This innovative initiative removes financial barriers to higher education while strengthening the region’s future workforce.
As industries continue to evolve, employers increasingly seek workers equipped with technical expertise, critical thinking skills, and a commitment to responsible stewardship of natural resources. Through programs in environmental science, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, and other high-demand fields, SVCC prepares students to address the challenges facing today’s workforce while supporting sustainable communities.
The Impact Program ensures that financial circumstances do not prevent talented local students from pursuing these careers. The Impact Program provides thousands of eligible graduates from local high schools with a debt-free pathway to an associate degree or trades certificate. In return, students commit to giving back to their communities through meaningful volunteer service, reinforcing a cycle of civic engagement and regional investment.
The Workforce Readiness grant is part of the American Water Charitable Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program. The Foundation is a philanthropic nonprofit organization established by American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., that supports high-impact projects and initiatives that further American Water’s commitment to the communities it serves.
“The American Water Charitable Foundation is proud to support Sauk Valley Community College’s Impact Program, which provides access to high-quality training and skills development for future leaders in the workplace,” said Carrie Williams, President, American Water Charitable Foundation. “This grant reflects our commitment to supporting Illinois American Water’s continued efforts to strengthen the communities it serves.”
Sauk Valley Community College’s President, Dr. Jon Mandrell, stated, “We are deeply grateful to receive this very generous donation from the American Water Charitable Foundation. This donation is an investment, an investment in our future generations and in building a stronger workforce for the Sauk Valley.”
For more information about the Impact Program or to learn how you can help permanently fund tuition for local students, contact Lori Cortez, Vice President of Advancement at SVCC, at 815-835-6260 or foundation@svcc.edu.
