The Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation (SVHEF) will be celebrating #GivingTuesday by joining thousands of organizations around the world in the global generosity movement on Tuesday December 2, 2025. In this season of giving,the SVHEF Board of Directors invites your support to increase educational opportunities for the people of Halifax County and its surrounding region. Since its founding in 2001, the SVHEF has generously invested thousands of dollars in support of post-secondary education throughout Halifax County. Thanks to the continued generosity of donors like you, the SVHEF awarded more than eighty-thousand ($80,000) in scholarship awards last year to numerous students enrolled at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) located in South Boston, VA.
SVHEC students have many opportunities for post-secondary education. They can receive an Associate’s Degree from Southside Virginia Community College or Danville Community College. Also, SVHEC provides Workforce Training Certifications for: HVAC, Welding, Information Technology, and Industrial Maintenance Electrical Instrumentation. To date, SVHEF has supported more than 600 students in achieving their higher education goals.
“Education opens the door to endless possibilities. Knowledge, when applied, can make what was once a dream a reality,” said Monica Hodges, SVHEF Board Chair.
Scholarships are one of the many vital ways the Foundation works to ensure that generations after generations can continue to live, learn, and thrive in Southern Virginia. Every gift, big or small, will directly impact the individuals in our community who are trying to make a positive change in their life.
“The holiday season is a perfect time for all of us to come together in support of causes that make a lasting impact in our community. A gift to the Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation directly supports individuals who are transforming their lives through education and training—small steps that create positive outcomes for us all,” said Patricia Walker, SVHEF Vice Chair.
We invite you to participate in #GivingTuesday and make a year-end contribution that impacts shaping a brighter future for Southern Virginia. Help open the doors to opportunity, your donation to our scholarship fund empowers local students to pursue their dreams through education. To make your charitable gift, visit www.svhef.org and click the “Give Now” tab. Mail your gift to: SVHEF 180 Factory Street South Boston, VA 24592. To establish an endowed scholarship in memory or in honor of a loved one, contact Liza Fulton, Scholarship and Outreach Coordinator, at 434-572-5448 or lizafulton@svhef.org.
On behalf of the SVHEF Board of Directors and staff, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation Board of Directors:
Monica Hodges (Chair), Patricia Walker (Vice Chair), Jeff Davis (Treasurer), Brian Burton (Secretary), Ted Bennett, John Cannon, Ned Covington, Ben Davenport, Sterling Edmunds, Jayne Elliott, Dawn Miller, Linda Owen, Mayor Ed Owens, Hubert Pannell, Rebecca Saunders, Darden Smith, and Dennis Witt. Foundation Staff: Kristy Johnson, Executive Director
Liza Fulton, Scholarship and Outreach Coordinator.
The Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible.