Humanitarian awards presented to community foundation and Board member Susan R. Colpitts
On March 18, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) awarded the Tidewater Distinguished Merit Award to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation for its longtime humanitarian work.
The award was presented at the 57th Tidewater Humanitarian Awards virtual presentation.
Annually, the Humanitarian Award of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities is presented to several individuals who have demonstrated a personal commitment to the promotion of respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The Distinguished Merit Award recognizes corporations or community organizations for their humanitarian work.
In its award announcement, VCIC explained that the Hampton Roads Community Foundation is celebrating 70 years since its founding as The Norfolk Foundation. The community foundation partners with donors from all walks of life to improve life in southeastern Virginia through grants, scholarships, and leadership initiatives. The community foundation has put more than $301 million into action through grants and scholarships.
In 2018, the community foundation launched an initiative focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion which includes aligning programs with goals for racially equitable outcomes across the region, facilitating courageous community-wide conversations about both the history of racism and opportunities for racial equity and healing in Hampton Roads, and providing leadership through collaborative action to address systemic racism in the region.
Additionally, VCIC honored community foundation Board member Susan R. Colpitts with a Tidewater Humanitarian Award. VCIC’s announcement explained that Colpitts recently retired from Signature Family Wealth Advisors where she led the Client Services Team as the Chief of Client Experience. She is recognized nationally for her thought leadership and accomplishments in the areas of client experience, financial strategic planning, and philanthropic planning. She is actively involved in her community, engaging in volunteer activities which currently include serving on the Board of the community foundation, and Chair of the Board for Virginia Humanities. Previously, she served as Trustee of Eastern Virginia Medical School Foundation, Director of Building Goodness Foundation, past Chair of the United Way of South Hampton Roads, and past Chair at the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Learn more about the award, the other regional honorees, and Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities at www.inclusiveva.org.
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