Valencia College received a $600,000 grant from Dr. Phillips Charities to expand access to job training and healthy food for students. The donation includes $450,000 to fund scholarships for low‑income residents in the Accelerated Skills Training program and $150,000 to support VCentials markets, which provide free healthy food and hygiene items at the college’s AST sites. Since its launch in 2023 VCentials has recorded more than 60,000 student visits.
The college’s short‑term Accelerated Skills Training programs, operating for nearly 10 years, have a 90 percent completion rate and 80 percent of graduates secure jobs in their trained fields. More than 50 percent of students are first‑generation, and 40 percent have reported skipping meals because of financial challenges. The grant adds to the college’s broader affordability and holistic support efforts, which also include childcare assistance and free Lynx bus service.
Press release issued by Valencia College:
https://news.valenciacollege.edu/valencia-college-receives-600k-grant-from-dr-phillips-charities-to-expand-job-training-food-access/
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