among its more than 100 partner companies that support philanthropic initiatives to enrich, engage, and impact the community. The Signature Breakfast series is its monthly networking event that features a dynamic speaker and a featured charity.
Visit www.southwest.tn.edu/foundation to make a secure online donation to help students buy textbooks and overcome life’s minor crises that could have major consequences with the help of the Foundation.
Southwest VP for Financial and Administrative Services Mike Neal (send from left) and Foundation Board Trustee Albert Glenn (far right) network with breakfast attendees.
Southwest Student Ambassador Amir Coleman visits with Mick Ebeling.
Dr. Hall and Mick Ebeling
In This Issue...
- FROM THE PRESIDENT
- Southwest Foundation takes center stage at cityCURRENT Signature Breakfast
- Welcome aboard, new team members
- Human Resources to kick-off redesign of employee experience in 2020
- MENTAL HEALTH CORNER: Charting a new path
- HIPs teaching methods a ‘game changer’ for student success
- Project M.O.S.T. hosts “De-Stress” fest during finals
- SGA Angel Tree Program brings holiday spirit to Alton Elementary students
- FACULTY: Schedule Library Instruction session for your students today
- STUDENTS: Print 2019 Tax Forms in My.Southwest portal
- AACC names Chef Steven Leake a 2020 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty recipient
- KUDOS: Memphis Grizzlies select VP of Student Affairs Jacqueline Faulkner for annual HBCU Empowerment Award
- US Secret Service trains Southwest SERT team on workplace security
- U.S. State Department selects Dr. Christopher Hastings specialist assignment
- THEC awards Southwest and TCAT-Memphis $145K Veteran Reconnect grant
- Writers series showcases works by Southwest faculty
- Students travel to state capitol to learn law-making process
- Early FAFSA completers win book scholarships
- Culinary arts graduate opens ‘Cool Beans’ coffee shop in Cordova
- Southwest and TCAT-Memphis tout growth and expansion at 2020 Legislative Luncheon
- Southwest establishes Innovation Funds to fuel success; Now accepting grant applications
- Scholarship recipients thank Foundation donors for making dreams come true
- Southwest celebrates the holidays with faculty and staff open house
- Women of Worth accepting new members
- Shelby County Government and Southwest Allied Health and Sciences drill nursing students on disaster triage
- Business and Technologies joins National Cyber Watch Center
- SALUQI CORNER: Saluqis start new year with impressive wins
- Southwest: In the News
- 32nd Annual Carter G. Woodson Award Ceremony is Feb. 13