The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis received the Regents Award for Excellence in Philanthropy, one of the state’s highest honors in higher education philanthropy, from the Tennessee Board of Regents.
The Regents Award, which celebrates extraordinary philanthropic leadership and sustained commitment to student success, recognizes the foundation’s nearly two decades of transformative support for Southwest Tennessee Community College students.
The honor is bestowed upon only four organizations annually across Tennessee’s 37 public community and technical colleges,
A ceremony was held on Southwest’s Macon Cove Campus Tuesday, July 15, where college administrators, state officials, community leaders and scholarship recipients gathered to honor the foundation’s impact.
“Our missions are aligned,” said Southwest President Tracy Hall, PhD. “It was clear which organization we would nominate. The Women’s Foundation has contributed over $500,000 in just the past two years alone.”
Since 2007, the foundation has invested more than $1 million in grants and vocational scholarships at Southwest, easing financial burdens and creating pathways for economic mobility. In 2025, the Foundation awarded $302,000 to the college to fund workforce training and cover students’ needs such as textbooks, transportation and emergency assistance.
“The Women’s Foundation understands that tuition is not the only barrier,” Hall said. “On that path to education, there is housing, there is transportation, there is child care. Sometimes people don’t understand that. They think if students have tuition, they have what they need. But our students need more than tuition. They need wraparound support to overcome those barriers.”
WFGM President and CEO Shante Avant accepted the award on behalf of the organization’s board of trustees and staff.
“This award validates the work we do and the purpose we walk every day,” Avant said. “Transforming lives is what we want to do with our investments. It means so much when you have partners. When we received a call from an anonymous donor to do a vocational scholarship, we thought immediately of Southwest.”
Avant, who has led the foundation since 2022, emphasized the importance of reducing barriers for women and families in Memphis.
“Creating pathways without barriers, that’s what this is about. What does it mean for students to have enough food, to solve transportation issues, to be able to simply come to class? These stories reaffirm that we chose the right partner in Southwest.”
As the foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Avant underscored its commitment to being more than a grantmaker. “We want to be seen as an investor and a true partner. We are thankful that people’s lives will be changed by the work that is done here,” she said.
That impact was made visible through students like Angelica Sharif, a 41-year-old mother of five and current laboratory science major at Southwest who shared her personal journey at the ceremony.
“I cried when I got the notification that I received the scholarship,” Sharif said. “I honestly thought it was a long shot, but I went for it anyway. Not having to worry about paying for my classes is a real blessing. It helps me focus on getting good grades and stop worrying about how to pay.”
Sharif first entered college in 2004 but paused her education to raise her family and manage health challenges. Today, as her children begin graduating, she draws motivation from a photo of herself in a high school cap and gown that still hangs on the wall.
“My kids have been adding their own graduation pictures around mine,” she said. “It’s been a motivator. Now it’s Mommy’s turn.”
The award presentation was led by Regent Nisha Powers, TBR’s representative for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District and president of Powers Hill Design. Also in attendance were members of the Southwest Foundation, scholarship recipients and community supporters.
